Saying YES to junior tech talent, even when it seems impossible
Hiring interns and graduates isn't just a strategic move—it's a crucial investment in the future of your team, and the industry. By mentoring juniors, you create a pipeline of talented, innovative contributors who can bring fresh perspectives and handle smaller tasks, freeing up senior staff for bigger projects. While mentoring juniors might seem time-consuming, it's an investment that pays off as they become valuable team members even by the end of a 10 week internship!
Mythbusting
Let's explore some of the most common misconceptions about hiring junior talent, and discover why they might be a fantastic addition to your team:
1. "They take too much time to mentor"
Sure, mentoring juniors can initially require time, but it’s an investment. Properly mentored juniors become productive team members, contributing significantly to projects and reducing overall workload in the long run. Their fresh perspectives can also lead to innovative solutions. Great seniors see mentoring and training as a key part of their role. Great tech companies build in mentoring and know that growing the skills they need is an essential part of future-proofing their business… and our whole industry.
2. "They’re too expensive"
The cost of hiring interns is offset by their contributions to the company's projects and their potential to become future full-time employees, saving future recruitment and training costs. Hire an intern for summer, and if they’re great, you can on-hire them afterwards without going back out to market. Additionally, interns are a cost-effective way of bringing in new talent vs hiring a full-time, permanent staff member.
If you’re doing a Research &/or Development project, you might qualify for a Callaghan R&D Experience grant, this could potentially fund a living wage for your intern(s) over summer! Don’t delay, check out the criteria and submit your application form before 31 July.
3. "We don't have any project work for interns"
EVERY company has projects waiting to be done! Standalone intern projects are one way to approach it, but that’s not the only way to incorporate them into your teams. You can have them join existing teams and assist with BAU tasks, freeing up experienced staff to focus on more complex work. An opportunity to explore innovative ideas that your current team might not have the bandwidth to tackle - you might have something in the backlog that’s perfect for interns to build!
Ready to open the door?
Are you ready to open doors and create opportunities for the next generation? It’s good for your team, good for your business, and good for the tech industry. Let us connect you to your future talent.