Can you afford to hire an intern or a seasonal employee?
Hiring a student or recent graduate for a summer job, co-op placement, internship or temporary job to meet the seasonal needs of your company can add youthful energy and fresh new ideas to your team. Hiring for short-term positions brings advantages to a business.
Reasons to hire an intern or seasonal employee
1. Temporary workers can be .
2. Students and recent graduates often have theoretical knowledge they’re itching to apply to real-world problems.
3. Youthful jobseekers bring a unique point of view that adds to your team’s diversity.
4. Seasonal employees can focus on projects that regular employees never find time to do.
5. You’re helping to prepare inexperienced workers to enter the workforce permanently.
6. Supporting youth can position you as an employer of choice when recruiting.
Tips for hiring temporary employees
Finding the right person to fill a position can take a little effort. Here are some ways to :
--Have a clear idea of what tasks or projects you want the candidate to tackle. Use this to write the job description.
--Plan to onboard new employees before the busiest part of the season starts.
--Ask current employees if they have friends or family who would like to take on the position.
--Keep the resumes of qualified applicants on hand in case you need to bring on additional workers before the end of the season.
--Consider offering a bonus to seasonal employees who stick with a temporary position until the end.
--Hold an exit interview with a departing employee to learn about their experience as a new person working at the company.
--At the end of the summer or work period, if you liked the employee’s job performance, ask if they’ll be available again next year.
Financial supports for hiring
Many small- and medium-sized companies might think they can't afford an intern or a seasonal employee. Below are links to some supports for hiring provided by the federal and provincial governments that might convince them otherwise. You could also check universities and colleges in your region (our list has only a sample of what educational institutions might offer), as schools may have programs or resources to support hiring co-op students, interns, recent graduates, or international students.
National funding sources
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Atlantic funding sources
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Quebec funding sources
Ontario funding sources
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West and North funding sources
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