How to stay in touch with your employers
As your internship comes to a close and you prepare to say your goodbyes, don’t let those goodbyes be final!
When future opportunities open up, you want to be the first name that comes to the mind of your past employer. Most companies get new interns every semester, so leave your mark on the company and the people who work there, and don’t let your name get lost in the pile of past interns.
All the work you put into the company over the course of your 3 to 4-month internship will entirely go to waste if you don’t stay connected with the professionals you met during that time.
Keep these tips in mind to sustain lasting professional relationships long past your internship end date.
Start before you leave
The key to following up is to start at the beginning. From your first assignment to your last day as an intern, you should be enthusiastic about not only learning and growing, but also about forming relationships. Work hard every day to get to know new people around the office and form relationships that go beyond the workplace. This will show that you are genuinely interested in the people and the company, which will automatically make you stand out.
Don’t wait until the end of your internship to go into panic mode when you only have a one or two solid connections to depend on. If you care about the people you work with and the projects you work on from the start, you will be remembered as a valuable intern and even better, a possible full-time candidate.
Contribute to a project that will last longer than your internship
Make your mark on a project that can be left behind and used by your employer even after you leave your internship. Offer to create the social media content for months past your internship end date, or create a better organizational system for the office file cabinet. Your employer will remember you every time they see or use that project. Even better, the next time you get in contact with your past employer, you can ask about that project and use it as a great ice breaker conversation starter!
Contact your past employer/supervisor once a semester
Make it a goal to contact your past employer at least one time per semester. Even taking a few minutes to write an email updating your past supervisor on your progress and asking them how their work is going will show that you care and that you truly respect them as a professional in the field. They will realize that you are still interested in the company, even though you no longer work there, which will make you stand out from your competition as a dedicated and passionate employee when a position opens up.
Connect with past employers in person
Catching up over coffee or lunch can be the best way to maintain a genuine relationship with your past employers, on both a personal and professional basis. Don’t be afraid to be the one to reach out to your supervisor or past team members and ask to get together. No doubt they will be curious about your academic and professional progress, and how you are putting the skills they taught you to good use! Connecting with your past employer in person allows for more personalized conversations and shows that you sincerely care about the relationship. The fact that you made the effort and took the time to seek out their help and advice in person will leave your name in their mind even more.
NEVER, EVER, EVER burn any bridges
Your summer internship is over and you walk out the door with a huge smile on your face, thinking you will never have to see or speak to these people again. But, if you’re a smart professional (which, I know you are), you will know that it’s important to keep these relationships positive. No matter how hard or unpaid or scary your internship was, or how much you never want to look back, you should never, ever burn any bridges. You never know when any of those past employers will show up in your life as the connection that you need to impress.
Despite all the awkwardness that may come along with contacting your past employers once or twice a year, it’s important to keep your professional relationships intact. You never know which past supervisor will be the connection that helps you land your dream job, or what help or advice they can be to you in the future. Maintaining your professional relationships long past the end of your internship will better you as a professional and lead to larger and stronger networks with greater opportunities for your future!