Hiring, paying, and housing interns: everything you need to know
Global mobility teams are focusing on internship programs in order to recruit the next generation of talent earlier. Their recruitment efforts will be boosted by this. Consequently, internship programs are undergoing significant changes. The management of skilled and motivated college students and recent graduates using them as a strategic tool.
By starting a global mobility-focused internship program, you can attract new talent to the industry and develop and grow ambitious, creative students and recent graduates who will bring fresh ideas and perspectives.
When it comes to recruiting and developing young talent, the global mobility industry faces a unique challenge.
According to Lisa Johnson, director of Cartus’ Global DE&I Solutions, “there are many facets of this industry, from diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting to accounting, finance, immigration, and real estate.” For interns, understanding how their roles fit into the bigger picture can be challenging with so much going on. A multifaceted field, global mobility has many facets.”
Therefore, global mobility teams need to design internship programs carefully to entice interns to take full-time positions. The following considerations are essential for companies contemplating the launch of internship programs, including remote iterations.
Recruiting and hiring interns at home and abroad
Internship programs should be treated with the same scrutiny as regular hiring processes. Regardless of their lack of professional experience, interns should match the roles you’re hiring for in terms of interests and skills. Tests, assignments, and structured interviews are used to assess entry-level candidates.
Asking current team members for potential interns is one way to find them. Look into recent hires’ educational backgrounds, connect with their alma maters’ alumni groups or career centers, and share internship opportunities or post them directly to the university’s job board. Job fairs at universities can also be useful for finding enthusiastic individuals seeking internships, especially when an alumnus can recommend the employer and share their excitement about global mobility.
The hiring of international interns is another approach many global mobility teams take. In addition to bringing new ideas and life experiences, international interns can often better empathize with and understand the clients of the team because they have relocated either for studies or for the internship.
Talent reservoirs can be created for prospective employees after graduation by attracting the most talented intern candidates. The graduates could then join the U.S. division or other global branches.
A key consideration when hiring an intern from another country is the potential visa requirements. The process of hiring a non-U.S. An intern who is a citizen of the United States is hired differently from an employee who is an international full-time employee, and he or she must possess an appropriate U.S. visa (which can be either an F-1 student visa or a J-1 cultural exchange visa, depending on their circumstances) in order to participate legally in an internship.
It’s a good idea to consult an immigration lawyer before hiring interns with an F-1 or J-1 visa because the requirements and process can be confusing.
Your interns will be paid in what way? Would you be better off?
In addition to helping students build a well-rounded resume, internships are sometimes required by their universities. It is common for prospective interns to wonder: Is it worth taking an unpaid internship?
When offering paid internships, you should ensure that the pay is competitive—above minimum wage, to put it mildly—and that relocation and housing support are available if you are recruiting students outside the workplace. “Upward Mobility is co-authored by Andrew Walker, president of Eleven+, an organization that offers internships and other opportunities to underrepresented young adults.
What should you pay your interns?
Due to the nature of their job, interns usually fall under the “nonexempt” category, which means they receive an hourly wage. The wages of interns are often based on the salaries paid to new college hires. Pay rates for interns are determined by their major and functional area, just like those for new college hires.
It is possible that some employers will pay interns a higher salary in high-cost cities to cover the increasing cost of living. In addition, interns must relocate temporarily for their internships. The most popular option for intern groups is to share housing, which is often covered by a one-time payment.
Unpaid internships should be offered with caution. An unpaid internship must comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to avoid potential labor law issues. Specifically, Fact Sheet #71: Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act provides guidance for determining if interns and students employed by for-profit organizations qualify for minimum wage and overtime compensation. One of the criteria specifies that the internship should resemble educational training, possibly involving employer facilities. The internship should also benefit the intern.
Unpaid internships are subject to additional rules and regulations in certain states. There is a specific law that regulates employment relationships in New York state, for instance. Interns are exempt from the Minimum Wage Act and Orders under this law.
Johnson says unpaid internships eliminate equity in terms of who can be recruited. This is due to the fact that some candidates may be unable to subsidize their unpaid internships, excluding them from the internship pool as a whole.”
Offer academic credit if possible
Interns can also earn academic credit for their internships. Students usually work with their major department or the career center on campus to get college credit for an internship. The purpose of this is to gather the information they need to receive academic credit for their internship.
Academic internships often combine academic coursework with practical work experience. Students may be required to establish individual learning goals as part of the internship process. During the internship, their supervisor may need to assess their professional and educational progress. The prerequisites ensure that students have a beneficial educational experience and are evaluated fairly.
In order to compensate for their time and effort, many students do unpaid internships in order to earn college credit. Even interns who get paid can receive college credit, however.
The Best Way to House Your Interns
In Cartus’ pulse survey report on 2023 internships and co-ops, 38% of respondents indicated housing is a benefit they provide their interns. Interns should consider this benefit when choosing an internship, and it is also crucial to their safety and well-being.
Intern housing is not offered by the majority of companies, but it varies depending on the location and type of intern being hired, Johnson says. Housing interns in urban or rural areas can be crucial when housing is scarce or expensive.”
The location and method of housing your interns can have a tremendous impact on their experience and the reputation of your program. Especially in crowded areas with limited housing options, working with a corporate housing provider can help manage the details of finding safe, suitable, and affordable housing.
In states where interns may not be legally allowed to rent a place, be careful about companies that offer housing stipends directly to interns. Despite the fact that many landlords may be willing to rent to someone under legal age, they must also take steps to protect themselves. Parental permission is more crucial at this point. The landlord can hold a co-signer responsible if the young tenant fails to pay or stays for the agreed-upon period of time if the parent or guardian co-signs.
Is Your Team Ready to Hire Interns?
When you create an internship program for global mobility, you are investing both in your business and in the potential of fresh talent to elevate your company’s performance. Following the Fair Labor Standards Act and developing carefully planned internship programs will allow you to take advantage of incorporating these up-and-coming team members.
Both your global mobility program and your future interns will benefit from proper preparation, ongoing improvement, and a strong commitment from the entire organization.
