November 19, 2014

How to Turn an Internship into a Full-Time Position

By: Jordan Silverman

5942305151_46ab58e878_oDuring my final semester at the University of Maryland, I was lucky enough to get an internship at a nonprofit, Americans Standing for the Simplification of the Estate Tax (ASSET), thanks to an introduction from my father. At this point, most of you probably, and fairly, assume that I was able to turn this internship into a full-time position simply because of my father’s connections. Well, that is not the case here.

Don’t get me wrong. Having an extensive network of family and friends can be very helpful in finding an internship in the first place. But once you get a foot in the door, it’s up to you to keep that door from slamming in your face. What follows are four of the most important tips I’ve picked up to blow the proverbial door off its hinges and get you a full-time position out of an internship.

Do anything and everything your boss asks of you.  This may seem self-explanatory, but it goes beyond simply finishing all the work-related assignments you receive. Go on Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts runs whenever needed, as this will cement you as someone your boss can count on no matter the task at hand. Once during my internship, my boss asked me to drive to his place to let a cleaning service in so that he could pick up his daughter up from school. Doing favors like this builds trust.

Ask and be eager for new assignments. When you finish an assignment as an intern, you may be tempted to twiddle your thumbs and wait to turn it in until the last possible second to avoid getting the next assignment. Big mistake. By finishing assignments early and eagerly asking for new projects, you take more work off your boss’s plate, making his or her life easier, which is basically an intern’s job description.

Socialize with your boss and coworkers.  Starting an internship can be frightening. New people, new place and new assignments can overwhelm even the most confident interns. To get more comfortable in your surroundings and establish a network, it’s essential to get to know your boss and coworkers outside of the office setting. Go out and grab a drink after work, go to a game with them, or at least ask them how their weekend was.

Become friends with HR and executive assistants.  HR and executive assistants are like directors in a movie – they basically run the show from behind the scenes – and if you want a big part in the production, you had better treat them nicely and respectfully. They often have more to do with the hiring process than anyone else.

Being a history major in college, like I was, may seem like a disadvantage in the “real world”, but some obstacles can be overcome if you are enthusiastic and dedicated to what you are doing. As ASSET’s full-time Membership Coordinator, I continue to learn new things every day and am thankful to have the opportunity to work with such smart, dedicated people. Now get out there and huff and puff and blow those doors down!

Jordan Silverman works as the Membership Coordinator for Americans Standing for the Simplification of the Estate Tax (ASSET). He is from Silver Spring, MD, and graduated with a degree in history from the University of Maryland at College Park in May 2014.