Some may say that the first day of your internship is the most defining point of your time with a company. However your last day is equally as important. There is no point making an amazing first impression if you don’t follow through with it and keep up good relations within the company right up until the end of your work. Here are a few ways you can go out with a bang and leave the company wishing you were still there!
Even though you’re coming to the end of your internship, this is not an excuse to get sloppy! Keep working your hardest and make sure all your projects are finished by the time you leave. Don’t leave any loose ends hanging as this will show your co-workers that you don’t really care about the quality of your work and suggests you are only interested in having something to put on your resume. Continue being a conscientious and hardworking member of the team till the last day; this will only improve your reputation within the company.
It’s definitely worth writing a few thank you notes to people at the company. Make sure you send one to your boss, your mentor, and anyone else who has helped you during your internship. This gesture of goodwill shows you appreciate their guidance during your time with the company. Someone who is polite, thoughtful and values other peoples time, will always be well respected and have a good reputation.
Remember the phrase ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’! Make sure when you leave you keep in touch as you never know when these connections will come in handy in the future. Networking is one of the most important aspects of an internship; it gives you the opportunity to make links with other professionals that you can use to give yourself a head-start on the career ladder. Whether it is sending colleagues a quick email or adding people on LinkedIn this is something that shouldn’t be forgotten! Just remember that you shouldn’t use Facebook for this purpose; LinkedIn is the professional version of Facebook, and is much more geared towards career connections.
A good intern will always ask for some final feedback before they leave. It’s always a good idea to know what your colleagues think are your strengths and weaknesses; there’s always room for improvement. It shows others that you want to continue growing professionally and that you really value their opinion. It’s also nice to hear what you have done well within the company and how well you’ve contributed to tasks and projects.
If you enjoyed your internship and could see yourself working full time at the company then there’s nothing wrong with expressing your interest in future employment! You will even be at an advantage as companies would usually much rather hire someone who they know and trust than a new applicant with whom they would have to take a risk.
Apply now to gain the chance to intern in one of The Intern Group’s amazing destinations; internships are available in all industry sectors!