Intern-Extern Expo planned at Fredericksburg Expo Center as companies scramble for new talent

Since the coronavirus surged across the world two years ago, companies across our region and the U.S. are experiencing employee shortages.

Many people part of the Great Resignation chose retirement over returning to the office.

Now, some companies are turning to high school and college-level interns to fill the gaps. High school students turn to internships to fulfill graduation requirements, learn real-world skills, and to help to get them into college. At the same time, college-level interns wish for regular employment.

“One advantage interns have over traditional job seekers is the try-before-you-buy idea,” said Megan Bergen Vice President of Mission Services, at Rappahannock Goodwill Industries. “Businesses can bring interns on, train them to the job specifications, and offer some professional development opportunities. If they like what they see, businesses can offer the intern a permanent position.”

Next month, more than 500 high school and college students are expected at the Fredericksburg Expo Center an Intern-Extern Expo on April 26, from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. The first-time event is organized by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Organizers hope businesses will register to participate in the event, using it an opportunity to attract new talent. As industries scramble for talent in what’s now described as a job seeker’s market, businesses are turning to local colleges for help with recruiting new employees.

“The days of paper resumes and applications are long gone, and many employers use AI to prescreen applicant information,” said Rebecca ‘Becky’ Morris, Internship and Work-Study Counselor at Germanna Community College. “The idea of remote/virtual internships was hardly considered in the past. Now employers can attract talent from across the world and recruit from a more diverse applicant pool.”

Now that the office space shifted to remote work, today’s interns do more than copy forms and get coffee. Many are eager to show what they can do and contribute to the team, adds Morris.

The majority of U.S. internships remain unpaid. Interns who are paid work mostly at tech firms and make about $19 an hour. However, some students don’t have the ability to work for free.

“The fact is, businesses do benefit from the activity and productivity of interns and are coming to realize they need to compensate interns for their contribution to the business,” said Bergen. “Of course, paid internships are more attractive to interns, and they may very well lead to greater loyalty to the organization and productivity during the internship.”

In hopes of recruiting talent earlier, companies are inviting students to come tour facilities to make connections with future employees. Meanwhile, the virtual marketplace has allowed some students at Germanna to land internships in companies outside the region, including New York City.

The April 26 Intern-Extern Expo is supported by Go Virginia and sponsored by Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. Participants may get more information and register for their companies by visiting the Chamber of Commerce’s website.

The Fredericksburg Expo Center sits at 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway in Fredericksburg.