Internship programs are beneficial to students and distributors – as well as the industry as a whole – if executed correctly, according to numerous human resource executives in College Connection, Part 2: Deepening the Relationship.

Assigning interns to projects allows them to “develop skills, knowledge and capabilities” while the company benefits from their fresh perspective and a finished project, says Nicole Enright, Avnet’s vice president of corporate human resources.

Whether helping with social media strategies or predictive analysis, “sometimes that fresh idea and fresh perspective make a substantial difference,” says Enright.

Ideally, interns will become full-time employees after graduation and continue to provide new perspectives while using the valuable knowledge they gained, but even if they choose to work elsewhere, they can provide valuable word-of-mouth marketing to their peers. Telling their friends about their experience helps recruiting for the company and for the distribution industry.

Read more about the value of internships in College Connection, Part 2: Deepening the Relationship.