5 things to do when you finish your internship
Been hard at work at an internship all summer? Finish strong by leaving a great last impression. These tips won't just make your employers remember you fondly; they'll also help you get the most out of the experience and the contacts you've made.
Whether you're still working the 9-to-5 or you're back on campus reflecting on your internship, check these off of your to-do list and reap the benefits of a job well done.
• Say your thank-yous
This is a small gesture that goes a long way. Write a personal thank-you note to everyone you've worked with this summer letting them know what working with them meant to you. Opt for specifics that will let them know you appreciated and remembered the knowledge they imparted. Short, sweet and genuinely gracious is the best way to go, and hand-written notes are a plus.
• Keep in touch
Add all of your co-workers to your address book; whether it be a fellow intern or the CEO, these contacts will come in handy later down the line. In fact, sometimes the very best contacts an intern can make are the other people at the bottom of the totem pole. They'll be moving up the ranks just like you, and it'll pay off to have long-standing contacts with peers in your industry.
Make an effort to touch base with past supervisors at least once every six months, if not on a quarterly basis. Let them know what you've been up to since the internship and how the experience you gained with them has impacted your schoolwork or future internships.
When possible, lead the correspondence with something that you've heard about the company lately, like a new project or development. They'll appreciate that you've stayed interested and engaged with the company even after you've left.
• Get feedback
Ask your supervisor if there was anything they felt you could have improved upon during your internship. Show a sincere interest in the feedback and make a note of it for future internships.
When your boss mentions your strengths, pay close attention; this can be as valuable as the constructive criticism. Listen to how your boss perceives your strengths and take it as an opportunity to learn how to best present your accomplishments and work ethic to future employers.
• Ask for recommendations
After you've talked about your performance face-to-face, ask your boss if they'd feel comfortable writing you a recommendation. It's to both of your benefits that they write it while the experience is fresh. They'll be able to speak to your performance with specificity, which will make the recommendation even more credible to future employers.
Employers can either post a recommendation on your LinkedIn page or keep it on hand should prospective employers request one later on.
• Get samples
Ask your supervisor if you can keep samples of your work. While some might be proprietary to the company, any examples of your accomplishments will prove helpful during future job hunts. Showing off previous work that you are proud of will indicate to future employers that you have substantial experience that stretches beyond coffee runs.
Allegra Tepper is a Summer 2012 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent. Learn more about her here. Follow her on Twitter at @allegraceline
This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.