How to End an Internship on a Positive Note
Whether you’re finishing your internship for good or looking to get a full-time gig, it’s important to end things on a positive note. This can help ensure that you make the most of your experience and who you met during it, while also helping to prepare you for the next step in your career.
1. Set a final date.
Whether you’re planning to complete your internship for college credit or if it is simply an opportunity to learn and grow, make sure to set a final date that allows you to complete all of your tasks without sacrificing too much time from your other commitments. The most important part of this process is communicating with your supervisor what you expect to complete by the end of your internship and what steps they will need to take in order to make the transition smooth for everyone involved.
For most students, a typical internship lasts 8 to 10 weeks. However, some internships may be longer if the organization has an extended training program or requires additional time to provide you with the specific skills and experience you need for the job.
If you’re going to be in a particular location for the duration of your internship, consider scheduling events or arranging for a site visit prior to your official start date so that you can see the place where you will be working. This will also allow you to learn more about the business and make a connection with key people within the company.
Finally, if you’re thinking about working at your internship organization for a full-time position in the future, now is a great time to let them know. This could be as simple as a quick note sent out to the entire team or a formal letter of intent.
Ideally, the best way to wrap up your internship is to get a final review from your supervisor and have a goodbye conversation with the people who were involved in your projects and assignments. This will provide you with a sense of closure and ensure that you are able to move on to your next adventure in the professional world.
2. Finish any projects/assignments.
When it comes to the end of your internship, it’s important to make sure that you have completed any projects or assignments that you may have had to complete during your time at the company. Even if you had to take on a project that wasn’t directly related to your field of study, it can still be beneficial in terms of professional growth and experience.
According to Liz Wessel, co-founder and CEO of WayUp, it’s best to make a list of your responsibilities during your time as an intern and to ensure that you complete them. For example, if you were given a project to write a company newsletter but never got around to it, you should follow up with your supervisor to ask how to get started on it.
If you have any ongoing projects, it’s also a good idea to back up your files so that you can refer to them when applying for new jobs or when trying to remember what you did in the past. It’s also a good idea to transfer ownership of vital company documents to another member of staff so that they don’t get lost when you leave.
You should also review any final papers or evaluations that you’ve received from your internship supervisor. These will give you a sense of your overall progress during your time at the company, and they’ll also help you to evaluate whether your experience was useful for your career goals.
It’s important to be diligent with your responsibilities as an intern, so you can earn the respect of your boss and your team. If you’re hesitant to do small tasks, or don’t perform them well, your manager will likely think less of you and will be more hesitant to assign you large projects.
3. Get a final review.
It’s important to get a final review before your internship ends, as it will help you assess how well you’ve done and what you can improve upon. If your supervisor hasn’t already scheduled a review, make an appointment and ask for one. It’s also a good idea to solicit feedback from your employer and mentor at this point, so that you can implement it into your next internship or job.
Often, internships can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to gain a foothold in the professional world, so it’s crucial to make sure you’re getting the most out of your experience. If you have any complaints or regrets about your internship, take them up with your school’s career center.
Then, write up a personal appraisal of your time at the company. You can write this in a notebook or on your computer, so you can include everything from the pros to the cons.
Once you’ve completed your internship, you should send a thank-you note to each of the people who worked with you. It’s always good to leave a lasting impression and let them know you appreciate their work.
If you’re looking for a new job after your internship, it’s important to update your resume and cover letter before you leave. This will ensure you’re showcasing your most relevant skills and accomplishments.
You can also share ideas and suggestions for improvements in the office during your last week, which will help you leave a positive impression with your coworkers. It’s a great way to show that you’re creative and have fresh ideas, and it will give you additional experience in the office if your idea gets adopted.
4. Stay in touch.
After a long summer of hard work, you get a great end-of-internship evaluation and feel like you’re leaving the company with a lot to look forward to. You’ve also made a lot of professional connections and learned valuable skills. Now it’s time to stay in touch with those people who helped you throughout the summer.
There are a few different ways you can keep in touch with your former supervisors and colleagues. One way is to secure their email addresses so that you can easily communicate with them later on down the road. Another way is to send them a LinkedIn invitation or follow their account on Twitter.
You can even ask them for advice if you have questions about what to do next after your internship. Just be sure to keep it professional.
When it’s time for you to leave, make an effort to say goodbye and send a thank you note to everyone who helped you during the internship. This will help you create a good impression, and it will allow you to connect with them in the future, whether you are looking for jobs or simply seeking advice on career decisions.
It’s a good idea to set up coffee dates with your contacts before the internship ends, so that you can catch up. This is a great time to collect numbers from your coworkers that can be useful for job search purposes or for references after you graduate.
Besides the usual email, it’s also a good idea to send thank you notes to each person you worked with on a regular basis during the internship. It’s a small gesture, but it will mean a lot to them that you took the time to write them a note and show how much you appreciated working with them.
5. Send a thank-you note.
As you prepare to leave your internship, it’s important to send a thank-you note. This will help you build a lasting relationship with your employer and may even lead to a job offer at the company.
When writing your note, remember to use proper etiquette and make it personal. This is a great way to show your gratitude to your supervisors, mentors, and colleagues who have helped you during your internship.
Be sure to mention all the ways that they have shaped you as a professional, as well as any other specific things they did that you appreciated. You can also mention your goals and plans to continue working together in the future.
If you work at an organization that uses a virtual environment, you can send your thank-you note in email form. This option will ensure that your message is received and read quickly. However, if you have an internship that involves face-to-face interaction, it’s a good idea to send a physical card with your note.
You can choose to send a handwritten letter, an email, or both. You can also give your note a personal touch by adding a photo of yourself or other members of your team.
Keep in mind that it’s not appropriate to ask for a job directly in a thank-you letter, as this could come across as desperate. Instead, it’s better to ask to connect on LinkedIn or other workplace social media platforms if you want to stay in touch.
A well-written internship thank-you letter will not only strengthen your relationship with your former employer, but it will also serve as a positive reference should you ever need one. It’s also a good way to establish yourself as an expert in your field and help you stand out from the competition.