You’ve probably heard that internships are a great way to get your foot in the door. But what does that mean for you? Will completing internships lead to a full-time job after graduation? And if so, how can you make sure it leads to this permanent position? In this blog, I’ll explain how internships work and why you should consider one during your university years.
As an intern, you may be thinking about how your internship could lead to a full-time job. This is entirely possible! In fact, many students are hopeful about landing real jobs after their internships.
Why Are Internships Useful?
Internships are a great way to gain real, hands-on experience and build your CV while hopefully earning some money.
Many companies have internship programs that allow you to get valuable experience in a particular industry, company or field. Internships can also provide networking opportunities with professionals who may be able to help you land a full-time job. If you’re unsure what work might suit you, an internship will allow you to test out different career paths before committing to one.
Use Your Internship To Secure A Permanent Role
A key way to land a full-time, permanent role from an internship is to make sure you stand out.
During your initial internship, you need to go above and beyond. When it comes to work, make sure you’re getting stuck in and completing it to the best of your ability. If the company ask for 3 ideas, give them 5. If they ask for 5 social media posts, give them 7. Go above and beyond to show you’re passionate and enthusiastic while being willing to do the hard work.
Another great way to stand out in your internship is to get to know the team. Create positive relationships with everyone that is willing to talk to you. Employers are human, they won’t want to say goodbye to an intern they enjoy speaking to and who does great work. Getting to know the whole team will have all the employees advocating for you, asking the boss to keep you on.
Make use of all the skills you have and demonstrate that you are willing to contribute wherever you can. Offer to take on a new task or let the company know you have a particular skill they could put to use. Standing out for these positive reasons is likely to land you a full-time position as they won’t want to let you go.
Other Routes To Full-Time Roles
Even if your current internship doesn’t offer you a permanent job after your initial period is over, there are other ways to secure a job from your internship.
One way is to make sure you’ve done your networking during your time at a specific company. Connect with the team and ask if they have any connections who might be willing to give you a job. If someone can advocate for you and send a glowing recommendation, you’re likely to land another role.
You can also ask those that you’ve connected with during your internship to write you a recommendation on LinkedIn. You can even ask them to be a reference for you in future job applications. Having these references will make a future employer much more likely to hire you.
Ensure that you take the skills and experience you’ve gained as an intern and put this to good use to find a job. Update your LinkedIn profile, CV and cover letters. If you have a portfolio, update that too. Make it super clear to a potential employer that you have real work experience now and tell them what exactly you achieved for the company while working there.
In the end, the answer is yes – completing internships definitely can lead to full-time jobs. Internships are a great way to get the ball of your career rolling and allow you to get a taste for the world of work in a safe and supportive environment. It’s important to note that this doesn’t happen overnight—internships can take months and you have to work hard! But if you show that you have what it takes, then there is no doubt something will come along. All you need is one yes.
