- Internships can lead to full-time job offers, especially in companies like PWC, where 90% of interns receive offers post-internship.
- To stand out, act like a full-time employee, demonstrate adaptability, and seize opportunities to learn during your internship.
- Networking with colleagues is crucial; building connections can lead to job recommendations even if an offer isn't immediate.
Completing an internship during your studies can be a great step-up into the world of full-time work. You’ll get to spend time inside a real company, put your newly-acquired skills into practice, and network with professionals. But for anyone embarking on a summer internship, the question always remains: will they offer me a full-time job afterwards?
Getting a job offer after an internship is more likely in some industries and companies than others. For example, professional services company PwC say that 90% of their interns get job offers afterwards, but you’ll have to go through a competitive process to get an internship in the first place.
In the US, around 40% of bachelor’s students complete an internship as part of their degree, with first-generation university students and those with financial difficulties less likely to participate in one.
So, if you’re lucky enough to land a competitive summer internship, you might feel some pressure to perform well and try and land a full-time job offer at the end of it. But how do you manage that?
As well as giving tips on making the most of your internship, we’ve also gathered tips from students on finding internships at university.
How to Turn a Summer Internship into a Job Offer
1. Act like a full-time employee.
It sounds deceptively simple: just act like a full-time employee in your full-time internship. Easy! But there’s more to it than just turning up each day and being diligent with your work.
During an internship, it can be difficult to overcome the ‘intern’ label. Whether you’ve been loaded with all the admin tasks (or coffee runs) or you’re actually being involved in interesting projects, you’re still just an ‘intern’—someone who’s here for a short time before the move in.
If you see yourself as just an intern, someone who doesn’t need to make long-term impacts in an organisation, you might not be inclined to make the effort that full-time employees make. Instead, stand out from other ‘temporary’ employees by going the extra mile and showing curiosity about long-term projects.
Show your colleagues that you’re someone they can depend upon, regardless of whether you’re ‘just an intern’.
2. Be ready to work in any team.
When you apply to a summer internship, you don’t always get a first-pick of where you’re placed in an organisation. Although you’ve may have specified a particular business area—say, marketing or sales—you don’t always know where you’re going to be placed until day one.
With that in mind, be ready to leave expectations behind when you join your organisation. Sulking because you didn’t get a placement in your preferred department isn’t a good look!
Wherever you land and whichever projects you’re involved in, see it as an opportunity to get new insights into the working of an organisation. You’ll get to talk to professionals you might not have met otherwise, while understanding all the different facets of a business can be a real asset to any professional.
It helps to show flexibility. During this time, you can prove to your employer that you can work in many different areas, and stay adaptable to different circumstances.
💡 If you really dislike the business area you’ve been placed in, or you have problems with your colleagues, bring them up with the internship coordinator.
3. Make connections with other people in the company.
On a summer internship, you’re granted an incredible opportunity to network with people from every side of a business.
This networking doesn’t just happen when you’re working on projects with your team. Whether you’re in the queue for lunch, see a colleague while popping out for a lunchtime treat, or get chatting with colleagues in the lift, there are plenty of opportunities to network during your internship.
Making connections in your company ensures that you’re remembered even after you’ve left. If a job offer doesn’t come at the end of your internship (maybe because there are no openings at the time), there’s a good chance someone will remember your name in the future, and recommend you when the time comes.
💡 Speaking to a variety of employees is a great way to figure out if this company is somewhere you want to work.
4. Be proactive and ask questions.
In a full-time hire, organisations aren’t necessarily looking for someone who knows everything they need to know on day one. Curiosity can get you a long way.
For many organisations, it’s far more important to find someone who is interested in the company and how it works, and wants to find out more to do their job better.
So, ask questions. You don’t need to grill everyone, but show that you want to know more than you already do, and, more importantly, you’re comfortable with showing that you don’t know anything.
Similarly, try to be proactive in finding tasks. If you can see the value in doing something in a new way, speak to a colleague and tell them what you’re thinking. If you’ve been given the freedom to perform tasks how you see fit, take advantage of that and be creative.
5. Admit when you’ve done something wrong.
Everyone makes mistakes in a new job; there’s no reason to be fearful if you do something wrong during your internship. However, you can set yourself up for a good relationship with your employer if you’re honest about what you’ve done wrong.
More important than that, though, is how to you respond after admitting you’ve made a mistake. For many people, the thought of doing something wrong again is enough to stop them from trying in a job, or doing just basic tasks that they know they won’t get wrong.
Instead, see your mistake as an opportunity to show your adaptability and perseverance. Learn exactly why it went wrong. Complete the task again so you can re-enact the problem and the right solution.
💡 Be honest about any skill deficiencies and ask for help when you need it. An internship is an opportunity to get hands-on with things, even if it’s a topic or task you’re not as familiar with.
6. See each task as an opportunity to learn something new.
Organisations are increasingly seeing the necessity of upskilling employees to prepare for the future of work. The jobs we’re doing now may not be the jobs we’re doing in 5 or 10 years time, so a willingness to learn new things is part and parcel of any job role now.
During your summer internship, you can demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning by being open to new experiences. Every time you have to tackle a problem you’re not sure about, you’ll learn something new about the industry you’re working in and your own capabilities.
Getting a full-time job offer is a sign that that organisation is interested in seeing how you grow in the long-term. So, demonstrate during your summer internship that you want to keep learning and solving new problems.
Student opinions on universities and summer internships
In their EDUopinions reviews, students frequently mention their internship experience, especially if it was an integrated part of their degree curriculum. But what do students say about these experiences? What should students be aware of when they look for internships alongside their course?
Here’s what real students are saying.
Check the intensity of your academic course before getting an internship
If you’re looking at doing internships during your studies—not a summer internship that takes place over the summer break—then you need to be aware of your total capacity for work.
Some universities have full-on timetables for studies, which impacts on your ability to work part-time or take an internship on the side.
So, do your research on your course beforehand, otherwise you may be disappointed when it turns out you can’t complete an internship during your studies.
Student Review – University of Amsterdam
I obtained Bachelor’s in Psychology at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). Pros&Cons of this study program:
Pros: very high-quality study program, most lecturers are true professionals in their field, possibility to tailor the program according to your own interests, huge emphasis on scientific critical thinking.
Cons: few weekly contact hours (therefore, harder to make friends with your fellow students), exams every/other month (very high pace, can be exhausting), hard to combine studies and internship/part-time job timewise
Generally about UvA: huge uni (more than 40k students), campus spread across the city.
Student Review – EU Business School
I have been studying at EUBS for a year at the Munich campus. In my opinion, the university gives the best possible flexibility to study as well as pursue other interests. Due to the flexible time schedule I had the chance to pursue two internships in the first year as well as write for the university research journal. The professors are always willing to help with any doubts academically and with career related questions.
Choose an Internship that Matches Your Studies for the best career prep
Although some students do use their internship experience to explore an area of work that they’re interested in outside of their study programme, your internship will be more impactful if it relates to what you’re learning.
In this case, an internship during your studies gives you an opportunity to start making use of all the skills you’ve learned. This practical experience has two benefits: it’ll help you make better learning connections in the classroom, and will give you a better chance on the jobs market when you graduate, as you already have real experience.
Student Review – SKEMA Business School
This program provided me with incomparable preparation for my career in finance. The courses are intensive and relevant, and the professors are experts in their field. I appreciated the integrated internships which allowed me to apply theory to practice. One of the disadvantages is the high cost of studies, but the post-graduation professional opportunities compensate for this investment.
So I totally recommend this program and this school
Student Review – University of Central Lancashire
My journey as an International Journalism student at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has been incredibly fulfilling. The program offers a perfect balance of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, equipping me with the skills needed for a dynamic career in journalism. The faculty members are not only industry veterans but also deeply committed to student success, providing personalized guidance and support.
The university’s facilities, including modern newsrooms and cutting-edge multimedia labs, have greatly enhanced my learning experience. UCLan’s strong focus on practical experience, through internships and real-world reporting projects, has given me invaluable insights and a competitive edge in the field.
Moreover, being part of a diverse student community has broadened my perspective and enriched my university life. I highly recommend UCLan to anyone pursuing a career in journalism or media.
Check if your Institution’s Careers Centre Can Help Organise Internships
Your university’s Careers Centre can be a great help when looking for internship opportunities. A helpful careers department might be able to help you find internships or help with the application and interview processes by running careers workshops.
Many universities have partnerships with organisations and companies that lead internship programmes, which can make it easier to navigate the competitive process and put in a strong internship application.
Outside of institution partnerships, a Careers Centre may also be able to help you find internships by sending lists of open internship opportunities or connecting you with alumni in the same industry.
Student Review – Newcastle University
I like the fact that the business buildings are modern, and have many features available to students such as free wifi, monitors for student use and numerous charging outlets around teh buildings and in lecture halls. The teachers are generally very kind and helpful, they certainly go the extra mile to ensure students are confident and taught. I would criticise the lack of help whilst applying for internships, Newcastle University has no programmes designated for students to easily get some work experience which some other universities do.
Student Review – EDHEC Business School
my experience is rather mixed. The first year, although general and useful for having an overview, sometimes seemed repetitive and not very engaging. Some teachers didn’t seem very invested, which affected my motivation.
At edhec there is something called the Career Center which is very useful for finding internships, and I was able to obtain an interesting internship thanks to their help. However, I would have liked more diversity in the opportunities offered, particularly internationally.
Because it was mainly for the international aspect that I decided to study at Edhec.
Related Posts :
Recent Posts
We created the EDUopinions Student Reviews Guide to highlight students' opinions of universities. All of the rankings we produce as part of the Guide ...
The University of Pécs in Hungary ranks among the top 1,000 universities in the world, and in the top 300 in Europe. Located in one of Hungary’s best ...
Want to boost your skills with an MBA, but don’t want to take time out from your job to study – or move abroad? An Online MBA means you can study the ...
North-West University is globally recognised for its strong teaching and research; it is ranked seventh in Africa and among the top 1,000 ...