Business Internship Is One Long Interview

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A lot of companies offering internships are actually recruiting for full time positions. They get to try out potential employees before taking on the expensive commitment of hiring and training. Even if you don’t think you want to continue with the company, treat your internship as an extended interview. Making a good impression can open valuable doors elsewhere. Internships give you access to professionals in your field. With that comes the opportunity to create relationships with potential contacts, mentors, and references.

Blend In
Just because you’re an intern doesn’t mean you have to act like one. Although co-workers may joke around and act like they’ll cut you some slack, that doesn’t mean they’re not also taking in your every move. Blend into the corporate culture by following standards for dress and decorum. Balance your socially appropriate snark with positive attitude and actions. Find out if there are different expectations for working with clients vs. working in the office. Work the same hours as your entry-level equals – show up on time and stay after to get the job done.

Make Friends
As an intern you’re not just doing a job, you’re developing relationships. Make friends with bosses, co-workers, the people in the mailroom, and your nearest barista. Everybody’s watching to see how you get along with your cube mates. If you have good rapport with coworkers, higher ups figure you’ll work well in a team environment, as well as with clients.

Be a Happy Grunt
As an intern, you’ll likely get more than your share of easy, repetitive tasks. Quickly master the duties of your internship and suggest additional ways you can be of service. Be willing to help out in other areas outside your internship. Pitching in increases your exposure, and the more people you impress the more likely that job offer. Interns frequently run out of work. Take advantage and endear yourself to cube mates by offering to lighten their loads.

Court the Boss
Your immediate supervisor has a lot of influence over employment offers. Focus on making his or her job easier. Always clarify expectations and communicate the status of your projects. Ask for feedback throughout your internship instead of waiting for the final evaluation. If you see a need, don’t be afraid to point it out and offer ideas about how you can help. Express interest in aspects of the business of particular interest to superiors. Ask your supervisor about entry-level full time positions and how he or she got started.

Keep Your Options Open
Remember that interviews go both ways. As an intern you could find yourself collating, stapling, cleaning up PowerPoint slides, and taking lunch orders, tedious research, hours of reading legal documents, mindless data analysis. These menial tasks are part of many entry-level business positions that can last the first year or two. Keep an eye on other’s days to determine if this is truly the place you want to pay your dues. If you’re struggling jsut to survive your summer internship, this may not be the job for you.

Know Your Goals
Keep your options open. Especially for MBAs, the market is uncertain. You may turn out to be a great fit with the company, or not. Create goals for the outcome of your internship. Depending on how clear you are on your career goals you can make plans with your supervisor to participate in different experiences such as client meetings and presentations, or skills like financial analysis or practice with industry software.

An internship can be a golden opportunity for those who take full advantage. If you really want the job, make your interest known. What seems obvious to you may need to be spelled out to the company. Just as the squeaky wheel gets the oil, the enthusiastic intern that gets the job offer.