Case

Many recent graduates work as interns as they begin to establish their careers. Career Edge Organization is a national not$-$for$-$profit service provider, established in $1996,$ that arranges paid internships by partnering with leading Canadian host employers, including major banks, telecommunications and financial firms, and public$-$sector employers like local, provincial, and territorial governments. The first online job board in Canada $($www$.$careeredge.ca$),$ Career Edge Organization, to date, has recorded over $12,000$ internships and continues to offer paid internships through the Career Edge, Ability Edge, and Career Bridge paid internship programs.

The Career Edge program provides meaningful entry$-$level work experience for recent Canadian graduates. IT is designed to help recent graduates launch careers in their chosen field. For employers, Career Edge offers access to a diverse, qualified talent pool via cost$-$effective $4$ to $12-$month paid internships that do not affect headcount. It is also a robust option for onboarding recent graduates. For a very reasonable stipend, these interns can help with special projects, add diversity to company operations, and cover temporary staffing shortages. Interns gain practical work experience, develop employability skills such as teamwork and critical thinking, benefit from networking, and receive a stipend.

Kim Burgess, a business analyst at Bell Systems & Technology, benefited tremendously from Career Edge. She says, "After taking a year off work to return to school, re$-$entering the workforce was difficult. Career Edge gave me the opportunity I needed to apply my new skill set and learn within a working environment. Your internship is what you make of it and Career Edge will provide exactly what you need to excel!"

Please answer the following questions:

What do employers receive from summer interns? What returns do recent graduates get from these internship opportunities?

Should interns be paid? If so$,$ how much? How would you recommend an employer decide the answers to both these questions?

What added information would you like to have before you make your recommendations? How would you use this information?