relocating interns

Interns…

“They’re young!”  

“They don’t have that much stuff!”  

“They’ll only be here for a few months!”  

“How much help do they really need?”  

The answer to that question is:  

They need just as much help as everyone else.

Why? Because…  

Moving is moving.

(no matter which way you spin it)

What we mean is…

Even though interns are typically not looking to sell a home or move their entire household (requiring a full service van-line), this is still a stressful situation for them.  This notion is something relocation service providers and employers struggle with at times. Interns require just as much help as your full-time employees.    

Structure

Money

Time

Assumed liability

Attention  

Internship programs require:  

Having a successful internship program isn’t as easy as posting an

ad on a job board website, holding a few interviews, and then magically having a handful of brilliant interns.

There is a lot you need to understand, starting with your…  

Different Intern Personas

Organized Oliver •  Has it all together •  Extremely organized •  Timely •  Structured •  Technology-driven •  Epitome of a Millennial •  First to give feedback

to employers

Nervous Nellie

•  Unsure about things •  Has a lot concerns •  Needs a plan/structure •  Prefers over-

communication •  Wants and accepts help •  Need you to be their

“Organized Oliver”

Independent Isaac •  Wants to do things himself •  Reluctant to accept help •  Not vocal with concerns •  Can seem removed •  Needs you to ask the

questions for him •  Thinks he’s prepared, but

might not be as ready as he thinks

There’s one more though…

Penny the Parent •  Needs quick answers •  Can have unrealistic

expectations •  Has a lot of questions •  Very involved in their

child’s life, so they want to know details

•  Prefers to communicate via phone vs. chat

A-B-A: Interns relocate twice

Why is this important?

This is the main aspect that sets intern relocations apart from other moves. Imagine how stressful it is moving from Point A to Point B and learning a completely new city and surroundings. You have to take that one step further with interns, since they go through the same stresses but in about half the time. The amount of time they have to acclimate themselves to their new environment and dive in headfirst to their internship is very short. Before they know it, they need to be ready to switch directions and head back home.  

One thing that can save you a lot of time (and money) is to determine

what exactly your interns need, and also what they don’t need.

Need Don’t Need •  Help moving personal

belongings TWO ways (perhaps better suited for a provider that picks up and delivers belongings for them, rather than a van-line)

•  Transportation

resources while there •  Education on what to

expect with both their job and their new city

•  Long-term housing contracts

•  Lifestyle transition

assistance (such as spousal assistance, help finding schools, home- finding trips, babysitters, etc.)

The first thing they need, though, is…  

Intern Housing

• Furnished housing • University housing • Traditional renting • Private homeowners

Furnished housing

Housing providers are able house up to two employees per bedroom. The apartment comes fully furnished, but be prepared to pay for that. This is a great option if interns are relocating only for a few months, as shipping furniture would not be very practical. One downside to this, though, is that it can get pretty expensive.

Price for Furnished Housing

Typical housing might begin around $600, but furnished housing (the route most interns go) is going to start

around $1,000, and go up from there.

ß------------------------------------à $600 $2,500

University housing

This route is great for interns on a minimal budget. The majority of the properties are dorm style, and while this might not be much of a change for some interns, those with families or those whom have already graduated might not be well suited for this. University housing is generally located near the city center, so most everything is in walking distance. However, what’s tough about university housing is that the university holds space for their actual students first, so there is typically not a lot of inventory at the end of it for your interns.

Traditional renting

This might seem initially desirable since the price is lower than furnished housing; however, this type of housing can be difficult to secure. Many landlords prefer to rent an unfurnished apartment in a one-year lease, so breaking that can cost additional money to the leasee. In choosing to go the unfurnished route, it is crucial for your interns to keep in mind that they will need furniture (at least to some degree), and although many furniture rental companies offer packages for a minimal lifestyle, it still might be a costly expense for those on a limited budget.

Differences with Lease

A typical lease is signed for 1 year, but interns need something for usually just 3-6 months. This can make finding a rental difficult.

ß--------------------------------------à

1 mo 12 mo

Private homeowners

This option, while it is financially appealing and has a lot of availability, is probably the least popular. While there might be a lot of availability (which will vary based on the intern’s price range), this type of housing is difficult to vet through a relocation company. There is a lot of liability to take into consideration with this, and it does not always present the most reliable options for inventory.

When should you start looking?

45-60 days out

Why?

Most tenants have to submit a notice to vacate within 60 days of their move-out date. (There are a handful of states that have a 30-day notice to vacate, which are California, Washington, and Oregon.) Third party relocation companies are waiting for those extensions to be submitted so the availability can be determined for transferees. It is important not to look much earlier or later than that this frame, because looking too early might yield options that will be gone by the time they are actually trying to move, and in looking too late, interns run into a very limited number of available options.

Intern housing is extremely time sensitive.

Be ready to answer questions, too. The

team at UrbanBound has gotten some…interesting ones…

“Can you talk to my mom?”

“If I go home on the weekends, do I have to pay for those nights?”

“I have to pay taxes on my lump sum!?”

“How do I get to work?”

“Can you find me a one bedroom in NYC? My budget is $500.”  

Different Supplier Networks

Internship programs require you to find and qualify a whole

different set of supplier networks, such as…

•  Deal of the day sites •  Roommate matching providers •  Social meet-up aggregators •  Labor assistance companies •  Short-term shipping providers •  Mentors  

It’s also important that you …

…educate

Interns don’t always consider…

Food costs

Everyday expenses

Transportation

Social activities

Gas

Incidentals

Make sure they are aware of how much all of these little expenses can add up to.  

And don’t be afraid to use technology to your advantage!  

Technology offers:

•  24/7 constant support

•  A do-it-yourself option •  Easily navigable interfaces

•  Massive library of resources and content to read through

Communication will be your best friend when it comes to managing

your interns.

Just make sure you…

Adjust your vehicles of communication properly and on a case-by-case basis.

Interns want…

Parents want…

What it really comes down to is…

Understanding what your interns need, communicating with them, and educating them. Tell them everything they could possibly want to know, and make sure you touch on subjects like…

The social aspect

Roommate options

LinkedIn groups

Facebook pages

Events in the area

Intramural leagues

Also, make sure to have these types of questions

already answered: •  Amount of rental properties in the area

•  What kind of seasonal leases are available

•  Average rent

•  Proximity of rental to work establishment

•  Public transportation or parking options

•  Overall safety and atmosphere of the area  

Interns want to know:

•  Start date and end date •  Daily start time and end time •  What to wear •  Where to eat lunch •  What they will be doing •  Who is on their team •  Proximity to new apartment

Moral of the story?

Prepare.

Understand.

Educate.

Communicate.

And you’re golden!

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