Itâs the latter half of July. Where does the time go? For some of you, your internship may be wrapping up in the near future. You should consider how you will finish your internship experience. For exampleâDo you need to begin âtying up loose endsâ on projects? Should you schedule a âthank youâ coffee or lunch with your boss? Have you kept a portfolio of your work thus far?
Your internship experience may lead to a job within the company, or it may be the last time you work for them. No matter the result, make sure you have networked with the people with whom you are working. When your internship ends, you will need references, and having a solid group of people who will provide you with positive references is an important final step in your internship experience. Howeverâtake noteâreferences should be people who know you personally and can testify to your work. Their opinion of your personality and professional skills can make-or-break you during the interview process.
Having a CEO, who you met on your first day write you a recommendation is not likely to help you. The CEO wonât have anything to say about you because they donât know you or your work ethic. They still might write the letter, but it will be broad and vague. The recruiter or HR staff reading the reference letter wonât get a sense for who you are at all! The person who writes your letter should be someone with whom you worked on a daily basis. And, make sure to write a thank you note for being a reference. They are taking the time to âtalk you upâ to your potential future employer.
In addition to finding someone who will be a good reference for you, you should have developed a mentor relationship. If you havenâtâstart now! Hopefully, during your internship, youâve met with an internship coordinator weekly to review your job performance, among other things. Use the same person, or approach someone new, to ask if you may keep in contact after the conclusion of your internship. You should e-mail this person occasionally, seeking advice and guidance in your new career. A mentor who is knowledgeable, connected, and a great listener can help you in your future career endeavors.
How have you networked during your internship? Who could you ask to write a letter of recommendation for your next internship or job?
