Although internships provide these benefits, the goal of every intern should be getting hired on full-time. Robin Salisian successfully turned her internship with an online magazine into a job as a full-time staff writer. Below, Robin shares her thoughts about working as an intern, as well as her thoughts on how she turned her internship into a full-time job.
How Working as an Intern Can Lead to a Job Offer
There are many benefits to working as an intern, one of which is getting a job offer. Robin decided to work as an intern for various reasons. “I was out of work and wanted to jump back into the workforce as quickly as possible. I also had no ‘professional’ experience working as a writer,” says Robin. She saw that every job seemed to require two to four years of experience and decided that working as an intern would give her this much needed experience.
A major benefit of an internship that can be transferred to a full-time job is gaining the professional experience one may lack. “The internship helped me understand how a company was run, what meetings with supervisors were like, how coworkers interacted/dressed, how tasks were assigned, and how to meet deadlines,” says Robin. Lastly, Robin highlights one of the most excellent aspects of internships: “When I became an intern, I hoped that someday I would have the opportunity to work there full-time. It was great already having an ‘in’ with the company. After all, that’s the toughest part in getting a job.” This “in” Robin refers to is a definite career-booster, as interns are already within the company they wish to work for.
Interns May Be Hired as Full-Time Employees by Following These Steps
I asked Robin how she turned her position as an intern into a full-time job as a staff writer. She didn’t have to think long about her answer because her supervisor had spelled out the reason for hiring her as a full-time employee: “My supervisor told me that my hard work, dedication, and dependability were reasons why I was hired as a full-time worker upon completion of my internship.”
Here are some of Robin’s tips on turning your internship into a full-time job:
1. Show up on time each day.
As an intern, if you show up to work on time each day, this shows employers you are dependable and will let them know that you will show up on time each day as a full-time employee.
2. Work your schedule and never deviate from it.
As an intern, work the schedule you and your employer agree upon. Don’t take time off or try to alter your schedule midway through your internship. Keeping to your schedule will show employers that you are a dedicated worker, and can help you get a job offer after your internship is complete.
3. Finish all your work on time.
As an intern, completing your assignments on time is impressive and shows that you can be a great asset to your employer should you become a full-time employee.
“Sticking to deadlines, arriving on time, and doing good work, I believe, were reasons I was hired full-time,” explains Robin. Robin turned her internship into a full-time job in a matter of months! “I began May 1, 2007, as an intern, and was hired at the end of July 2007.”
Turing an Internship into a Job Offer
Essentially, what interns need to keep in mind when trying to turn an internship into a full-time job is the need to stick to schedules, complete all assignments, and meet their deadlines. Employers will see this dedication and dependability, along with the work produced, and thus may offer a full-time position to an intern. As Robin summarizes, “Having the opportunity to observe, listen, and show what I can do really helped turn my internship into a full-time job.”
