Business4Moms

Sometimes it’s great to have an intern around.  They can do the work that no one else has time for, or they can assist with that big project that you don’t quite have enough manpower to get done on schedule.  A good intern can do great things for your business.

But sometimes you need to let an intern go.  Maybe things aren’t working out, or maybe she has outstayed her usefulness.  As much as you don’t want to do it, you may have to say goodbye to an intern for the good of your business.  Here are seven signs that you need to put an end to an internship:

1.  The project you hired the intern for is complete.  If you took on an intern for the purpose of completing a specific project, it’s usually best to let her go once the project has wrapped.  In such a case, it’s important to put in writing that you only plan to keep the intern until her work on the project is complete.  If you set a certain date and the project is done before that, you may be obligated to keep her on afterward unless you have cause to terminate the internship.

2.  You don’t have anything for the intern to do.  Maybe you took on an intern with the expectation of keeping her around for a certain time frame, but before that time was up you ran out of things for her to do.  Busy work serves no purpose for either of you, so perhaps it’s best if you send her on her way.  If you anticipate the possibility of this happening, be sure to include a clause in her contract stating that you can end the internship early if you run out of work for her.

3.  Your intern is being disruptive.  You can’t really expect an intern to come in and blend into the work environment seamlessly, because she has no experience.  She will need help, and she will need to ask questions.  But if the intern is disrupting the work of others to the point that she is doing more harm than good, it might not be worth it to keep her around.

4.  You find that the intern is being dishonest.  Honesty is important in any working relationship.  If your intern can access company assets or sensitive information, it is especially crucial.  Dishonesty is something that every business owner should have a low tolerance for, with both employees and interns.

5.  The intern is not providing good customer service.  Your customers are the lifeblood of your business, and it’s important to keep them happy.  If your intern is not treating your customers with respect and not doing her best to meet their needs, and warnings or additional training do not help, it could be detrimental to your business to keep her around.

6.  Your intern has a substance abuse problem.  This often leads to numerous other problems, and you can’t afford to take the risk.  Let her know that she needs help, assist her in finding it if possible, and send her on her way.

7.  Your intern is chronically late or absent.  The purpose of an internship is to gain skills and experience, but she can’t do that if she’s not there.  She’s also putting an added burden on you and your employees by not being there to do the work she is expected to do.  Letting her go may be the best course of action.