Five Key Takeaways for Internship Success

School is winding down, exams are almost over, and summer looms ahead. While the temptation may be to relax, kick back, and enjoy the break from academics, think twice.... Students embarking on summer internships or post-graduate jobs have only a few opportunities to make a good first impression.

In working with hundreds of students over the past 17 years, I've seen 5 keys to success for anyone about to embark on a summer internship or new job:

1) First Impressions Matter

?In talking with recruiters about what separates those who receive offers from those who don't, some common themes emerge:

?Think of your internship as a 10-week interview. Dress appropriately, arrive early and stay late, carry a notebook around with you and take notes when you talk with people, ask good questions, meet as many people as possible from all areas of the firm, and be memorable (for the right reasons). Attend all networking events and learn about other areas of the firm. If your internship offers rotations, stay in touch and involved as much as possible with your previously assigned groups.

?A strong handshake and good eye contact is just as critical during your internship or first few weeks on the job as in the interview process. Come into work every day excited and enthusiastic, no matter how mundane a given project might be. Take initiative and raise your hand for the projects no one else wants.

?2) Exceed Expectations

?One past intern shared, "One of the positive pieces of feedback I received was that I accomplished more work than was expected. I was able to do so because I worked a lot of hours including weekends. If you are doing a project-based internship and want an offer, you should try to accomplish more on the project(s) than expected. Note, this is not about face time; make sure you actually are productive while you are at work; otherwise people will just assume you are struggling with the workload."

?"Don't complain about the process, even to co-workers," another graduate shared. "Be the intern who everyone likes being around. In careers where you're spending more than 12-14 hours a day at work, you want to work with people who reenergize the place, not with ones who weigh it down."

?If the opportunity presents itself and you can swing it timewise, ask if you can extend your internship period a week or two. That shows commitment and initiative and gives you more quality time with hiring managers and colleagues during the offer decision time.

?3) Market Yourself and Stand out from the Crowd

?"However hard you work, you need to make sure it's visible to people," another intern noted. "Very often when I was assigned a small project, I would go to people on other desks related to the project and ask questions. Sometimes I'd email people and ask them if I could shadow them for market opening or closing. I participated in most events. It may seem like time away from your desk, but you're making yourself better seen in the firm's community. I made sure the people I thought of as mentors knew they were mentors to me, so that they'd feel happy to reach out to me too. I asked for feedback at least once a week."

?"You have to leave your mark in the group." Do something specific or develop a specific model/methodology by which people can remember you after you finish your internship. This is also a great takeway to include on your resume (e.g. I developed XYZ methodology now being employed in firm strategy....)

?4) Understand and Leverage the Firm's Performance Management and Offer Process

?When you embark on your internship or first job, make sure you understand how and when your performance will be measured. Many firms formally review interns mid-summer. If you are not formally reviewed in the middle of the summer, ask your managers/peers for feedback early on so that you can address any issues by the end of the summer.

?"Realize that you may be reviewed by everyone (from analysts to senior mgmt) and all the reviews count, so it's critical to form a good impression with everyone," one graduate advised.

?Ask your hiring manager(s) whether or not you can expect to receive an offer. Let people at the firm know how much you enjoyed your summer and that you would like to have a career at the firm. One recruiter notes that all too often interns believe they have performed well enough to be offered a job, but if they don't demonstrate enough passion and initiative to ask for it, the firm may give the offer to someone who did.

?5) Engage at All Levels

?"Don't become too casual with regard to behavior and work ethic (treat every coworker as you would your boss, including junior people and administrative staff). Always remember to be as professional as possible and that you are constantly being evaluated," a recent graduate shared.

?"Everyone notices the people who seem to be trying too hard to impress and are talking a little too much during group sessions," one graduate noted. "It alienates you from your peers too - and they are also a valuable contact. During our exit interviews, we were independently asked to name other interns who we would pick if we had to create a 'dream team.' We all knew the people who we respected, and the ones we thought were too full of themselves."

?Keep HR in the loop. Stay in constant touch with your recruiter throughout your internship, asking for input about what you are doing right and where you can improve.

?And finally, stay in touch with your network before, during and after your internship (or first few weeks on the job), especially if they helped you get where you are today. These references, mentors and advocates gave of their time to provide you advice and guidance, and by keeping them apprised of your success, you are forming your own personal Board of Directors for your career.