College graduates and current college students alike know that when it comes to finding a job in any industry, internships are the gateway to those jobs. For many interns who land the internship of their dreams, they may want to stick around longer and wish to be hired for a full-time job. Unfortunately, the decision to hire you and get on the employer’s payroll isn’t up to you. It’s up to your boss and their superiors. However, you can influence their decision by hard work and a few other things. When it comes to turning your internship into a job, you need to step up to the plate.
1. Focus
As CBS Money Watch states, even before you start your internship, you need to be prepared and focused. Just like when you prepare yourself for a job interview, you need to prepare yourself to take on a new job role. Many interns enter their internship without knowing what they are going to do. Interns feel that since it’s a learning experience, it’s alright to take it slow the first weeks in order to get a handle on everything. The truth is, the more prepared you are for the job beforehand the less time you’ll waste having to be babysat and looked over. Taking the initiative before you start the job to prepare yourself for the work you’ll be doing will show your boss that you are taking your internship seriously and aren’t there to waste their time- or yours.
2. Work Ethic
You need to show that you have a good work ethic in your internship if you want to turn it into a full-time job. Showing that you have good work ethic now may hint that you would be a great worker down the road. This should go without saying, but as an intern it’s easy to feel like no one really cares about the work that you do compared to the full-time employees. Remember that you need to show your boss that you are a valuable asset to the team. Showing that you have great work ethic is an important part of that. Staying focused on your work means no Facebook or checking your phone during work. It means being professional and responsible. Always turn in your work on time, and make sure you put in 110 percent.
3. Dedication
Show your dedication to your job. You do this by being the first one to arrive in the morning and the last one out a night. You also don’t take an hour long lunch break. You should keep your lunch at the standard half hour. Don’t ever come to work late unless you have a valid excuse since coming in late shows poor professionalism. Staying late shows again that you have a good work ethic and that you are able to sacrifice a bit more of your time to dedicate yourself to the job.
4. Relationship
Establish a good relationship with your boss. If you want to turn this internship into a full-time job, you have to have a good relationship with the number one person that has control over the decision. In order to have a good relationship you must have good communication. Regularly check in with your boss if they don’t check in with you already in order to keep track of where you are. You need to get constant feedback on your work as well. Knowing where your work stands will help you know where you need to improve. Ask questions and engage in dialogue with your boss as often as you can.
5. Coworkers
Aside from having a good relationship with your boss, you need to have a good relationship with your coworkers by being an active team player. Being MVP means contributing to the team when needed by offering new creative ideas, offering a helping hand on projects, and having a voice at company meetings. Being an intern may make you feel like you’re at the bottom of the ladder and that nobody cares for you, but by making yourself known you’re showing that you can be a good addition to the work team.
6. HR
Human Resources may have gone into your periphery after you were hired as an intern, but you shouldn’t forget them while you intern there. Chances are the people in HR are going to be some of the people deciding whether to hire you full-time or not. Check in with them and let them know how much you’re enjoying this internship and working for the company. They’ll take your good intentions into account.
7. Lasting Impression
If you’re pursuing a full-time job, this internship is like an extended job interview. They want to know that you want to work there, so bring a lot of good energy into the workplace, be eager to work and show them every day that you like working there. Your good energy will flow through the workplace and people will notice.
8. Continual Hard Work
At the end of your internship, work just as hard as you did on your first days there. Write a thoughtful and sincere thank you note that includes reflections and learned experiences at your internships. Leaving a good last impression is just as good as making a good first impression.
Have you ever turned an internship into a full-time job? How did it work out? Let us know about it in the comments section below!
IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by Hryck
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