The article, “Ford CEO on his ‘epiphany’ after talking to his Gen Z factory workers: They were saying they ‘had to have three jobs’” in Fortune magazine reminded me that I’ve been talking about the skills gap for years in my Human Relations and Social Problems courses. Here’s what we fail to realize:
❌ Trades were removed from high schools.
❌ On the job training was eliminated in all sectors.
❌ Wages for entry level jobs across multiple industries stagnated.
❌ Liberal arts degrees were devalued.
We didn’t just lose skilled technicians and factory workers as mentioned in the article, we lost brilliant minds who could recognize the problems and operationalize solutions. This is another example to support internship program development and management. Now is the time to incorporate interns and rebuild your organization on a firm foundation while increasing your talent pipeline, employee engagement, and long-term productivity and profitability.
Because the truth is, business as usual results in more business as usual…
And what we’re seeing in workplaces right now isn’t working out well for many!
This is your second reminder that designing and shaping multi-generational workplaces by incorporating interns is a promising growth strategy. It is no longer feasible to treat internships as a “favor” to students or a “burden” to staff. Well-designed internship programs are one of the most underrated talent development strategies organizations can invest in.
✅ They create a reliable talent pipeline for future hiring.
✅ They boost employee morale when seasoned staff mentor new talent.
✅ They increase productivity by distributing meaningful work.
✅ They accelerate innovation through fresh perspectives.
The best internship programs are not desperate tricks or random assignments, they’re intentional opportunities to build capacity, grow leadership, and strengthen culture.
It’s time to stop viewing interns as “extra hands” or after thoughts and start seeing them as emerging leaders.
Schedule a 20-minute consultation to determine the best way I can support you in designing and scaling an impactful internship program.
Nicki Sanders, MSW, is committed to career development, professional development, and organizational development. As Founder and CEO of Nicki Sanders Leadership Consulting, her mission is simple – to eliminate toxic workplaces by developing skilled, empathetic, and goal-oriented leaders who have the vision, support, and resources to create a culture where business prospers, and employees thrive individually and collectively. Nicki has an extensive background in nonprofit management leading high-functioning, multi-disciplinary teams, volunteer recruitment and retention, and social impact programming. She is a thought leader dedicated to dismantling the outdated, narrow view of social work and an accomplished professor, coach, trainer, and group facilitator who has combined her gift for authentic relationships, Master of Social Work degree, and over 20 years of diverse work experience to create a life and career aligned with her values and purpose. She is a lover of nature, cupcakes, travel, and 80’s hip hop and R&B music.
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