Advantages of Hiring a Summer Intern

With summer fast approaching, you may be thinking about hiring a student to help out in your business. If so, we have some valuable pieces of information for you: three advantages to hiring summer students (that may tip you one way or the other) and three government programs that you might be eligible for to help pay for your summer hire (or to help encourage your own kids to start their own business).

Three Advantages of Hiring a Summer Intern:

1) Additional Help – Depending on the complexity of your need, think about whether you need a high-school or college/university student. With the right help, you can finally get those projects done in your business that you’ve been meaning to get to. The additional help can also meet any seasonal needs that you may have without a long-term commitment to an employee.

2) Shot of Energy – There’s something to be said about youthful exuberance. Harnessed properly, a summer student can bring new energy, new ideas, and a can-do attitude to your everyday workplace. Since any new employee can help (or harm) a workplace, make sure you take the time to interview a summer intern properly.

3) Pipeline for Future Employees – You know how important your sales pipeline is to your business. The right summer intern (i.e. a co-op student from a local college or university that wants to work in your industry) may become a part of your HR pipeline. Think of it as a test-drive for future star employees!

Three Ontario Government Programs Related to Hiring Students for Summer:

So now you’ve decided to go ahead and hire a student for a summer position. Most provinces have various initiatives to help businesses hire summer students.

If you’re located in Ontario, for example, check out the programs below. If you’re not sure about your company’s eligibility, maybe a chat with a business advisor from your province’s Economic Development Department can help you out!

1) Summer Jobs for Youth is an employment program that gives disadvantaged youth a paid employment placement supported by Youth Worker Leaders.
Organization(s): Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS)
Program Website: http://www.youthconnect.ca/htdocs/english/work/summerjobs.asp

2) Get a $2-per-hour hiring incentive if you hire a student for a summer job placement.
Organization(s): Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities (MTCU) - Employment Ontario (EO)
Program Website: http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/brochure/employers.html

3) This one’s for your own kids who may want to start their own business! - If you are a student between 15 and 29 years of age, the program Summer Company can award up to $3,000 to help you start and run a summer business.
Organization(s): Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation (MEDI)
Program Website: http://www.ontario.ca/summercompany

Best of luck with your hiring plans for summer and please share with the community your own experiences and tips by leaving a comment below.

Edmar Selda is a Commercial Account Manager at BMO, based in Concord, Ont.