Asking for a Job After an Internship

You might have heard of Jen Rubio. She’s the CEO and founder of Away. Well, here’s something you probably don’t know about her. Rubio interned at Johnson & Johnson as part of an intern-for-credit-program and she loved her experience so much she never wanted to leave. In fact, she ended up getting a job with the company after extending her internship and never went back to school. If you’re currently in an internship you love and haven’t already graduated, it’s advisable that you go back to get your degree. But, if you’ve recently graduated, you may be thinking about how to turn your internship into a full-time. If you’re not, you should be!

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS ON ASKING FOR A JOB AFTER AN INTERNSHIP:

1. Well, Ask For It

Sure, it’s a pretty basic strategy but there’s nothing wrong with that. If you’ve built a good rapport with your team and have made yourself indispensable, then you may be in luck. As the summer comes to a close and internship projects wrap-up, managers realize that their interns will soon be leaving. That’s also when they will evaluate how much value their intern has brought to the team. This is a great time to make your interest in full-time employment known.

Whether it’s done by email or in person, it’s important that you have a well thought out pitch. In your email, start by thanking your manager for the opportunity and highlight what you really enjoyed about your time on the team. You’ll also want to highlight how your work positively impacted the department. Then it’s time to make your intentions known. Mention your interest in staying with the team long-term and ask to set up a time to speak about opportunities in person.

If you’re more comfortable asking for a job after your internship face-to-face, you’ll follow the same basic format. However, you don’t want to blindside your manger by just launching into this type of conversation. Instead, let your manager know that you’d like to set some time aside on the calendar to review your internship experience and explore potential employment opportunities with the organization.

In your meeting, if it’s clear that an opportunity for employment isn’t immediately available, take advantage of the time your manger set aside for you by asking for advice on career paths, job searching and networking.

2. Explore Other Departments

An important thing to remember when asking for a job after an internship is that you’re not limited to the department you worked in. While the team you interned with may have been amazing, it might not be the right time for them to bring on another employee. But your search doesn’t have to end there. If you were able to make an impression through your work ethic and skills, be sure to explore possible openings in other departments. You’re perfectly positioned to get in front of hiring managers from other divisions so don’t let the opportunity and the trusted recommendation go to waste. Ask your manager to make an introduction on your behalf in another department.

3. Stay Connected

When it comes to finding a job, your network is everything. If it doesn’t seem likely that you’ll be hired internally after the internship, ask your manager and colleagues if they can connect you to people at other firms of interest. You never know what opportunities will come from one LinkedIn post about an amazing intern who is now looking for employment. It would also be helpful to ask your manager to recommend you on LinkedIn and to be sure you’re connected to your managers and colleagues.

4. Check-In

When entering the workforce, it’s possible you may struggle to find your way. For example, you may accept a job that turns out to be different than you’d hoped it would be. Check in with your internship manager from time-to-time to see if any roles are opening up. You definitely don’t want to bombard them, but you can’t assume they will call you when something comes up. After all, they may think you’re happy at your current place of employment.

However you end up with your first job out of college, one thing is certain. When you get the job, focus on making a great impression. Here’s how you can be sure you knock your first job out of the park.