For Employers

The Hidden Risks of DIY Intern Recruiting and How it Can Negatively Impact Your Business

By Runway Team

July 31st, 2023

As an ambitious entrepreneur or small business owner, you are constantly on the lookout for ways to grow your startup without breaking a sweat. One area where this is especially challenging is intern recruiting. But in today's competitive marketplace, finding exceptional college students who can seamlessly fit into your team is an artform in itself. We understand that it's tempting to take matters into your own hands and dive headfirst into the world of do-it-yourself (DIY) intern hiring. However, before you embark on this journey alone, let us shed light on three significant risks that can derail your recruitment efforts and ultimately impact the success of your business.

01. Wasted Time & Capital: A Costly Gamble

Every minute counts when you’re striving towards greatness—and every misstep could cost dearly along this perilous journey called entrepreneurship.Tinkering away precious hours only results in dwindling capital reserves which could have been invested elsewhere more productively!

Does this scenario sound familiar? You're spending hours sifting through resumes, conducting interviews, negotiating terms with interns only to find out later that they aren't the right fit for your project or company culture? This scenario not only wastes precious time but also drains valuable capital resources which could have been invested elsewhere in growing aspects of your startup. In the fast-paced world of startups and small business, every second counts and wasted time equals wasted capital.

02. Inadequate Matchmaking Capabilities Without AI Matching Algorithms

When searching independently through college job boards or attending career fairs unprepared financially might lead to even more fruitless results because locating ideal candidates becomes akin to finding a needle in a haystack! Modern-day challenges require modern solutions like artificial intelligence-driven matching algorithms which pair skill sets directly against specific tasks/projects at hand creating win-win scenarios benefiting both employer and intern.

Failure to leverage advanced, technology-based, matchmaking systems robs your business of the opportunity to connect with the most qualified, talented individuals from the most renowned universities in the country. We here at Runway don’t want you to miss out on the crème de la crème — young, talented individuals diligently honing their skills at prestigious institutions. Understand your competitors snatching up these gems by utilizing AI Algorithms like ours, while you’re settling for second (or third)-best!

By relying solely on traditional recruitment channels or attempting to navigate complex college networks independently, you will end up settling for less than exceptional, and even costly talent—a recipe for long-term regret when striving towards building a successful venture.

03.The Blind Spot in College Recruitment Ecosystem: Neglecting the Untapped Prestige of Top Universities

The younger generation is brimming with untapped potential, eager to leave a lasting impact. When DIY intern recruitment strategies are employed, it's easy to forget that the most prestigious universities often hold a goldmine of talent waiting to be discovered. By failing to tap into this impressive talent pool and its fresh perspectives, startups run the danger of bankruptcy because they lag so far behind in innovation and growth.

Time and resource limitations may prevent you from tapping into this vibrant pool of young minds brimming with creativity, ambition, and up-to-date perspectives. Neglecting top-tier institutions means your business will miss out on potential interns who possess not just technical skills but also the irreplaceable insights gleaned from rigorous academic programs designed to nurture excellence in fields such as engineering, software development, business or graphic design. These students will inject new energy and wisdom into a venture’s projects. Will it be yours?

While taking charge of intern recruiting might seem like an attractive option for busy entrepreneurs striving towards series A/B/C capital raises within constrained budgets, embarking without proper preparation is accompanied by several risks which have far-reaching implications for businesses aiming toward sustainable scale and success!
To overcome these challenges effectively, consider partnering with a talent acquisition service like Runway. We are a talent pool specializing in vetting high-achieving college students and new grads who are majoring in Engineering, Software Development, Business, and Graphic Design. We only accept students and new grads hailing from renowned schools with exclusive acceptance rates of 20% or lower so you can rest assured you’re receiving referrals to only the top 3 interns in the entire country who would be best suited for your specific project. Our vetting processes include a Skill-Based Personality Assessment and AI Matching Algorithm which are aimed at providing best-suited candidates for every project, every time, reducing your wasted time and spent capital so your business can fly!