How to End Your Summer Internship Like a Boss

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Summer is coming to a close for many students and if you’ve spent the past couple of months working an internship, it will soon be time to turn in your employee badge. But before you enjoy that farewell cake, there are some things you should do to finish up your internship like a boss!

I know my job is hardly your typical 9 to 5, so I turned to LinkedIn to get some tips from some contacts who are killing it in corporate America and beyond. 

Take time to reflect on what you’ve learned.

Frances Sarcona, a career advisor based in New York City, recommends keeping a journal about your internship experience, and I couldn’t agree more. It’s so great to look back at thoughts from a specific chapter of life.

In your journal, answer these questions:

• What do you know how to do now that you didn’t know how to do when you started? What can you do better now than when you began?

• What do you know more about now?

• What did the summer teach you about yourself?

• What did you learn about the company you work for and the industry you worked in?

• Were you able to implement or maintain healthy lifestyle habits while working?

• What did you enjoy most about your internship?

That last question is especially important because it can help you decide what internships or jobs you want to pursue in the future.

“Identify and understand what you like doing versus what you’re good at doing,” says Vram Ismailyan, co-founder of Identifee. “It’ll provide better clarity for your long-term career path.”

Keep asking questions.

No question is a stupid one, and asking questions is the best way to learn and show your enthusiasm for the job. While you’re journaling, make a list of things you still want to know about the company you’re working for and any roles within the organization that you dream of one day pursuing. Then make a plan for when and how you’re going to get those questions answered.

“Interns should know their managers are humans who - much more often than not - would like to help them in their career,” said Nick Hudson, executive director at Entertainment 2 Affect Change. “They shouldn't feel scared to reach out to leaders, or ask for advice or connections. Asking for those things should feel like a totally normal thing to do -- and makes it obvious they care about learning more about the field and people working in it.”

Ask for a reverse exit interview.

When an employee leaves a company, a supervisor or manager will often conduct an exit interview to figure out how to make the organization a better place to work for current and future employees. As an intern, don’t be afraid to request what some call a reverse exit interview. Set up a time to meet with your supervisor so that you can interview him, her, or them about your performance. Be sure to make your questions as specific as possible and avoid asking yes or no questions so that the feedback you receive will be helpful.

Keep in touch – for real.

Building your network is one of the most impactful things you can do during an internship.

“From the various teams you will work with to the fellow interns you’ll meet this summer, this is a great opportunity,” says Phylena Houde, an Atlanta-based project manager who specializes in recruiting, retaining and developing early-career tech talent.

My friend Cameron Merritt, who works in global electric vehicle strategy at Ford Motor Company, agrees.

“Use your summer to meet many people in the organization from upper management to the custodial staff,” he says. “Everyone plays a role in making an organization run so ensure you know the various roles people play.”

So often, we meet people at internships, camps, conferences or networking events and we say we’re going to keep in touch but fail to follow up.

Before your internship is over, develop a plan for staying connected. Link up on LinkedIn, but don’t be afraid to ask for email addresses and phone numbers too. Then, set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to check in with your contacts every quarter.

When you follow up, briefly mention what you’ve been up to but also try to share a link to a helpful article on a subject matter you know is of interest to your contact. And, of course, ask what’s going on in their world. It’s also great to send a simple note of gratitude for something your contact helped you with in the past. Or if you have the ability to help your contact with something you know they’re working on, reach out to offer assistance.

If you’re hesitant to reach out to contacts because you don’t want to be a bother, check out this article from Fast Company on how to maintain your professional network without being annoying.

Revisit and rethink your career goals.

In your journal, you should also reflect on your long-term career goals. Based on your internship experience, do you think this company and this industry align with your overall vision for your professional and your personal life?

“If this summer doesn’t meet your standards, that is okay!” Merritt says. “You do not have to have it all figured out. Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. At this point, focus on the skills that you want to develop and build a plan (beyond the summer) to improve.”

And if you’re not sure what skills you need to work on, this can be a great conversation to have with your manager.

Most of all, with any new experience, Merritt says remember this – “Enjoy the ride and have fun!”

What are some lessons you’ve learned during summer internships? What advice would you offer interns and young professionals?