How to Turn Your Internship Into a Job
Spread the Knowledge. Share: 
A college internship doesn’t just look good on a resume – it can be a great opportunity to test-drive a career, gain real-world skills, and possibly land a full-time job. Want to make the most of your internship and increase your chances of getting hired? Check out these tips.
Set Goals with Your Supervisor
It is a good idea to meet early on – ideally within the first week – with your supervisor to clarify your objectives. “Understanding the expectations of a manager is critical to having a successful experience,” advises career coach Beth Hendler-Grunt in her blog. If your priorities are not already laid out, Grunt suggests that you ask some of the following questions to help establish your goals and priorities:
- What are your expectations of me during the internship?
- How will you measure my success? How would you define a successful internship experience?
- How often will we meet? How frequently would you like an update on my progress?
- If I have questions, who should I reach out to ?
The Indiana CPA society encourages interns to also create their own goals, focusing on skill-specific goals, experience goals and relationship goals. For example, a relationship goal could be to schedule lunch or coffee chats with relevant people at the company to learn more about their roles, while an experience goal might be to work on a social media campaign, attend a company event, or provide feedback on a project.
Be Curious and Participate
Don't just show up for your internship and go through the motions. Instead, ask questions – lots of them! Try to understand not only your assigned tasks, but also the company's mission, its different departments, and the challenges it faces. Volunteer for new projects and initiatives with your supervisor’s approval and if time permits. Take part in company events or clubs to get to know others inside and outside of your immediate work group and their roles in the organization.
Network
An internship can be a great chance to network. Career experts at Penn State suggest that interns schedule coffee chats with other employees – both junior and senior level – to learn more about their career progressions and why they like their jobs. If you’re part of a large internship program, make friends with the interns in your cohort. You may work with them in the future or they may introduce you to helpful connections.
Exceed Expectations and Roll with the Punches
Look for ways to contribute to your team beyond your assigned tasks. If your supervisor approves and time permits, offer to help others on your team or to take ownership of a small part of a large project. Not only can this provide you with valuable experience but it also can help out your teammates.
Also remember that internships are about learning and growing, and that sometimes includes making mistakes. If that happens, experts say to take responsibility for it because mistakes are part of the learning process.
Ask for Feedback, Then Act on it
Check in periodically with your supervisor and ask for constructive feedback. Career coach Grunt suggests that interns meet with their supervisors at the beginning and middle of the internship, at a minimum. The first meeting is to clarify expectations. The second meeting is to solicit feedback on your performance, such as whether you are meeting expectations, where you are excelling, and where you can improve.
“The goal is to understand [your] performance and opportunities for improvement or growth. Then adjustments can be made for the remaining time.” In addition to the feedback you get from these meetings, the act of scheduling them shows confidence, that you are open to constructive criticism and mentoring, and that you are committed to your own professional growth. Just be sure that you implement the suggestions you are given.
Practice Professionalism (Always)
Treat your internship like your first "real" job. Be on time for work every day, dress appropriately, meet your deadlines, communicate clearly and respectfully with everyone, take your responsibilities seriously no matter how small, and maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude. In an interview with the Muse, career coach Jillian Lucas tells students to “treat your internship as though it’s a lengthy interview or audition" and to always "demonstrate a very strong work ethic."
Document Your Accomplishments
Experts say it’s important to keep a journal during your internship where you can jot down lessons you learned, descriptions of projects you worked on, what you liked and disliked about certain tasks, and anything else about your internship experience.
It’s especially important to document your accomplishments and quantify your successes. For example, if a social media campaign you worked on increased engagement by 10 percent, say so. Grunt recommends tracking the time you spent on specific projects and training, the number and type of tasks you worked on or completed, and the number and types of clients or colleagues you assisted or interacted with, and using this information to bolster your resume.
Make the Ask
At the end of the internship, if you genuinely enjoyed your experience and see yourself working for the company down the road, make your interest known to your supervisor. The best time to do this, experts say, is at your final check-in meeting when you should thank your supervisor for the guidance, mentorship and opportunities you received. (Be proactive about setting a final meeting if your supervisor hasn’t schedule one.)
Before seeking a full-time opportunity at the company, it’s important to make sure that you have really excelled in your role. According to career coach Jillian Lucas, “Ideally, you’re so impressive you are being encouraged from within to apply for a full-time role.” Lucas recommends reviewing and making a list of your accomplishments, including your completed projects and their impact, the skills you’ve gained, and experiences you had. For examples of what to say when asking for a job, see Alyse Maguire’s article in the Muse.
If you are not offered a full-time position before the end of the internship, do not take it personally. There can be many reasons why an internship does not turn into a full-time position. If you had a good relationship with your supervisor and were told that you did a good job, ask for a recommendation for your LinkedIn page.
Keep in Touch
After your internship ends, it’s important to maintain the connections you made. One of the easiest ways to do this is to connect on LinkedIn with the people you worked with, including other interns. You should also consider sending a thank-you note to your supervisor a few weeks after your internship ends describing a specific skill you learned or unique experience you had during the internship and sending an email every few months to provide an update on your progress at school or with your job search.
SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY
Your internship can be a great opportunity to develop your network, demonstrate your skills and work ethic, and apply things you learned in class to the real world. Applying some of these strategies may help you maximize your internship experience – and may even lead to a full-time job.
