Hired: Turn an internship into a full-time job

As summer winds down, many interns are looking to turn their stint with a company into a job offer.

Jodi Glickman, workplace expert and author of "Great on the Job," offers three tips for turning your internship into a full-time position.

1. Ask for feedback on how you're doing. If you don't know how you're doing, you're in trouble. Schedule a feedback session to make sure you're moving in the right direction, and if not, ask for guidance/input on how to change course.

2. Make the rounds. Make sure people know you and know you're doing great work -- it's time to network. If you haven't met people, stop by their offices to introduce yourself. Offer to present your project at a brown-bag lunch or speak up in a weekly meeting to let people know what you're doing. Find a way to do some personal promotion during your last few critical weeks.

3. Ask what you need to do to get an offer of full-time work. Be direct; tell your manager or mentor what you want. Get advice on how to make that happen.

Those of you who are going back to school for the fall term and would like to intern next summer should begin your search now.

-- Check in with your school's career center for internship information and applications.

-- Begin research on the industry of your choice. The Internet is your friend here. Most major companies allow online internship applications, but they are competitive, so check out the deadlines and requirements and get prepared. If a website doesn't lead you to internship information, contact the company and ask questions. "If you don't ask, you won't get", my dad always said.

-- You also can research local companies in your industry of choice and call or email for internship opportunities.

Do what others fail to do.

(Marvin Walberg is a job search coach. Contact him at mwalberg(at)bellsouth.net, marvinwalberg.blogspot.com, or P.O. Box 43056, Birmingham, AL 35243.)

GETTING HIRED