Emory’s strategic plan calls for an increase in the number of research faculty, which likely means more research technicians. To effectively recruit and retain entry level technicians, Human Resources is pleased to introduce the Research Specialist College Intern Program. This intern program will be marketed to colleges and universities in the Southeast through their respective career services departments beginning in January 2001. However, students from any university may apply.

The intern program provides an excellent mentoring opportunity to “home grow” students who will assume future leadership positions. Sponsors will provide interns with valuable work experience for a minimum of eight weeks starting June 4, 2001.

Recruitment and selection will be the same as for traditional hiring. Scientists will post their internship openings through HR, student interns will apply for individual laboratory opportunities, and scientists will select candidates for interviews from the pool of applicants who have expressed interest in their research. The sponsoring department will provide the intern’s salary. Scientists interested in sponsoring an intern should submit an employment requisition through their departmental HR representative before Dec. 15.

With the labor market expected to remain tight for the next decade, this program offers Emory scientists a long-term recruitment strategy aimed at filling the pipeline to our research laboratories. Once exclusive to large corporations, internships were offered as a means for students to gain valuable work experience. Now, with the fierce competition for talent, even small organizations are using internships as a recruitment strategy to promote their “Employer of Choice” status.

An internship can be very effective for recruiting talent:

• Students frequently select internships based on a desire for employment.

• On-the-job evaluations can be the best selection method.

• Interns with institutional experience are more attractive because they save time and money in training and orientation.

• Internships contribute to an organization’s future success by identifying and developing bright, aggressive and diverse talent at the college level.

• Many organizations report 70–80 percent of their interns are hired after graduation.

For more information, contact Randall Cumbaa, senior recruiting specialist, at 404-727-7191 or Del King, director of employment services, at 404-727-7567.