How to Turn an Internship into a Career

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Stand Out Among the Crowd

Most workers hope their internship will turn into an advanced career opportunity. Part-time work is the perfect introduction to a full-time career, but often companies have more than one intern vying for a career gig.

In order to make a good impression, below are a few “no-brainers” on how to conduct yourself as an intern:

  • Arrive to work and meetings on time
  • Dress appropriately
  • Maintain your integrity in the decisions you make
  • Display proper manners
  • Work well with others
  • Keep a tidy desk
  • Don’t engage in personal activities while on the clock
  • Meet as many people as possible

To get an offer to work as a full-time, permanent employee, you have to stand out. Following the no-brainers above isn’t enough; in fact, it’s the bare minimum. So, how do you stand out from the other interns in the office?

Arrive Early and Stay Late

People notice who is in the office when they arrive. They will also notice if you are still at work when they leave for the day. Keep yourself busy enough so you can linger for a bit before and after work. If you run out of things to do, be social. However, use caution. Trying to start a conversation with a co-worker who is hard at work or trying to get out the door can be annoying and detrimental to your career goals.

Internships are a big deal in college. Since they can be time-consuming and demanding, not everyone can handle school and a part-time internship. If you really want to stand out, stick with the position during the school year. Many companies tend to hire fewer interns during the academic year, so you have a better chance of standing out.

Review these tips to help you wake early.

Answer Emails Immediately and Prioritize Projects

People also notice when you complete a task faster than expected. Keep your email open all day and, if a small task comes along that you can complete quickly, do it. You’ll get credit for acting fast. Just make sure your work is still high-quality and accurate.

Prioritizing is a crucial part of the working world. Normally, you will be balancing several projects and certain projects may be more important than others. If you are on deadline, or working on an important project, it might not be wise to pause it to complete other tasks. If you are not certain of the priority order of your projects, seek guidance from your supervisor.

Check out these email strategies.

Leverage Your Non-Verbal’s

On your first day introduce yourself to the appropriate people and look them directly in the eye when shaking their hand firmly. Be the person who initiates the greeting and make every effort to remember their name.

Recalling a name tells the person they are important to you. For example, when leaving the office you can say goodbye to a team member and address them with their name. It really is the little things that make the biggest difference.

Learn more about popular techniques for name recall.

An internship is often an important step to landing your dream job. Follow the tips above to increase your chances of snagging a permanent position with the company or, at the very least, securing a great reference.

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