Transitioning from Intern to Full-time Employee

Entry by Courtney Sampson, Marketing and Communications Intern, Indiana State Fair

I haven’t submitted an entry to Indiana INTERNnation in awhile, but that’s because I’ve been extremely busy taking advantage of the 12…15…18 hour days that my internship requires! It’s been really fun working at the Indiana State Fair; I can’t believe we’re finally in full-swing. As I write this, the State Fair is at the ½ way mark. What’s this mean for you? It means you get to read an entry from me, and it means if you haven’t attended the Fair yet, time is running out – what are you waiting for?

Don’t worry, I’m finishing pitching the Fair. In other news…I’ve had a few opportunities come up throughout the past week. The good news? Potentially a job. The bad news? I’m still taking it day-by-day at the Fair! But, as internships wrap up, it got me thinking…how should interns make the transition to full-time employees? (If they’re lucky, that is!) The 3 tips I share below are “the little things” that I believe can make a big difference. In a struggling economy with lots of competition, everything counts!

Meet Everyone – I’m a talker (if you couldn’t guess), but it’s really important to meet and get-to-know the people you work with (and for!) Don’t be shy – even as the intern. Not only is it wise to meet the “key players,” but I’ve learned to never discount the little man on the totem pole – whether that means fellow interns, custodians, switchboard operators, etc. Many people who “do the dirty work” have great attitudes, have fun stories to share, and know a ton about the organization!

Read Professional Magazines, Trade Publications, Journals, and Local/National Newspapers. It’s important to be informed! Keeping up with what professionals read, learning about industry trends, and of course, reading about your competition, shows that you’re knowledgeable about the field where you hope to land your first job.

Be enthusiastic. Get pumped! Show that you enjoy your job. Positive attitudes tend to motivate other employees, and when a motivated group works together, they create a better product. That’s my theory, at least. Excited people who exemplify the mission of their company are definitely top contenders.

That’s it. Short and sweet! And one random thing…just for giggles. Sometimes, interns do grunt work. But I tried to make mine fun 🙂 Here I am, in the picture below. And no…I’m not wearing the tiara.