As the fall semester approaches, the time to kiss your summer internship goodbye is almost here.
Whether your time was spent memorizing coffee orders or creating one of a kind graphics, summer internships ultimately come to a close. It’s important for interns to develop strong relationships with their employers in order to gain professional connections and receive glowing recommendations.
Here are some general tips to have your last days be some of your best:
Ask for feedback about your performance.
Take initiative and show your employer that you value their input and advice by asking for a closing evaluation. Not only will you receive valuable advice regarding your professional career, your employer will see that you care about what they have to say. An exit interview gives you an opportunity to express gratitude while also voicing any improvements they can make to the internship program. When done professionally, most employers love hearing feedback on how they can make the internship program better. You receive some helpful career advice while being able to share some insight with your boss, a total win-win.
Show appreciation with a small gift of gratitude.
By this time, you probably have a great sense of what your supervisor loves. Muster together some stray dollars to give your boss a thoughtful gift as a way of showing your appreciation for the opportunity. While that unpaid internship may be hurting your bank account, a handwritten note is the perfect way to show thanks. Handwritten notes are always a classy way to show thanks for the time they invested in you as intern.
Taking the time to pick up a gift or write a note is the perfect end to an internship.Don’t take it personally if you were not brought on after your internship.
While many go into internships with the idea that they’ll be hired on after they complete their internship, that isn’t always the case. Avoid showing hostility or anger toward your boss about not being offered a position, but rather express thanks for being given the opportunity to develop skills. Nothing creates more tension than outwardly expressing unhappiness about a job situation, especially when you may not understand their reasoning.
Stay in touch.
Continue to maintain connections from your internship. When new opportunities come up, you’ll be fresh in your boss’ mind. From an email to a card, there are many ways that you can keep conversation flowing between you and your former boss long after the end of your internship.
Internships help bridge the gap between college and the professional world, so it is imperative to build positive relationships with employers. Make sure to end all internships on a high note in order to avoid any negative complaints from past bosses and to develop strong relationships in your industry.
(Feature Photo via Tumblr)