Summer has come and gone and fall is quickly approaching. Before we know it we’ll be bundled up with beanies and scarves happily sipping our pumpkin spice lattes. Unfortunately that also means it’s time to get back to another semester of stress and sleepless nights. Before you dive full force into your already increasing pile of assignments and papers, however, there are a few things you should do. You have spent your summer interning and in order for that to be beneficial to your future you have to learn to organize!
1. Keep that CV, linked in account and any other source you use to build your professional profile, updated. Every little bit helps and your internship will let future employers know you put yourself out there by challenging yourself, even if it was not in your desired field. Make sure you put in a request for a recommendation letter from your employer to add to your portfolio as well! You never know when it might come in handy in the future!
2. Compile a list of everything you participated in throughout your internship. Were you a part of any projects? What accomplishments did you make during your time there? How did you contribute to said projects and what do you think you could have done better? Keeping track of your achievements from your internship will keep you motivated and remind you of what you are capable of. It’ll also remind you of the experience you have under your belt already if a job opportunity with similar aspects arises in the future.
3. Write a thank you card! As simple and as silly as that sounds, it goes a long way. Taking time out your schedule to send a thank you to your employer will make you a memorable employee. You’ll stand out in their mind and they’ll appreciate the gesture. Today’s society is so plugged in that when you do something as sincere as a thank you card employers will do a double take. It will reinforce their memory of you and help build your professional reputation in a positive light.
4. Along with the card, stay in touch with your fellow employees and employer. Networking is key when it comes to your career and it’s better to start at the get go. You’ll build your contact list which will help get your foot in the door at potential careers. Getting into any field nowadays is all about who you know and you’ll be ahead of the game if you keep contact with your internship. A contact is a contact, whether or not your internship was your desired field, people know people from all over. It’s better to know somebody than to be left figuring it out on your own.