Are you thinking about hiring a summer intern? Maybe you’re gearing up for your busy season and need some extra help around the office, or perhaps there’s a project that’s needs some attention and would be perfect for a summer intern.

Regardless of your goals when you decided to hire a summer intern, there are a number of ways that your intern can be valuable to you, above and beyond completing the immediate work at hand.

The Gen Y Perspective: Like it or not, Gen Y (Generation Y are people considered born from the early to mid-1980s through the mid-1990s) is on track to rule the universe (or at least make a very significant impact on it). If your intern falls within this demographic, take advantage of your in-house market research department. Ask your intern for his or her feedback on your product or service. Does your message resonate? Is your message clear? Sure, you may not be targeting Gen Y, but why not get this valuable insight when it’s available (it’s free!).

Social Media Savvy: Maybe being a part of the online Internet community is not a part of your marketing plan (though we suspect that’s not the case). But regardless, it is probably safe to assume that your intern knows a thing or two about social media. Take a few minutes to refresh your knowledge and learn about latest developments and applications. For those who are beginners, this is the perfect chance to dive right in this community.

You, as a Manager: If you hired an intern, then you probably have growth on the mind. (Congratulations, by the way!) As you spend time with your summer intern, you will start to notice some things about yourself and your management. Are you a good manager? Does it come easy to you? If so, then perhaps the model of having many interns, or perhaps even a team of junior full-time folks makes sense for you as you grow your business. Conversely, if you determine that management is not one of your strengths (or even something you like), then perhaps sticking with one well-trained intern throughout the year and one or two more senior people is the path for you.

Interns can be a great resource for a growing company. And as we’re nearing the time of year when lots of students and recent grads are looking for summer internships, do yourself a favor and hire one now!