Internships
have long been encouraged among college students and recent graduates. The tough part for
students is knowing how to turn the internship into a full time job. Christie Garton is the founder and CEO of UChic.com, online resource and networking community for high school and
college-aged women. With its "100% Behind You Commitment,” the company
give 100% of its profits to the Open Door Foundation, which supports
young women in their academic and career pursuits. Having
mentored and helped numerous young women secure their dream jobs over
the years, Christie has great insider advice on how to score that full
time job opportunity.
1.
Go above and beyond. Always do what you're assigned before your
deadline. If you're finished ahead of time, ask for a new task. This
helps you prove to your supervisor that you're efficient and energetic
about your work, which will help you in the long run.
2.
Look the part. It's easy to tell which interns take their internships
seriously by just looking at how they are dressed. You don't have to be a
fashionista to get this part right ... just follow the basic rules of
appropriate dress. If you do this, you'll be taken a lot more seriously,
and you'll fit in to your work environment, which is an important step
if you want to get hired someday.
3.
Stay in touch with your adviser/supervisor. Interns float in and out so
quickly that it can sometimes be hard for them to keep track of who
worked when! Make sure to stay in contact with the people you felt most
comfortable with during your internship. Drop them an email every now
and then to catch up and make sure they know you're interested if a
position opens up. By nurturing this relationship, they are sure to
remember you -- and potentially recommend you for a position -- long
after you're gone.
4.
Ask for a recommendation letter before you leave. This will come in
handy down the road when you're applying for a real job at the company
since it's coming from an internal source. If you've got the support of
someone who works there, it's a good indicator that you would fit in
well long term.
5.
Ask a current employee you trust for advice. Hiring is different from
company to company. Some companies really value promoting from within,
while others care more about finding the best candidate for the job. Get
advice from someone who knows what you need to do to get the job! And
definitely don't pass up on the opportunity to arrange an informational
interview with someone from Human Resources, if possible. After all,
they have a huge hand in who gets hired!
One lucky US reader will win one copy of U Chic: The College Girl's Guide to Everything and a UChic student planner. To enter, leave a comment with your best new job/internship tip. Deadline is April 22nd.
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