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The Intern: How To Turn Your Internship Into A Full-Time Job

The Intern
 Generally, as an intern, you work for little or no pay. You do this just to gain more experience, technical knowledge and career network. During this period, you gain valuable skills, polish your professionalism and create essential business contacts. If you’re a competent intern, you can build helpful references and professional relationships which can even turn into career results.

However, internships are still intended for a pre-determined period of time. So what exactly can you do to make this position yours for the taking after the internship duration and turn it into a career opportunity? Easy - here are some tips on how you can turn your internship into a full-time paid job!

First Impressions
Be An "Executive Intern"
Whether you like it or not, the first impressions that your employer and colleagues get from you really count a lot. You can begin making a strong case for yourself right from day one! You don't have to wait until it is almost time to round up and say goodbyes before thinking about staying. Starting from the initial introductions and interview, you should have that professional appearance at hand. You would want to show up on your best appearance, even though you’re only applying for an unpaid position. Work out your finest executive-level courtesy and try to look the part. Always speak correctly and clearly and don’t forget to be on your best behavior. Wearing torn jeans, flip-flops along with chat-room chatter and speaking with sloppy speech has no place in the professional workplace, especially if you want to last.

Attitude
Attitude Is Altitude
Having a positive demeanor and helpful manner can actually help jump-start your professional career. Be eager to show up to work with a big smile on your face. Also, try to do your best to complete task you are assigned. In fact, go the extra mile (without offering yourself as a slave, of course) in volunteering for added responsibilities that will put you in the spotlight.

Being courteous and friendly to your coworkers also pay off. Your employer actually notices if you’re able to get along with colleagues and cooperatively work with them. Being able to handle and manage personal conflicts along with your proficiency on dealing with high-pressured situations can serve you benefits.

Accomplishments
Be An Achiever
As an intern, you may look at what you’re doing as an academic requirement that you should probably just endure till completion. It tends to be more like a chore than a job. Well, it’s about time that you stop thinking this way! If you really want to heighten your professional calling, you would regard your programme as a period where you can prove everything you've got. This period is the time in which you can exhibit your capabilities. This is actually that point when you make your initial mark on the professional world. 

You should seek to add value to your organization, after all, this is what employers are looking for - added value, not added worker. Your motto during your internship period should be "Excellence in All". By so doing, you are making yourself almost indispensable to the organization such that they will feel the "gap" if you leave - the mere thought of you leaving is immense.

Also, always make sure that you document everything that you accomplish. In this way you could be credited during evaluation periods. Always keep copies of your praiseworthy emails and memos. And always make sure that your superiors can see them. Always bring your proofs along with you.

Be Available
Availability Sometime Leads To Responsibility
If you really want to transform your internship into a professional employment, you would have to be available to your employer. Make sure that your boss knows that you desire a permanent job within the company.

As your internship program draws near, and you really want to carry on with the job; then don’t hesitate to meet up face to face with your boss to ask if you can have the job.

Play Your Cards Right!
Play Your Cards Right
Being an intern, you just have to play it right. Always keep yourself in your boss' good books. Try to enjoy the whole experience. Strive to make use of every opportunity that presents itself and you could just change this temporary position into a full-fledged permanent position. 

If you do these and end up getting the placement, you would have inadvertently saved yourself the stress of a fresh job hunt after your internship. So, make the sacrifice now - turn your internship into a full-time job.
The Interns


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