After selecting 64 stellar resumes to review [submissions without a cover letter were not considered] and holding two sets of group interviews, we finally decided on two sweet, very smart girlies for our Sugarluxe Spring Internship Program. They = Hurray!

Both just completed training and now work about 15-20 hours a week. Unpaid.

FREE LABOR? Maybe to some.

For me - the process of finding the perfect candidate is not unlike the glycolic peel I recently put myself through. At first you kind of dread it, you invariably find a few flakes along the way, but because you endured the procedure, in a matter of weeks it pays off…there’s a renewed youthfulness and everything feels FRESH again!

Plus — every intern I’ve had — ROCKS! Why? They:

  1. are more open to change.
  2. have no sense of entitlement.
  3. bring great, new ideas.
  4. are eager and enthusiastic (which makes my day so much better!)
  5. show ambition, rather than drowning me in utter complacency.

But really caring about and developing a University Intern is a ton of work…if you’re like me and want to make a long lasting impact, it’s worth every minute.

Here’s the thing…

If someone wants to spend their last year of college fetching coffee and making copies…there are plenty of big, faceless firms where they can do that. If they want real hands on, trial by fire experience and learn about building a brand from the ground up, then that’s what happens here.

Plus, I’m thoroughly impressed by how self-directed students are today. Really driven people who are relentless in their pursuit. I love that. Why would I waste that kind of raw talent?

Yet - I have to tell you - my approach is not always the most popular amongst my entrepreneurial peers.

One of my good friends on the West Coast, we’ll call him John (mostly because that’s his name) is the founder of a successful art gallery and CEO of a tech company. He laughs at me when I tell him I am holding semester interviews.

I go about the process the same way I would for a paid position…I’ve interviewed thousands of potential new hires in my former “corporate life”…and so I’ve learned to be a pretty good profiler.

John says the only test should be if a candidate has a reliable car so they can pick up my dry cleaning and get me my Starbucks. He’s not joking. Maybe he gets away with that because he’s cute and fairly charming, but he’s completely serious about his take on interns.

Even the smartest, most talented interns require an investment of time. They need guidance, gratitude, room for error, tolerance, and a really stimulating environment…or bottom line - they won’t show up.

Two years ago, when I started our internship program, I had one person apply. She turned down my offer to intern at GSD&M. Today, we receive hundreds of resumes. Of course, there’s just not room for everyone and I am super selective, but there is something so cool about getting first pick of some of the top students around.

So CONGRATULATIONS to kick ass University of Texas Seniors - Kimberly Heine and Elynna Garcia! You are FANTASTIC! I hope you soak up every juicy bit during your time here and that you love your experience at Sugarluxe…

Popularity: 39%