If you are hopeful of turning an internship into a full-time position than ultimately you need to think of the whole experience as an extended job interview – the perfect chance to prove you are ready and eager to take on whatever challenges you are faced with.
Adopt a proactive approach
A lot of the time, there is not much formality surrounding internships, so your days can vary depending on the responsibilities you have to get on with. As a result, there may be some time when you do not actually have any tasks to be getting on with, but this does not mean that you should be checking your social media pages.
Ask other departments whether there is anything you can help with or, or even better, suggest your own projects related to the company. This can be a great way to forge greater relationships with everyone in the business and also ensure more people in the office are aware of your skills and expertise.
For example, if you are looking for a writing role, then you can suggest writing something for the company’s blog if you are at a loose end. Whoever is in charge will like the creativity and the fact you were proactive.
Find your selling point
Whilst it may be easy to go with the flow while on an internship, if you are really looking to impress then you need to show your boss or the organisation that you can bring something unique to the company.
An employer is not looking for a clone of an employee; they ideally want to hire someone who can bring a fresh perspective and a new set of skills to the table. The best way to do this is to think about an area where you think you could have a serious impact on the organisation.
This may be in an area such as social media or incorporating a new computer program, but it is important to show that you are able to fulfil the company’s needs. If you can make yourself valuable to the organisation, then it is highly likely that they will ask you to stay on.
If you’re a graduate looking to kick-start your career, have a chat with Discovery Graduates and see how they can help get you started
