Interns a low-risk business option

A possible way to keep young people in the Cape Girardeau area after college is to offer them more internship opportunities.

Robin Cole, chairman of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's Internships Subcommittee and also president of the Rite Group, presented a program on internships to about 200 people at the First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center.

"It's a wonderful low-risk way to try employees," Cole said.

The Internship Subcommittee began meeting in late 2005 to address how to keep well-trained people in the Cape Girardeau area and how to expand the number of internship opportunities in the business community.

At last month's First Friday Coffee, Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson brought up the first issue, saying he'd love to see more Southeast Missouri State University graduates move straight into high-paying jobs in the area but conceding there aren't enough of those jobs.

Cole's presentation gave an overview on the importance of internships to the economy.

"Employers report interns are the best source of new full-time employees, according to recent surveys by the National Association of Colleges and Employers," he said.

Member businesses were given an overview on how to create an effective internship program.

The subcommittee's goal is to get 250 businesses seeking interns this year. So far there are 152.

In 2006, the goal was 36. Double that number of businesses responded.

Chamber members were also introduced to the coordinators of internships at Southeast Missouri State University, the Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the Metro Business College and the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center, all of which have students who need internships.

The deadline for recruiting summer interns through the chamber is the end of March. The deadline for fall is June 30, for spring Nov. 30.

"To expand the number of internships in our community is very significant and beneficial to the business sector," said Chamber of Commerce president John Mehner. "If we give our young adults an opportunity to have a real-world experience in the work force, our businesses can benefit and potentially can have a new employee."

For information on creating an effective internship program, go to capechamber.com, click Chamber Info, then click Internship Info.

tkrakowiak@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137