How to Go From Summer Intern to Full-Time Employee

How to Go From Summer Intern to Full-Time Employee Internships are an essential part of the college experience, providing you the opportunity to test-drive a career field, make contacts, build marketable skills and figure out your likes and dislikes  within specific industries. Graduates without work experience will stand little chance of securing  a job after graduation research suggests. Work experience is now just as important as a college  degree. You already know this. What you need to know is how to turn your internship between  your junior and senior year into a job offer before you graduate. An internship is a job. If you did your research, you landed an internship where you are required  to do substantial and valuable work. Plan for success: When you are serious about turning your internship into a full-time position, start with a plan on day one. Bring your full self to work every day. It’s a simple concept but not always easy to do.  The subway was hot and crowded; you had a disagreement with a friend; whatever is  going on in your life you leave it at the front door. Be clear about what is expected of you. There’s a job description, and then there is  what your manager and co-workers expect from you and your work. When you know  how to help them, your job becomes much easier. Prioritize the most important things for you to learn. From understanding office  hours to what systems and software you’ll need to access and how to download itâ€"you  probably have a lot of questions and little idea where to start. Identify what you need to  learn and consider whether any are time-sensitive. If you don’t know or can’t figure it out,  ask. Find someone whom you can ask stupid questions. Some companies with internship  programs have someone assigned to the interns. If you don’t have a go-to person, find  the friendliest person in the room and start there. Even if they’re not the right resource,  they can likely point you in the right direction. Learn the business. Don’t limit yourself to the tasks you are given. Take time to learn  how the business runs as a whole so you understand how your work fits in to the  company mission and goals, and can identify additional ways you can help. Identify opportunities for quick wins. As an intern, you have seven to nine weeks to  demonstrate your value to the company. Ask yourself: What are areas of opportunity  where you can quickly make an impact? How can you make that impact visible? Are  these areas in line with the company’s priorities? Get feedback. During the internship, schedule meetings with your supervisor to receive  feedback on your work. (Read more) Meet decision-makers. It’s important you meet people outside of the department and  learn what they are doing. Make yourself known to decision-makers and the HR  department. Get to know the company culture. Culture is about people, and having an environment  where they can grow, contribute and be rewarded. Its hard to determine if you are a  good fit for an organization. Fit means that you have the skills to perform a job, and the  drive to use those skills effectively. It also means you are suited to the organization and  its culture. How does work get gone? How do people communicate with each other?  How do people act in meetings? These are just some of things that will help you  succeed in the company. Act like a full-time employee: Be confident in your abilities. Be sure to participate in all internship and company activities. Let  people get to know you and your work. Be curious. Soak up everything you can. When you are new, you will be overwhelmed  at first. Information is coming at you fast and from all directions. Dont be afraid to say, I  dont know. Ask questions. Learn from everyone. Dont expect a lot of hand-holding. You will need to be proactive in developing  relationships and seeking out help from peers and colleagues. Show initiative. Ask colleagues and your boss what you can do. Don’t wait for them to  come to you. Instead, go to them and show you are willing to do whatever it takes. Pay attention to office etiquette. Internships are summer-long interviews. Everything  you do and say is evaluated by others in the organization. One of the biggest mistakes  you can make is not understanding there are certain codes and rules to abide by in the  workplace. If youre not careful, you may even lose opportunities because others are put  off by your lack of professionalism. Keep track. Keep a record of your milestones and tasks you completed. This will serve  as both proof of the value you’ve added to the company, and all this data and the  success stories will help your resumé. Be a team player. Form collaborative partnerships with the department members and  the other interns. Be a giver not a taker.  Plan your exit strategy: You want to leave a good impression at the end of your internship. Even if you didn’t like  working there, it’s important to leave on good terms. Let your employer know you are interested in a full-time position. Assuming you  liked the work, people and culture, you want to let your immediate supervisor/boss know  your interest. Ask for his/her advice on the best way to pursue an opportunity.  Periodically check-in to remind your supervisor of your interest in a full time position after  graduation. Give a final presentation. Find time to give a department-wide presentation of the work  youve been doing. If there are other interns in the office, be sure to include them. Smoothly transition off all your projects. If projects you’ve worked on are not  complete, make sure you document what you did and debrief a full-time member of the  team. Send a proper goodbye email. On your last day, its a best practice to send an email to  the people you worked with during the internship. Let them know why youre leaving  (e.g. youre going back to school) and how to reach you. Thank specific individuals you  worked closely with or those who offered you mentorship. Exit interview. As you near the end of your internship, schedule a meeting with your  supervisor to talk about your performance and possibilities of continuing your  employment at the company. Bring your list of accomplishments, and show them exactly  how you’ve proven yourself valuable. Stay in touch. Connect with everyone you’ve worked through LinkedIn, and make sure  to send them a quick email from time-to-time to keep yourself top of mind. Update your resumé and LinkedIn Profile. There’s no better time than when what  you’ve done and accomplished are fresh. Read more about resumes and LinkedIn. Use your internship to your advantage by being able to share what you’ve done, maintaining  strong relationships, and growing your professional network.   Author: Jane Horowitz is a career-launch coach and founder of More Than A Resumé. Jane has  championed college students in their job searches from colleges and universities across the  country, and with majors from engineering to fine arts, from computer design to banking. Jane  has made a measurable and lasting difference in college students’ lives.