The Summer Internship: Nail It or Fail It
Internships are making headlines again, and it’s not only because school’s out or Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson made a so-so movie. A fresh study finds that those who accept unpaid internships are less likely to receive job offers.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ 2012 Student Survey survey, nearly 60% of 2012 college graduates who took part in paid internships received at least one job offer. That compares to just 37% of unpaid interns who received job offers, which was only slightly better than those with no internship experience whatsoever (36%)
So should students hold out exclusively for paid internships? If only it were that simple.
The study suggests that differences in the type of work done by paid and unpaid interns is what contributes to the discrepancy in job offers with paid interns being more likely to engage in “real work,” spending the majority of their time on analysis and project management.
Of course, one could argue that point. And many articles have recently shined an important light on how some unpaid internships are simply illegal and should be avoided.
But let’s assume how you perform on the internship actually counts. I tapped J.T. O’Donnell, founder of CAREEREALISM.com for her top advice on ways interns can make their mark, receive “real work” and plant seeds for a job offer.
Dress the Part. You may think this a no-brainer, but Farnoosh recalls how one summer intern she had at TheStreet.com was sent home for wearing mini shorts and a tank top. To work. On Wall Street. Even if the office is casual and it’s 90 degrees outside, always look to your manager for wardrobe guidance. If she wears a suit everyday, you may want to at least keep your attire business casual. It shows respect for the gig – unpaid or not.
Remember Your Posture. Your body language speaks volumes. You may be able to control giving the stink eye, but have you given much thought to your posture? A poised posture exudes confidence and makes you a better worker. In fact, one study shows correct posture can boost productivity by more than 50%. On the other hand, slouching conveys boredom and/or lack of enthusiasm. Sit tall like you do in Sunday morning yoga class and activate the crown chakra.
Proactively Update. It’s important to give your direct reports concise updates by email or a chat once a week. Your managers may be deeply engrossed in their own work and forget that they haven’t followed up with you – and better to give them incremental progress reports and learn if you’re working on the right track…rather than learn three weeks into an assignment you’ve been doing it all wrong.
Anticipate Your Boss. Don’t wait to be told what to do. Of course, you won’t have all the instincts the first week on the job, so it’s important to really listen, observe and ask questions in the early days. From there you should be able to understand what your team needs. Should they fail to hand you enough assignments, suggest some additional items you can take care of. Always think: How can I add value?
Be Accountable. If you make a mistake, own up to it. Managers hate excuses. Don’t try to blame someone or something for what went wrong on your watch. You’ll get more respect for being honest. Even if you anticipate missing a deadline or something is holding you back in your work, be up front sooner rather than later. They’ll be much angrier if you fess up at the last-minute.
Stay in Touch. When you send out your “Thanks It’s Been Great” email at the end of the summer, mention that you’d love to stay in touch – and do. Follow your coworkers on Twitter, LinkedIn and send occasional messages continuing to show interest in the company. Offer examples of how your summer internship has, say, helped you better understand the coursework or execute a class project. It’s not uncommon for interns to return the following summer, a clear sign you’re full-time material.
Photo Courtesy, Victor1558.
