Turning Your College Internship Into a Long-Term Job

Internships are a great way to gain experience and get your foot inside the door of a business. Here are some tips for how you can turn your temporary internship into an after-graduation career…

Landing an internship at your employer of choice is a great way to enhance your job profile. Hiring managers often say it is much easier to find a position for a college graduate who has completed an internship at a good firm. But what is often a challenge for students is getting hired at the company of their internship. Here some tips to help you land a job.

Outperform

It sounds like a no-brainer, but going above and beyond your minimum level of responsibility should be your number one priority if you want to stick around after graduation. Above and beyond means different things depending on the organization. Some examples:

Ask for more things to do

Let your manager know you want to attend meetings

Take on some grunt work -- and love it

Make friends in other departments

Treat Your Position As A Job

While your internship is technically a learning experience, it will benefit your career prospects if you treat it as a real job in the firm. According to job search site Monster.com, if you master your tasks, no matter how small, you will earn respect at work. With respect will come more responsibility.

Make It Known You Want To Stay

Waiting for somebody to offer you a position is a risky way to handle your career. Instead, keep up with the company job bulletin, talk to the human resources staff, and let your managers know your goals. You don't need to put pressure on your managers, but if you are an asset to the firm, they probably will want to keep you around.