Treat interns the same way as full-time staff, says CIPR
The CIPR has introduced its ‘Internship and Work Placement’ toolkit, which advises that interns should be managed in the same way as full-time members of staff.
Another recommendation by CIPR is that employers should ensure their work placements are open to the widest pool of talent available and that whilst in place, interns have full and equal access to learning and development opportunities.
Cornelius Alexander, chair of the CIPR’s Diversity Working Group, said: “As a profession, we should aim to balance the need to ensure that internships are open to all those who show potential as well as a keen desire to break into the industry, without making it harder for employers to offer opportunities to those seeking valuable work experience.
“The Public Relations Consultants’ Association has already undertaken some tremendous work on the issue of unpaid internships and this toolkit complements it by striving for excellence in learning and development for those considering a career in public relations. It is now for employers, recruiters and HR managers – those responsible for developing future practitioners – to show leadership by taking these recommendations on board.”