Business Education

The Secret Weapon for Small Biz: Unlock a Pool of Brilliant Summer Interns (Before Your Competitors Do)

Forget expensive hires and chasing talent you simply can’t afford. Your small business needs a competitive edge this summer, and it’s not what you think. While your rivals are scrambling, you could be tapping into an often-overlooked goldmine: brilliant summer interns.

That’s right: summer interns. This may seem something like only big-time organizations do, but small businesses can benefit as well. These individuals are great resources and could turn into full-time future assets. Below, we will reveal the simple, effective strategies to attract top-tier talent, inject fresh energy into your team, and supercharge your productivity—all before your competitors even know what hit them. So, read on!

How Small Business Owners Can Find Qualified Summer Interns

Summer internships can be a win-win for small businesses and students alike. Interns gain valuable hands-on experience, while businesses benefit from fresh perspectives, extra help, and potential future hires. However, finding qualified interns—ones who are motivated, skilled, and a good fit for your business—requires a strategic approach. Here’s how small business owners can attract and hire the right summer interns.

1. Define Clear Goals for the Internship

Before you begin the search, define what you want the intern to accomplish. Consider the following:

Skills and qualifications. What kind of intern are you looking for? Are you seeking marketing support, administrative assistance, or technical expertise?
Projects and tasks. Outline the specific work interns will do. Will they assist with social media, research, customer service, or operations?
Learning opportunities. Interns should gain valuable experience beyond just doing tasks. How will your business help them learn and grow?

A well-structured internship program increases the likelihood of attracting serious candidates who are eager to contribute.

2. Tap Into Local Colleges & Universities

One of the best ways to find interns is through local educational institutions:

Career services offices. Most universities have career centers that help connect students with internships. Reach out and list your opportunity.
Business and industry-specific departments. Contact professors in relevant fields (such as marketing, finance, or engineering) to get recommendations for standout students.
Campus events. Attend internship fairs or networking events where students actively seek opportunities.

Building relationships with universities can provide a steady pipeline of talented candidates eager for hands-on experience.

3. Leverage Online Internship Platforms

Many students search for internships online, so listing your opportunity on well-known platforms can broaden your applicant pool:

LinkedIn — Post your internship and connect with potential candidates.
Handshake — A widely used platform connecting students with internships.
Internships.com and WayUp — Sites specifically designed for internship listings.
Your website and social media — Promote the internship on your business’s website, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

By listing your internship online, you expand your reach beyond your immediate network.

4. Reach Out to Local Business Networks

Your community might have hidden gems—motivated students looking for summer opportunities. Consider:

Chambers of commerce. Many local business groups have resources to connect employers with students.
Networking events. Attend industry mixers and talk to young professionals looking for experience.
Nonprofit organizations. Groups that support young professionals might have internship matching programs.

Sometimes, the best candidates come from within your local connections.

5. Write a Compelling Internship Description

Your internship posting should be clear, engaging, and specific to attract qualified applicants:

Use a strong headline. Instead of “Summer Internship Available,” try “Marketing Internship—Hands-On Experience at a Growing Business!”
Highlight benefits. Will they gain real-world experience? Work directly with leadership? Improve key skills?
Clarify requirements. Include necessary qualifications (such as coursework, basic skills, or software knowledge).
Include compensation details. If it’s a paid internship, highlight the pay. If unpaid, ensure it offers strong learning value.

A strong internship description ensures you attract interns who align with your business goals.

6. Conduct a Thorough Screening Process

To find qualified interns, don’t settle for the first applicants—take the time to vet them properly:

Resume reviews. Look for relevant coursework, previous internships, or extracurricular involvement.
Interviews. Ask questions about their career goals, teamwork skills, and ability to contribute to your business.
Skill tests (if applicable). If hiring for technical roles, consider small assignments or sample projects.

A thoughtful selection process ensures you bring in interns who are serious about making an impact.

7. Make the Experience Valuable for the Intern

A well-run internship benefits both the business and the intern. Ensure that your intern:

Has mentorship and guidance rather than being left alone on tasks.
Gains real skills that improve their career prospects.
Feels engaged, whether through team collaboration or meaningful projects.
Receives feedback, helping them grow professionally.

Investing in your interns will not only make their experience more meaningful but also encourage them to consider future employment with your business.

Build a Strong Internship Program

Finding qualified summer interns requires more than just posting a listing and hoping for applicants. Define clear goals, use strategic hiring methods, and create a meaningful experience—and you’ll attract interns who contribute to your business while gaining valuable skills.

By investing in the next generation, your small business can benefit from new energy, fresh perspectives, and potential future hires. With the right approach, internships can be a stepping stone for your business growth.

Want to Accomplish More?

Do you want your company to grow faster and earn more while spending more time with your family doing everything you started your business to do?

We can make that dream a reality. Give us 30 minutes, and we will show you how to get your life back. Skeptical? Good! Put us to the test.

You can call us for your free appointment at 480-636-1720, or, if you prefer, Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

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How Does a Successful Entrepreneur Recover from a Bad and Costly Business Decision?

March 7, 2024 No Comments

How Does a Successful Entrepreneur Recover from a Bad and Costly Business Decision? When it comes to being an entrepreneur, navigating the unpredictable landscape of business is quite common. After all, even the most seasoned entrepreneurs can find themselves facing the aftermath of a bad and costly business decision. In these challenging times, it is essential to embrace resilience and proactively seek strategies for recovery. So, how exactly does an otherwise successful business owner not only cope but overcome a bad and costly decision? Fortunately, there are some concrete steps you can take to get past such a trying set of circumstances. Here are the most effective ways to recover from a bad and costly business decision. Acknowledge the Mistake Without Self-Blame Acknowledging a misstep is the first step towards recovery. It is crucial for entrepreneurs to recognize that making mistakes is a part of the journey towards success. By reframing the perspective from self-blame to a learning opportunity, entrepreneurs can begin the process of moving forward with clarity and determination. Assess the Damage and Deploy Damage Control Quantify the impact of the decision as accurately as possible. Evaluate financial losses, lost opportunities, and damage to your reputation. A clear understanding of the extent of the damage is essential for creating a recovery plan. Take immediate steps to mitigate further losses. Be decisive, communicate transparently with stakeholders, and seek professional advice if necessary. Quick actions help control the situation and prevent things from getting worse. Formulate a Recovery Plan Realign your strategy in light of the setback. Reassess goals, revise budgets, and identify areas for improvement. This plan should be realistic, adaptable, and focused on creating a sustainable path forward. Put your recovery plan into action and closely track the progress. Remain flexible and ready to adjust the plan as needed. It’s essential to stay agile and react to new information as you move forward with execution. Also, don’t waste mental energy on things outside your control. Channel your energy and resources into actionable steps that will make a real difference in rebuilding stability. Embrace a Growth Mindset for Future Success In the face of adversity, cultivating a growth mindset is key to overcoming setbacks. Viewing challenges as opportunities for growth and development can fuel the entrepreneurial spirit and pave the way for future success. By focusing on continuous learning and adaptation, entrepreneurs can position themselves for long-term prosperity. Seek Guidance and Mentorship for Strategic Insights Navigating the aftermath of a costly business decision can be a daunting task. Seeking guidance from mentors or experienced professionals in the industry can provide valuable insights and perspectives. By leveraging the knowledge and expertise of others, entrepreneurs can gain a fresh outlook on their situation and identify strategic pathways towards recovery. Pivot Towards Innovation and Creativity In times of crisis, innovation and creativity can serve as powerful tools for reimagining the future. Entrepreneurs who have faced setbacks can harness their creativity to explore new opportunities, pivot their business model, or diversify their offerings. By thinking outside the box, entrepreneurs can unlock new possibilities for growth and success. Take Calculated Risks with Strategic Planning Recovering from a costly business decision requires a balanced approach to risk-taking. By engaging in strategic planning and carefully evaluating potential risks and rewards, entrepreneurs can make informed decisions that align with their long-term goals. Taking calculated risks can lead to new opportunities and propel entrepreneurs towards renewed success. As always, the journey of an entrepreneur is filled with highs and lows, successes and setbacks. When faced with the aftermath of a bad business decision, it is essential to approach the situation with resilience, innovation, and a growth mindset. By embracing the challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, entrepreneurs can navigate the road to recovery and reignite their path towards success. Want to Accomplish More? Do you want your company to grow faster and earn more while you spend more time with your family doing all the things you started your business to do? We can make that dream a reality. Give us 30 minutes and we will show you how to get your life back. Skeptical? Good! Put us to the test. You can call us for your free appointment at 602-435-5474, or, if you prefer, send us an email. You can also visit us at Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

Employee Collaboration is Facing Real Challenges, but Your Business Doesn’t have to Suffer

December 13, 2022 No Comments

A recent Harvard Business Review study found that nearly forty percent (39%) of employees report their coworkers don’t collaborate enough. There are several reasons for this, but whatever the causes, it’s very important to address this issue when it arises in order to get the most out of any team. If poor collaboration continues to persist, it will do real damage to a company – no matter how big or small. So, it’s critical to take action right away. Otherwise, it could very well unleash deleterious effects that just may be irreversible. The Consequences of Poor Employee Collaboration When employees are not collaborating effectively, it can lead to duplication of efforts, miscommunications, and confusion. This can result in employees spending more time trying to figure out what their coworkers are doing, rather than focusing on their own tasks. As a result, overall productivity can suffer. Employees who are not able to work well with others may become frustrated, leading to lower morale among the team. This can also create a toxic work environment, leading to high levels of absenteeism and turnover. It goes without saying that when your employees work together, they’ll be more effective. Not only can people accomplish more as a group, a collaborative atmosphere could motivate employees to do more. But if you feel like employees aren’t cooperating as well as they should, there could be a hidden problem brewing under the surface. —American Express Effective collaboration is crucial for innovation. When employees are not able to work well together, it can stifle creativity and prevent the development of new ideas. This can make it difficult for businesses to stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace. Poor collaboration can lead to mistakes, delays, and other issues that can impact the quality of the product or service that a business provides. This can lead to dissatisfaction among customers, who may take their business elsewhere. How to Encourage Better Workplace Collaboration among Employees Collaboration is crucial for success in today’s business world. When employees are able to work well together, it can lead to higher productivity, improved morale, and greater innovation. However, fostering collaboration among employees is not always easy. Here are a few tips for encouraging better workplace collaboration: Provide the right tools. In order for employees to collaborate effectively, they need the right tools. This may include project management software, group messaging platforms, and online collaboration tools. By providing the right tools, you can make it easier for employees to communicate and share ideas. Encourage open communication. Open communication is key for effective collaboration. Encourage employees to speak up and share their ideas, even if they are not sure if they are “right”. By creating an environment where it is okay to ask questions and share ideas, you can foster collaboration. Create a collaborative culture. Collaboration should be a core value of your business. Make sure that this value is reflected in your company culture, and encourage employees to work together to achieve common goals. Provide training and support. Collaboration is a skill that can be learned and developed. Consider providing training and support to help employees improve their collaboration skills. This may include workshops, mentoring programs, and other resources. Recognize and reward collaboration. Finally, don’t forget to recognize and reward collaboration. When employees work together to achieve a common goal, make sure to recognize their efforts. This can be as simple as a shout-out in a team meeting, or something more formal like a team-building event or award. By following these tips, you can encourage better workplace collaboration among your employees. This will help to improve productivity, morale, and innovation at your business. What else can businesses do to foster and improve employee collaboration? Please take a few minutes to share your own thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Microsoft just Demonstrated Why the Hard Sell doesn’t Work — Again

February 25, 2020 No Comments

Microsoft just undermined its launch of its newly released Edge browser by hard selling it. You may not know about this because it’s niche-worthy news. But, it’s a lesson that the company should have learned many years ago. Instead, it continues to make the same mistake over and over again. Here’s what it is, what it means, and why it proves the hard sell doesn’t work. Why the Hard Sell doesn’t Work Microsoft recently introduced a new version of its Edge browser. In order to promote it, the company shamelessly inserted a conspicuous ad in its Windows 10 menu. The advertisement “suggests” that users switch from their current browser of choice over to Edge. Of course, people don’t like this assertive tactic and are taking to social media to complain about it. Small-business owners successful at sales know the best way to sell something is not to sell it. You listen to potential customers about what they want or need, and then you introduce your product as the answer. You want people to think buying your services was their idea. —American Express Turns out that Microsoft is not willing to learn from its many repeated mistakes of the past. That is, the corporation’s insistence on pushing its customers into buying or using proprietary products and services that are promoted through the company’s various platforms. This is not only annoying, it’s obnoxious. Plus, it demonstrates the many problems with hard selling. There is no empathy, no relationship, no trust, and so it goes against human nature. Trying to badger people into becoming loyal customers is simply not a winning strategy. 3 Proven Ways to Sell without Being Pushy (or Obnoxious) So, how do you promote your products and/or services without hard selling? It’s actually easier than one would think. Better yet, it works and works very well. Here are three effective ways to sell without being pushy or obnoxious: Take your time. Rushing will only backfire. When you sell at a hurried pace, you don’t give your customer enough time to process what you’re offering. It’s confusing and overwhelming and unsurprisingly, it typically won’t work. Let potential customers do all the talking. Well, maybe not all the talking, but most definitely, the majority of it. This way, you’ll learn quite a bit about him or her and gain a better understanding of his or her needs. You’ll be regarded as empathetic and trustworthy and those two key elements are important to building any relationship. Focus on their problem, not your product or service. This goes hand-in-hand with the second point. You need to understand precisely what their problem is in order to offer an effective solution. You won’t be forcing a sale, but rather giving them answers they need. What other strategies do you use in-place of hard selling techniques? Please comment and share your thoughts and experiences! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.