As the summer slowly passes and interns return to campus, there are important lessons to be learned about the impact and opportunities these young people need to position Indiana as a global tech hub.
Interns create better access, foster inclusivity, and more future professionals become part of Indiana’s tech workforce, minimizing the global tech talent challenge at hand. We provide insight into how we can forge a clear path to help curb the future. Here are some ways to develop and run an internship program that will help build a diverse talent pipeline for your company.
Make internships accessible
According to a 2020 McKinsey study, the most diverse companies earn 36% better than less diverse companies. It’s imperative that Indiana tech companies keep in mind how they can extend student enrollment windows and foster an inclusive environment once students arrive at work.
Some key factors include the provision of paid internships on flexible schedules and the provision of remote work opportunities to accommodate summer coursework, additional part-time work and family obligations. , helping interns inform housing options if they move out of state for the summer, and access to health and wellness, snacks and meals all attract talent and make interns personal and professional. is a factor that helps support
Therefore, students should remember to bring the experience gained in the internship back to the classroom and share it with other students. Therefore, creating advocates who have experienced Indiana’s thriving and supportive tech scene first-hand over the summer will put our state on the radar of many other students and entry-level applicants for years to come. will be maintained.
Mentor high potential talent and give them the tools to succeed
Proper planning is critical to a successful internship. Set expectations early on, make your first day unforgettable, and most importantly, equip your team with the tools and encouragement they need to actively coach, help your interns participate and succeed. Offers.
Mentorship and matching students with the right manager is one of the most important factors for a successful internship experience. Mentors can provide perspectives, connect interns with someone in the workplace who may share the same experience, integrate them into the organization, share company culture, and solidify the intern’s future career goals. Allows you to see your path and career results through working on real projects. .
In addition, the relationships cultivated this summer often continue long after the internship ends.
Embrace opportunities for collaboration
Meeting today’s demand for technical talent means being open to partnerships and collaborations. From experiences such as his Xtern program at TechPoint, to partnerships with Kenzie Academy, and shared internships with higher education institutions, growing the talent and networks we need to continue to thrive requires innovative thinking. is required.
A current pharmacy student and one of hc1’s Summer 2022 interns said: I believe in precision health and the fact that it is enhancing the healthcare landscape. I wanted to be able to develop my opinion empirically to see if this kind of work could be done as a niche route for pharmacy applications compared to the traditional pharmacy pathway. “
Integrating health IT into his education and giving him the opportunity to explore new and mature technologies will fill the digital health knowledge gap, sow the seeds of health tech as a future career option, and transform our world. You can show how they are interconnected.
Of these collaborations, many former interns who were initially matched with hc1 became full-time professionals on our team, so we know for sure that they work.
Exploration is an important part of the college experience. Create greater access and broader pathways for students to get first-hand knowledge of working in the health tech industry. This is key to meeting the global tech talent challenges we face and bringing equitable regional prosperity to those seeking their dream jobs in tech.
