Every summer New Yorkers hear a steady thwack of rubber slapping
pavement as flip-flop-wearing interns pour out of subways and into
offices across the city. There, the very best ones change into real
shoes, put their heads down and land a real full-time job offer three
months later.
Internships are a great opportunity to test out a company and
determine whether you’d want to work there full-time. The most
successful interns view their short-term opportunities as more than just
a summer gig. “They treat an internship as a 10- to 12-week job
interview,” says Alex Taylor, a senior vice president and human
resources manager at Bank of America.
How do you pull that off? First, act the part. Adhere to your
company’s dress code and office hours. Model your wardrobe after those
of senior-level colleagues. Never wear flip-flops, show cleavage or wear
anything that’s ripped or torn. Treat everyone you meet with respect
and professionalism, and don’t badmouth co-workers. Leave your personal
life at home.
In Pictures: How To Turn Your Internship Into Your Job
Within the first week of starting your internship, make an
appointment with your manager to establish goals. Discuss projects you’d
like to tackle and specific skills you hope to gain over the summer.
Always have a positive attitude about the work, however menial it may
seem. “Not every task you’re going to do is something you’ll enjoy, but
have the attitude that these are building blocks to your career,” says
Tom Musbach, a former producer at Yahoo. “Once you show you can be
trusted with small tasks, managers will give you more responsibility.”
Don’t be shy about asking questions, especially if you need
clarification on an assignment. Carry a notebook with you at all times.
“While it’s important to treat your internship as a job interview, it’s
also important to make it a learning experience coupled with
self-exploration,” says Holly Stroupe Vestal, a human resources
consultant for Bank of America’s Banking Center Channel, who was hired
full time after her own internship. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
It’s a great way to show your level of engagement and connect the dots.
It also will help you obtain a rounded, realistic preview of a
prospective employer and job, so you can make an educated decision about
your career options down the road.”
Be assertive. Don’t overextend yourself, but raise your hand when a
manager asks for help. Don’t just stick to your department, either;
volunteer to work in other areas of the company so you get an overview
of as many as possible. Prove that you can meet the responsibilities of
holding a full-time job.
To avoid spinning your wheels and wasting time, make sure you’re on
the same page as your manager. After you’ve met with him or her to
discuss a particular project, take the time to carefully think through
the problem before racing ahead on the work. “Then go back to your
manager the following morning and check your understanding of the
challenge and how to best approach it,” says Chris Bierly, the head of
North American associate consultant recruiting at Bain & Co. “It’s
important to get out of the blocks fast, but first you want to make sure
you’re holding the baton.”
Use your internship as an opportunity to network with senior leaders
and your fellow interns. They are all vital contacts who can serve as
references, recommend you for a job, and alert you to positions at other
companies. Most businesses host intern events throughout the summer to
encourage networking. Attend all of them. If the company has a softball
team, join it. Talk to your colleagues to find out all you can about the
company and what they like and don’t like about working there.
Throughout the summer, keep a record of the new skills you’ve
acquired and the assignments you’ve completed. “They’ll be great
building blocks for your résumé,” says Musbach. Save any complimentary
e-mails or notes, too, to get ideas for potential references.
Before the summer ends, get your colleagues’ contact information and
send thank-you notes. Network with them throughout the year by sending
casual e-mails asking them about their work. If you performed well over
the summer, they’ll think of you when a job opens up. As Chris Bierly
observes, “Applying for a job is a mutual courtship.”
In Pictures: How To Turn Your Internship Into Your Job
This story is an update of a piece written by Helen Coster.
