This article was originally published in French on Bilan.
At a time of fairly steady recovery, depending on where you are in the world, companies make choices every day that can mean definitive capitulation or a further step towards financial recovery. This is a good time to bring in interns. Let me explain…
One thing is certain, the vast majority of service companies have an urgent need to get back into business, and quickly. However, with an uneven influx of customers and a drastically reduced workforce, it’s not always a simple matter. One interim solution that can prove to be a life-saving solution is to call on young talent in search of internships. They are an unsuspected source of energy, innovative ideas and valuable know-how, especially if they are in management training at a hotel management school. A limited-term, low-risk, high-value commitment for companies that need to get back on their feet but do not yet have the backbone for large contingents of employees.
An ideal toolbox
In addition to being an agile, quick to deploy and cost effective resource, trainees offer the valuable advantage of having been trained on current hygiene measures and best practices that enable them to provide quality service within current restrictions.
Whether in the hotel, restaurant or other sectors, these young people who need to validate their knowledge through practical experience are a real source of inspiration, accustomed to excellence in customer service and inevitably offer that little something extra that puts a smile on customers’ faces in these gloomy times. They have spent their confinement rethinking the hospitality business and are ready to help their employer in the face of the specific needs imposed by the extraordinary situation the world is finding itself in.
Better yet, confinement has given them the opportunity to gather a wealth of information, success and failure stories, and original ideas through virtual conferences, case studies and peer-reviewed stories. So it is these young, savvy experts who come to lend a hand in turning the ship onto the right trajectory. A precious commodity that can be mobilized immediately.
Finally, in terms of technical skills and the ability to work remotely if necessary, the trainees also have more than one trick up their sleeve and they will be able to make the most of every situation to move the business forward.
No administrative headaches
The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, for example, has an internship office that supports students and companies in their administrative procedures, depending on the country, so that companies can concentrate on the essentials of their business. Interns also benefit from professional follow-up throughout their mission, with their internship advisor, with the aim of optimizing learning and maximizing the benefits that the employer can derive from the experience. For internships in Switzerland, the signature of a simple internship agreement is sufficient, thus considerably reducing the administrative burden.
Whether in an office, behind a counter or teleworking, interns are one of the keys that will allow the hospitality industry to reinvent itself and return to growth quickly.
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This post originally appeared on the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne Hospitality Insights blog and is reproduced with their permission.
