How to Turn an Internship into a Full-time Job

“I have work, then a dinner thing, and then I am busy trying to become who I am.” – From HBO’s Girls.

If you’ve landed a summer internship, congrats! Now you’re probably thinking about how to maintain the momentum to either transition to full time, or come back as a full time employee once school is over.

1. Go above and beyond. This helps you prove to your supervisor that you’re efficient and energetic about your work, which is only something you can prove through your actions.

2. Look the part. You don’t have to be a fashionista to get this part right … just follow the basic rules of appropriate office dress. Don’t let your attire get in the way of making a good impression!

3. Stay in touch with your adviser/supervisor. Drop them an email every now and then to catch up and make sure they know you’re interested if a position opens up. By nurturing this relationship, they are sure to remember you — and potentially recommend you for a position — long after you’re gone.

4. Ask for a recommendation letter before you leave. A perk of getting the letter before you leave is that your work abilities are still fresh in their mind. If you’ve got the support someone who works there, it’s a good indicator that you would fit in well long term.

5. Ask a current employee you trust for advice. Hiring is different from company to company. Some companies really value promoting from within, while others care more about finding the best candidate for the job.

And the conversation doesn’t stop there. For 20-somethigns who are as uncertain about their future as the cast of HBO’s hit show Girls,  U Chic’s Diploma Diaries: The Chic Grad’s Guide to Work, Love, and Everything in Between   is a collection of real advice from real young women who have lived through post-college life, and survived it, compiled by U Chic founder Christie Garton.