Case Study: How Sarah Found the Perfect Intern in a Fraction of the Time with enterN

Background

Sarah runs a growing marketing consultancy in Central Illinois, specializing in brand strategy for mission-driven startups and nonprofits. Like many small business owners, Sarah always knew an intern could help lighten the load—but every time she tried to hire one, she hit a wall. The traditional process felt like a full-time job: sifting through resumes, guessing who might be a fit, and setting up interviews that went nowhere.

I’d tried Handshake before, but it just didn’t work for me. It felt like throwing a job post into the void. I didn’t have the time or energy to sort through 50 applications that all looked the same. - Sarah L., Founder & Creative Director

The Challenge

Sarah needed more than just a list of students. She wanted insight into who they were—what kind of environment they thrived in, what kind of work excited them, and whether they’d be a cultural fit for her team. But she didn’t have weeks to run a drawn-out hiring process.

The enterN Experience

Sarah joined enterN’s alpha pilot in partnership with a local university career fair. Instead of resumes, she was given insightful, visual profiles of students based on their preferences, values, and ideal work environment. Each profile included things like:

• Work setting preference (collaborative vs. independent)

• Supervisor style match (hands-on mentor vs. autonomous leader)

• Industry and mission alignment

• Career goals and what they’re looking for in a first opportunity

  
  

It was like having a cheat code. I could instantly tell which students were wired for the kind of fast-paced, creative work we do. It helped me cut through the noise.

The Result

Sarah matched with six students through enterN and decided to interview three. She quickly found one student whose preferences aligned beautifully with her company’s vibe—and made the hire within a week of the fair.

It was the easiest hiring decision I’ve ever made. My intern hit the ground running and contributed real value from day one. enterN didn’t just save me time—it helped me make a better hire.

Looking Ahead

Sarah is already planning to use enterN again for her next hire—and she’s recommending it to other founders in her network.

This is the future of hiring. Especially for small teams like mine, where culture fit and agility matter so much. I’m a huge fan.