Serving clients and working to find new ones leave little time for market research and doing some practice development work. I don't want to take on a partner right now, but what about using interns on a part time basis?

Many companies hire interns to supplement their staff. College and graduate students are looking for part time or summer opportunities to get experience in business, and consulting is a great opportunity to see a variety of situations and get some guidance in how business works.

There are some tradeoffs in hiring an intern. While they usually work for little or no salary, they usually have limited experience. This does not mean they do not have technical knowledge (e.g., graduate business students, or marketing students) or some practical skills (e.g., students with significant web design or development expertise). It does mean, however, that they look to you for guidance and your time as a teacher.

How do you find an intern? Ask your consulting colleagues. Check with local colleges and universities. Students looking for part time or summer work notify university career centers of their availability and interests. Contact these career centers with any opportunity you can offer and ask who they might recommend for your needs. Let them know that your needs may be intermittent and to stay on the lookout for There is no cost to call. You might be surprised by what resources are available to you.

Tip: A good intern or series of interns provides you with a good list of possible junior people to hire, or to refer to colleagues, once they become available full time.

© 2011 Institute of Management Consultants USA