Why Hire an Intern or Co-op?

1. Discover ambitious students early

Cooperative education and Internships give you the opportunity to interest prospective employees in the advantages of working with your company. As an employer, you are allowed to interview sophomores, juniors, or seniors- giving you a one- to three-year headstart on non-participating competition! This early opportunity can mean the difference between finding that "gem" and watching someone else hire him or her before you even get an opportunity to interview.

2. Try an employee before making a permanent offer

The best potential employees often beg for a chance to prove themselves. But taking a chance on new graduates can be expensive. Cooperative education and Internships offer you an interview/tryout/training period with some of the school's best graduates-to-be. Watch employees in work situations over a period of time; then base your offer of employment on proven abilities, accomplishments, and an established compatibility with your company. There is no reason to try to ascertain the graduate's potential, work attitude, and personality in one rush interview - take your time and watch them grow into employees you can count on.

3. Enhance your reputation on campus

Become known on the IUPUI campus through your Co-op/ Intern connections. Your students will tell their friends and classmates firsthand about positive Co-op/ Intern experiences in your organization. Let the promotional efforts of your Co-ops/ Interns make your company first choice for all students as a great place to work. This promotion enhances the recruitment of other students, attracting to your firm additional top- quality employees.

4. Help your employees work their way through school

The wages you pay your Co-op/ Intern employees provide them with financial assistance needed for an increasingly expensive university education. Far from being a gift or hand-out, the wages you pay your Co-op/ Intern student employees allow them to earn their way through school by doing meaningful work. As an employer, you receive good value from the work performed while making an investment in a priceless future employee.

5. Influence the education of future professionals

If you have ever wished you could positively influence the education of new professionals in your field, cooperative education/ internship is your opportunity. Cooperative education and internships allow you to work with faculty to transform excellent students into excellent employees and influence educational programs and students through the exchange of ideas and techniques with those involved. By suggesting elective courses to your student employees, discussing curricula with faculty, and providing real problems for classroom projects, you help produce a more competent graduate and future professional and influence the level and nature of training in your field.

6. Tap into the resources of the Purdue School of Engineering & Technology

Stay at the cutting edge of research and development through your communication with faculty contacts. Suggest research projects for your Internship/ Co-op students to undertake as class projects. Allow them to help work on a company problem, with the help of their professors. Tap into this source of information and knowledge through the Cooperative Education and Internship Program. Your student employee will learn firsthand in the classroom from researchers who are today developing the products, services, practices, and philosophies that will revolutionize tomorrow.