8 Reasons Why You Should Hire Interns for Your Office

When it comes to internships, we often focus on how the work experience benefits the student. But in most situations, it works out in the employer’s favor, too. Sure, a college-age intern is likely cheaper to hire than a full-time employee. But working with interns is about more than saving money.

Here are eight reasons why you should consider hiring interns in your office:

1. They bring a fresh perspective. The processes we use to accomplish tasks at work are usually the methods that were utilized by our predecessors and passed on to us. That doesn’t mean it’s the best way to do something, it’s just the way we've always done it.

Interns often come into jobs unafraid to question how things work or why jobs are performed a certain way, which can help bosses discover smarter ways to do those tasks. Their perspective as newbies is valuable, especially when it comes to identifying and even solving problems that go unnoticed by full-time employees.

2. They’re at ease with social media. Interns tend to understand social media in a way many business owners and bosses can't, simply because young folks live and breathe networks like Facebook. To them, networking on online channels isn’t another time-consuming task, but rather part of the day.

As social media marketing grows and mobile devices grab a greater share of markets, you’ll need smart young people to show you the way. While you may not want a rookie to represent your company on social media, interns can help you develop a strategy or draft material for your approval rather than updating networks directly.

Read the rest of my blog entry at U.S. News & World Report.