9 STRATEGIES TO SIMPLIFY INTERNSHIPS AT YOUR AGENCY written by Susie Bonner , IA magazine
Four in 10 principals say finding and hiring talent is a top challenge , according to the 2022 Agency Universe Study . However , hosting an internship program can solve this problem and is a long-term investment in your agency ' s success by creating a natural talent pipeline of potential candidates .
While it may be difficult to carve out the time to hire and plan for an intern , offering an internship program is a key way to solve that hiring challenge — 68 % of interns get a full-time offer from the company they interned for , according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers .
Invest SM , the Big “ I " nonprofit educational foundation , can help . It recently released an internship guide that includes job descriptions , tasks and evaluations . The free guide is available to all Big “ I " members and can be customized for your needs .
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NINE STRATEGIES TO SIMPLIFY THE INTERNSHIP PROCESS
1 ) Consider hiring more than one intern . If your budget allows , hiring more than one intern will create an instant peer group . This will enhance your agency ' s pool of talent and create a better experience overall . And make sure to take care of your interns — they should have a dedicated space to work , access to technology and a place to put personal items .
2 ) Give them real work . Interns want real experience . Not only are they building their resume , but they want experiences that help them establish their career path . Show them why your employees love their careers .
3 ) Help them establish goals . Have an initial meeting with your intern and understand what they want to get out of the experience . Share your expectations on what you want them to learn . Document these goals and develop a tracking system to help them evaluate their growth at the end of the internship . For more help , consider the Big “ I " Young Agents Mentorship Guide as a resource .
4 ) Let them shadow each role . An intern may have one idea about insurance , but we know there ' s so much more to insurance careers . Create a schedule that allows them to shadow each department for a week — commercial sales visits , customer support , marketing and team meetings can provide the intern with a well-rounded experience .
5 ) Give them your time . Make sure to schedule time each day to check in with your interns . They want feedback . Often , this is their first time in a business environment . Consider making time each day , even 15 minutes , to answer questions , check in on goals and
30 KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER