Getting an internship in college can be an incredible experience. In many ways, it feels like landing your first job. It’s an office or work environment you go to on a regular basis. You dress professionally. You make it a point to learn all you can. You interact with professionals who are in roles you may want to be in someday, and get to solve real world problems. And sometimes, you even get to make a little money in addition to your school credit.
At CareerSparx we firmly believe that you should begin your career as an intern (“7 Reasons Why You Should Start Your Career as an Intern“). That said, as the summer draws to a close and your internship days (if you have one) are waning, it’s important to keep in mind one thing: An internship, no matter how much you put into it, does not always equal an automatic job offer. Let me clarify and say we’re not saying that it’s not possible that your internship turns into a job opportunity. In fact, I’ve seen some amazing interns become even more amazing colleagues. The point of this blog post is to bring up that oh-so-touchy fact that just because you interned at a company, it doesn’t entitle you to a job offer.
One time I was interviewing a potential candidate for a job. This person was someone who already had interned where I worked. On first glance I would even think they had an automatic “in” in many ways, but this person made some very grave mistakes … Mistakes I would never want you to make during a job interview with any future employer. Allow me to share them with you so you’re not left wondering what went wrong.
1) Don’t Rely on What You Think You Know
Just because you interned at a company and feel like you know it inside and out, a lot can change after you’ve returned to school and find yourself back there again. Think of who you were last year at this time. Did you have different perspectives and preferences? Chances are, so did your company. Don’t make the mistake of coming to an interview without spending any time researching where you used to work. You want to still show that you’re the candidate who knows more about where you want to work above anyone else being interviewed. Take the time to research the company’s website — just like you would do for any other job opportunity. Maybe the company has new clients or even new leadership. Your job is to know these things. Let your past experience serve as background that you can of course rely on, but make sure you still put in extra initiative.
2) Err on the Professional Side …
Even if You Know the Interviewer
OK, so you know the person (or team of people) interviewing you. This doesn’t give you an automatic pass to be anything less than professional. The same interview rules (see “4 Things NOT to Do in an Interview“) apply in this situation the same as they would in any other interview setting. You still need to dress professionally and address those interviewing you with respect. These may seem like basics, but they are so often ignored once you feel comfortable with those you are talking to. Keep them in the back of your mind at all times.
3) Don’t Give the Impression This Job is Your Plan B
Finally, at all costs do NOT give any indication that you are applying for this position as a last resort. If you’ve been casting a wide net — as we hope you have — it’s still important to drive home why you are the best person for this position at this time. Even if the position you’re applying for isn’t for the exact role you want to be in at a company, it’s important that you show the employer you really are the right fit for the job. You already have an advantage in that the employer knows what “type” of person you are to work with, which as we’ve said before, gives you a huge leg up in your interview. Just don’t leave any room for doubt in the employer’s mind that you really want this particular position. Passion shows, so make sure you bring it!
Remember, your internship may have gotten you an interview opportunity, but that doesn’t mean you automatically have the job. Treat every interview like it’s a new opportunity to make a first impression, and don’t forget to bring your A-game. An interviewer (whether they know you or not) will know within minutes if you bring the right energy for the job, so make sure you leave them thinking, “wow.”
News Flash: An Internship Does Not Always Equal A Job Offer Image Credit
