Become A Super Intern

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Internship_EFetching coffee in a single bound. Working tirelessly into the wee hours of the night. Coming to the rescue of colleagues in distress. A Super Intern’s job is never done.

As you dash around the office, never forget you’re under the microscope—being watched, judged, dissected. Although there are never any guarantees you’ll snag a full-time offer, even if you perform up to task, there are some superhero maneuvers that will help you soar from intern to employee faster than your boss can say “Planet Krypton.”

1. Be on Time

It sounds simple, but punctuality speaks volumes about your professionalism.

2. Stay Positive

No one wants to work with a grouch. “The three most important attributes in getting or keeping a job are attitude, attitude, attitude,” said Don Sutaria, founder and president of CareerQuest, a coaching company with offices in New York and New Jersey. If you maintain a can-do, positive attitude during your internship tenure, you’ll be someone coworkers actually want to be around full-time.

3. Be Modest

Don’t thrust yourself in front of managers every time you do something right. Your superiors will be watching, so there’s no need for you to point out your every accomplishment.

4. Go To Lunch

Once you start becoming friendly with the other full-timers, ask them to go to lunch one-on-one. Ask how they got their current positions.

They may reveal insight about what the company looks for in candidates, interview tips
and more.

See also Intern Kryptonite: 7 things to avoid during your internship

5. Be Picky

It may sound harsh, it may sound Machiavellian, but the astute new associate never befriends the first people to seek him out. “There’s a high probability they’re desperately in need of instant allies,” says a Wharton MBA who became a director of corporate relations at Penn State. Until you figure out who’s in and who’s out, be cordial and professional but not chummy. If you find yourself the lunch pal of a guy who badmouths the managing directors, you become guilty by association.


6
. You’re Not Howard Stern

Stay on the safe side with your new colleagues. “Don’t discuss religion, sexual orientation or other private topics,” said recruiting consultant Lisa Orrell, author of Millennials Incorporated.

Internship_D7. Don’t Be A Cling-On

It’s good to make sure your internship supervisor knows what you’re doing, but don’t incessantly check in. For instance, there’s no need to interrupt her and announce you’re going to get coffee every time you make a run.

8. Good One

That trick of shooting off an email to a supervisor when working into the wee hours? Oldest one in the book. Don’t use it more than twice.

9. Just Leave

It’s okay to leave before other colleagues. But as you stroll out the door, never cheerily say, “Don’t work too hard,” or you’ll be branded as the kind of jackass who says things like that.

10. Awkward…

Don’t talk business in the bathroom. It puts people in the awkward position of having to agree with you because they don’t want to prolong the conversation. Managers tend to resent being put on the spot. They’re funny like that.

11. Act Like A Full-timer

Never think like a temp. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible, and don’t blow off an assignment you think you won’t finish before your summer stint ends. If you have any interest in getting hired full-time, act like you’re in it for the long haul.


12
. Work Smart

OK, it’s a no-brainer, but based on the experience of many disappointed employers, this advice needs to be emphasized. CareerQuest’s Sutaria stresses that summer employees should “try to tackle summer assignments with all the intelligence and competence they can muster.” And remember the little stuff counts too. If you’re asked to do menial tasks like photocopying or filing, take them seriously. Otherwise, if you do a sloppy job photocopying documents, who will trust you with bigger assignments?

Internship_B13. Lean On Me

Go out of your way to help others. Stay late and offer assistance when others at the company are overloaded with work. “It’s never too early to act like you’re already an indispensable part of the permanent workforce,” said Margot Carmichael Lester, a career coach based in North Carolina.

14. Zip It!

Don’t complain—about the company, your assignments, the cafeteria food—even to other interns. A positive outlook could make or break you in management’s eyes.

15. Be In The Know

Show an interest in the company, and learn as much as you can about the industry. Read trade magazines to gain even more knowledge.

16. Ask Questions…To The Right People

You might have a 3.9 GPA, but you still don’t know it all—and, guess what? You aren’t expected to. Most managers would rather answer 20 questions when you get the assignment than have to fill in holes after you turn it in. If you don’t understand how to go about an assignment, ask your supervisor for clarification and what resources are available to you. Just be smart about whom you seek answers from and when. Don’t collar the senior vice president at a cocktail party and ask her a dumb question about workflow.

17. Swallow Your Pride

You take a summer job assuming that everyone knows you’re attending one of the country’s top universities. But one uninformed jerk has the audacity to ask you to fax a lease to his landlord. This, experts say, is the one time you should suck it up. Don’t utter the words “that’s not in my job description,” even if it isn’t, ’cause it is.

Interview_C18. Networking 101: Socialize

Everyone has rubbed elbows with the annoying brown-noser who spends more time trying to schmooze the higher-ups than doing work. It’s even more frustrating when you see the ass-kisser heading out to play after-work racquetball with your department manager while you slave away in your cubicle. The lesson? Although getting the job done is of paramount importance, don’t underestimate the importance of building a social connection with co-workers. Just do it with some class.

19. Networking 102: Find a Mentor

Building relationships and cultivating champions who can fight for you to get hired is key. That can be done in a number of ways, said Melinda Allen, executive director of leadership development programs at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Network with other interns and employees, including those outside your functional area, to learn more about the people and roles throughout the organization. “Identify someone whom you trust and admire to mentor you and provide feedback,” Allen said.

20. Speak Up

It’s pretty safe to assume that most employers know you’d love to get an offer for a full-time job when the summer ends. But don’t take that fact for granted. “As soon as you decide you love the company and those you’re working with, make sure everyone knows you want to come back after graduation as a full-timer,” said Carmichael Lester. That includes your boss, coworkers and the support staffers—who often have the ear of the big guns.

21. Be Subtle About It

A hard sell won’t necessarily lead to a hard offer. Don’t pester your boss or senior management. Back off if you sense they’re not yet confident in your abilities.

22. Be An Object Of Desire

Okay, so the summer’s done. Some of you might already have a full-time job offer in the bag before your departure date. But even if you don’t want to work at the company, try to snag an offer anyway, advised Brian Drum, president and CEO of the New York-based executive search firm Drum Associates. “Keep in mind that when you go on other job interviews, they may ask you if you were offered a full-time job following your internship.” An offer will increase your perceived value in the job market.

Internship_C23. Keep The Line Open

Even if you walk away without a job offer, continue your relationship. Send articles that might be of interest to your boss, and check on initiatives that you helped jump-start. “The trick is to maintain top-of-mind awareness without being a pest about it,” said Carmichael Lester. “An occasional email containing relevant content will do the job.” Although your employer will probably guess that you’re keeping in touch because you’d love a full-time offer, it’s best to—gingerly—make that clear at some point during your follow-up.

24. Keep Coming Back

If you liked your junior year summer internship and want to work at the company post-graduation, try to continue interning during the school year. Offer to come in during your free mornings or afternoons, or during winter break. A position could open up and you’ll be top of mind.

25. Stay In Touch

There’s another reason to stay in touch with your internship supervisor: Even if she didn’t offer you a job, staying fresh in her mind will ensure you have a good reference when you start interviewing elsewhere.

Visit www.internshipprograms.com to find an internship and to get more tips and advice about internships.

—Courtesy of Internship Programs

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