21. Interns Make Coffee, Not Social Media Strategies

I was an intern a few times in my life, and I can say that I ported my fair share of coffee carafes in those days. But I also learned a lot from those who were (and, to this day, still are) my mentors. Internships enable interns to learn about the workings of a real company and how it relates to their current educational course. Companies with interns are getting somewhat “free labor” and are also gaining insight into the younger generation’s perspective. Interns can help companies complete tasks that their employees currently don’t have time to complete or that aren’t high on the priority list.

However, I’ve unfortunately encountered more than a few companies that ask interns to plan or jump-start their social media strategies. These companies mistakenly believe that because their interns come from Generation Y, they are just the people to plan and launch their social media strategies. That could be one of the worst moves a company can take.