Enterns are the new interns

In the current economic climate, one would expect to see a rise in internship programs as people across a wide range of industry sectors struggle to find paid work and opt for any foot in the door with big brands and firms (something that an unpaid internship offers). On the contrary, could the GFC and rise in unemployment be responsible for a rise in the ‘entern’?

• There is a growing groundswell of entrepreneurs, and they band together;
• There are websites, forums, portals and blogs both dedicated to them and run by them;
• Yet again, we are seeing an upsurge in start-up companies by young founders; and
• Today’s business leaders are getting younger (see my247, Danoz Direct, Strike Group Australia, Moi Moi Fine Jewellery, Geekversity etc…).

Today, everyone is an entrepreneur and the art of entrepreneurship is a craft that cannot be taught.

Will we see more people bypass traditional internship programs, education institutions and other formal training programs as they start to hone their entrepreneurial skills and focus their efforts towards developing their own start up companies?

Something for smart companies and formal training institutions to think about…