How to Turn an Internship into a
Full Time Job Offer
After spending hours in the classroom, many students will take what they’ve learned and apply it in an internship. Internships are a great way to gain experience in a particular field, add to a resume and even begin networking.
It is important to make a good impression in any workplace environment, but the impression your student makes during an internship is especially essential. While your student is putting in their hours, gaining hands-on experience and applying what they have learned in the classroom to real-life situations, their employer is getting their first impressions of your student’s work ethic and could be considering bringing them onto their team as a future full-time employee. To help that potential offer along, here are a few things that your student should keep in mind when fulfilling internship hours:
Treat an internship like a real job. Remind them to always arrive on time, stay committed to their role and show reliability. Professionalism goes a long way and can be seen through communication between colleagues, taking on responsibilities and even appropriate attire. Your student should pay attention to every detail possible, because you never know what employers are looking for.
Use the internship as a networking opportunity. Encourage your student to make as many new relationships while in this role as possible. Attend events, meetings and social gatherings with their colleagues. Make bonds with their mentor who can provide advice and be your student’s advocate. Tell your student to take all of the names, phone numbers and any other contact information they can get. All of these connections can lead to future letters of recommendation or even job offers.
Be teachable. Have a discussion with your student on how to take feedback and turn it into improvement. It is important to learn from mistakes and grow from them. Seeking this feedback can improve your student’s skillset and can add more to their resume. Also remind them to show interest in learning. If there is a new project coming up, encourage them to ask to be a part of it. There can be a healthy amount of pushing their limits in order to expand and gain experience.
Express their interest in the role. Your student should be showing enthusiasm, asking questions and initiating conversations with colleagues. If the internship is coming to an end, it’s okay for your student to be the first to bring up applying for full-time positions. This will show that they have enjoyed their internship and could see themselves starting their career in that work environment.
Internships are a great segue into students’ careers. The transition from classroom to workplace can be difficult for some, so gaining experience in any way possible is a great way to get a head start on the process. Discuss with your student the importance of internships and emphasize work ethic and professionalism. You never know, your student’s internship could turn into their first post-grad job offer. If your student needs help finding an internship that is a great fit for them, make sure to direct them to Tech’s Center for Career Development for additional assistance.
Source: https://thecollegepod.com/internship-into-a-full-time-job-offer/
