Listen On

Share this episode

What if your next great marketing hire could start with a 10-week internship?

Internships are common in plenty of industries, but Danielle Wernert believes contractors are still overlooking how valuable they can be. As a Training Strategist and owner of Upskilled Consulting, Danielle helps contractors stop winging it when it comes to training by building onboarding programs, technician career paths, and in-house apprenticeship academies. She’s also experienced internships from the other side, completing seven of them herself while figuring out where she wanted her own career to go.

That combination gives Danielle a pretty clear idea of what makes an internship valuable and what turns it into little more than busy work. In this episode, she breaks down what a strong internship program can actually look like for a home service business, especially in marketing. From social media and video to events and print, Danielle shares how contractors can create a structured, rotational experience that gives interns meaningful work while finally getting traction on valuable projects that have been sitting on the back burner.

But the bigger opportunity is talent. Danielle explains how internships can become a pipeline for future employees, strengthen your employer brand, and show potential hires and customers what your culture is really like. The key is being intentional. Know what you want the intern to learn, give them a roadmap, and make sure your team has the capacity to support them.

Because whether you’re training a new technician or bringing in a marketing intern, people shouldn’t have to figure everything out on their own. Give them structure, meaningful work, and room to learn, and you’re not just getting projects done. You’re building people who may eventually become an important part of your team.

Listen in and learn about:

  • What seven different internships taught Danielle about what makes an internship valuable
  • Why internships shouldn’t be confused with apprenticeships or treated as free labor
  • How to know whether your company actually has the capacity to support an intern
  • Why Danielle recommends marketing as a great place for contractors to start
  • How to structure a 10-week rotational internship around real, meaningful projects
  • The difference between productive back-burner projects and giving interns grunt work
  • How internships can create a talent pipeline for future full-time employees
  • Why sharing your interns, training, and company culture can strengthen your recruiting and marketing

 

Mentioned in the episode:

Connect with Danielle:

 

Transcript

LISTEN ON