Summer Intern Advice from the Boss: More Passion, Less Entitlement – According to Korn Ferry Survey
June 13 2018 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
As the summer internship season kicks into high gear, a new
survey by Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) points to the reasons bosses would
choose one intern candidate over another.
Nearly two thirds of professionals surveyed (65 percent) said
passion is the top attribute they look for when hiring an intern.
Significantly trailing were an intern’s performance (21 percent),
school they attended (7 percent), grades (4 percent) and pedigree
(3 percent).
When asked what is the biggest intern performance dealbreaker,
the largest percentage (37 percent) said entitlement. In addition,
more than two-thirds (67 percent) said learning should be the most
important area of focus for interns.
“Coming from a highly regarded school or having a strong
pedigree will only get intern candidates so far,” said Ally Van
Deuren, Korn Ferry University Relations Center of Excellence Lead
for North America. “What really matters is attitude and their
willingness to work, learn and grow.”
Virtually all of the respondents (98 percent) said internships
are important to landing a job, and 99 percent said they are likely
to hire interns on for full-time positions if the intern performs
well. Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) said they personally had an
internship that led to a full-time job.
“Internships are a key step in becoming a qualified
professional,” said Van Deuren. “Success however is a two-way
street – interns need to ask questions and stretch their
capabilities, and employers must offer meaningful and important
work to help the intern advance.”
The survey also found that professional networking still rules
-- the top way bosses find high-performing interns is through a
connection.
“Today’s interns could be tomorrow’s organizational leaders. It
is incumbent upon managers to take the intern hiring process
seriously to help their organizations succeed long term,” said Van
Deuren.
About the survey
Nearly 200 (183) professionals across a wide range of industries
took the survey in late May 2018. Due to rounding, figures may not
equal 100.
What is the top attribute you look for
when considering hiring an intern?
Pedigree 3 percent Grades 4 percent School
they attended 7 percent Passion 65 percent Performance 21 percent
What are the biggest intern performance
dealbreakers?
Showing up late/leaving early 13 percent Not understanding the
company 19 percent Bad cultural fit 31 percent Entitlement 37
percent
What’s the most important thing interns
need to focus on?
Being indispensable
9 percent Building their network on the job 5 percent Demonstrating
passion 19 percent Learning 67 percent
If an intern performs well on the job,
how likely is it that your organization will hire them?
Highly likely 79 percent Somewhat likely 20 percent Unlikely 1
percent
How important are internships to
securing a job?
Very important 48 percent Somewhat important 50 percent Not
important 2 percent
Would you hire a college grad if he or
she hadn’t had a previous internship?
Yes 80 percent No 20 percent
How have you found your
highest-performing interns?
Campus job fairs 25 percent By them submitting their resumes online
20 percent Through a connection 35 percent By them proactively
contacting you 20 percent
Did you have an internship that led to
a full-time job?
Yes 62 percent No 38 percent
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We help
companies design their organization – the structure, the roles and
responsibilities, as well as how they compensate, develop and
motivate their people. As importantly, we help organizations select
and hire the talent they need to execute their strategy. Our
approximately 7,000 colleagues serve clients in more than 50
countries.
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Korn FerryTracy Kurschner,
612.309.3957Tracy.kurschner@kornferry.com
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