Entry by Pat Patterson
It is that time of the year again – your internship is wrapping up and it becomes harder for you to focus, as thoughts of the upcoming school year flood your mind. But before you pack up your materials, say your goodbyes, and take that final step out the door, it is important to make sure that you leave your internship on a positive note. You may have learned a lot, contributed significantly to the organization you worked with, and made great connections and even friends, but the way you end your internship may ultimately be the way you will be remembered – you don’t want to “pull a LeBron James” and leave on a negative note with your former boss releasing an open letter expressing his disapproval after you leave (sorry about that – I’m originally from Cleveland).
Anyways, with that being said, on AdAge.com I stumbled upon this great checklist to follow as you wrap up your internship:
1. Tie up loose ends. Make sure any projects you have been assigned have been completed. This is by far the most important, because if one of your projects fails after you leave, there’s a good chance that that is how you will be remembered. Hopefully you have been updating a list of assigned tasks throughout the internship as McKenzie Koch suggested in an earlier post, otherwise piece one together and make sure everything is complete. Also, it may be helpful to include a brief overview of what you contributed in a thank-you note to your supervisors; this will be helpful if they offer a reference.
2. Get a performance assessment. You spent a whole summer trying your best in the job, so go ahead and ask for a report card. What does your immediate supervisor think your strengths and weaknesses are? How can you fix those weaknesses? Which careers might best foster your strengths?
3. Refresh your resume. Don’t wait until January to update your resume with what you did this summer. Chances are you will not remember the nuances of your tasks, so go ahead and ask your supervisors while you still can. Additionally, depending on your relationship, your supervisor may even be willing to review your resume.
4. Express gratitude. Make sure to thank your supervisors. Do it regardless of whether your experience was positive or negative. And after thanking them in person, send a thank-you e-mail from your personal e-mail address (I have also seen interns write out thank-you cards). Among those who reply, it may be a good idea to add them to your LinkedIn account, as business e-mails often change.
5. Stay in touch. When saying goodbye to your supervisors, employees you’ve worked with and those who have simply enjoyed your company, feel free to ask for a business card or an e-mail address. A great way to stay in touch is to shoot an e-mail including what you have been up to every few months. Maintaining these relationships is important as your mentors and other co-workers can provide strong guidance to learning and entering the corporate world.
Any other suggestions? Leave your comments below.
