With more than two decades of experience in higher education, cultural criticism and politics, Horacio Sierra's writing and public speaking aims to demystify higher education and promote the democratic values of the arts and humanities.
Horacio Sierra, Ph.D. College Professor and Education Expert WriterWith more than two decades of experience in higher education, cultural criticism and politics, Horacio Sierra's writing and public speaking aims to demystify higher education and promote the democratic values of the arts and humanities.
Written By Horacio Sierra, Ph.D. College Professor and Education Expert WriterWith more than two decades of experience in higher education, cultural criticism and politics, Horacio Sierra's writing and public speaking aims to demystify higher education and promote the democratic values of the arts and humanities.
Horacio Sierra, Ph.D. College Professor and Education Expert WriterWith more than two decades of experience in higher education, cultural criticism and politics, Horacio Sierra's writing and public speaking aims to demystify higher education and promote the democratic values of the arts and humanities.
College Professor and Education Expert Writer Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Updated: Nov 1, 2023, 1:55pm
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If your ultimate career goal is to land a job in your desired field, an internship can be a step in the right direction. A good internship involves learning practical skills, working alongside professionals in the field and—most importantly—helping you get closer to your dream job.
Plus, internships are a great way to test-drive a career and see if it’s a good fit for you. Studying marketing textbooks is one thing; launching a marketing campaign for a new sports car is another. Internships are where theory meets practice. And when the time has come to hand in your intern badge, you’ll want to know how to transition to a full-time position.
If you’ve found an internship you love, keep reading. We’ll explore ways to ensure your internship leads you in the right direction, even after it’s done.
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Don’t just enjoy that pizza at the end-of-summer internship party. Strategize how you can leverage your internship into a full-time job. Start working on your next move by putting these career-advancing tips into practice:
Set goals for yourself when you start an internship. Once you’ve achieved them, remember this advice about the business world’s competitive culture: Humility is not a virtue when it comes to ensuring your hard work is noticed by others.
Whether you are listing your accomplishments in a self-evaluation or on your résumé, be clear about what you accomplished. A title is not enough; provide details about the actions you took to achieve a goal, especially if they are quantitative.
Did you help launch a marketing campaign? List how many printed flyers and digital ads were published thanks to your efforts. Did you teach colleagues how to edit and combine PDFs? Discuss how your initiative helped improve company-wide workflow. Confidence is key.
Before wrapping up your internship, ask your supervisor for a brief meeting to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. Asking for feedback shows your supervisor that you take your work seriously and are open to improving. A one-on-one meeting would also be a good time to note your accomplishments and express your interest in a full-time job after finishing your internship.
Everyone likes to feel appreciated—even your boss. Thanking your supervisors and colleagues can help you establish a reputation as a respectful colleague. Gratitude not only goes far in creating good vibes in the workplace but also pays dividends when you’re applying for a job or promotion. Whether your “thank you” comes in the form of a hand-written card or an email, don’t skip this step.
You should update your résumé at least once a month as you gain new experiences and learn new skills. If you wait until you’re applying for a job to update your résumé, you may forget important points that would help you stand out.
Your résumé shouldn’t just list your job and internship titles. Use bullet points and active verbs to describe the responsibilities you held, the goals you met and the innovative strategies you implemented while working. A strong résumé includes both qualitative and quantitative accomplishments. For example, if a project you worked on during your internship resulted in an online publication, include a hyperlink to the article in your résumé.
Résumés can only say so much. Employers rely on references to learn about an applicant’s work ethic and personality—it’s important for them to know what it’s like to work with you and how you function in a team environment. If you’ve established a good relationship with someone at your internship site, see if they would be willing to serve as a reference in the future—and make sure to ask whether they would like to be contacted by email or by phone.
It’s important to promote yourself and make it known that you want to advance in your field. Why? Because no one’s going to do it for you.
Ask about upcoming job openings and the best way to apply for them. Be specific about the types of roles you’d like to take on and why you would be an asset to the company (because you honed relevant skills during your internship, for example). If you’re feeling gutsy enough, you could even propose a new position you think could be useful in improving workplace productivity or revenue.
Attend conferences and follow blogs and newsletters that cover your field so you can stay current with the latest industry trends.
Internships can make the difference between getting a job or being left behind. A survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that in situations where employers are considering two equally qualified candidates for the same job opening, they tend to prefer a candidate who previously interned for their company.
NACE’s report also notes that employers consider any internship experience to be an important deciding factor when hiring someone. Employers value internship experience so much because even when unpaid, an internship functions as an entry-level position in the professional world. By working alongside professionals, interns gain practical know-how and receive advice from mentors about what it takes to succeed in the field.
Being punctual, acting professionally, asking insightful questions and taking on manageable projects is the game plan when it comes to impressing your employer and paving the way for a job offer. Below we explore other benefits of completing an internship.
A good internship prepares you for the work you will do when you’re hired. If your internship site only has you answering phones and making coffee, consider going elsewhere.
Unpaid internships, which are increasingly seen as exploitative, are legal only if the intern—not the employer—is seen as the primary beneficiary of the experience. So especially if your internship is unpaid, it should help you learn professional skills that are practical, relevant and applicable.
Make the most of your internship experience by speaking with the professionals you’re working with; ask them meaningful questions, and solicit their advice. Also, volunteer to take on tasks that will give you experience for more important responsibilities later on.
Networking is not everyone’s strong suit, but it’s necessary when it comes to getting your foot in the door. By leaving a good impression on your coworkers at your internship site, you boost your chances of receiving strong referrals when it’s time to apply for full-time jobs.
Add your colleagues on LinkedIn so you can expand your digital network to them and their connections. And if possible, stay connected and keep up rapport with colleagues by meeting up for coffee or lunch after your internship has ended.
As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know that counts.” Interning can introduce you to potential employers and future colleagues, which can make all the difference when it’s time to job-hunt.
Knowing workers on the inside can help your application stand out when you find yourself among hundreds of applicants with similar credentials and qualifications. Once you’re hired, your performance will speak for itself, but it doesn’t hurt to have allies who will champion your good work.
More objectively, if you’ve already interned for a company, you stand a better chance of landing a full-time job with them since you’re already familiar with how the company functions, meaning you’ll require less training and time getting up to speed.
Here are some indications that you’re doing well in your internship and your employer may be considering you for a full-time opportunity:
