Turn Your Internship Into Your Job

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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.