by Francesca Di Meglio
Business Week
A tough job market means interns have to work harder if they want to land a full-time position. Read on for steps to make the most of your internship
The slowing economy is raising the stakes for MBAs hoping to turn their summer internship into a full-time job offer. Although it's unclear whether employers will be making fewer job offers at the end of the summer, it's likely interns will find themselves in an increasingly tight job market, especially in the ailing financial and consulting sectors.
Shari Hubert, senior vice-president for graduate recruitment at Citi's (C) investment and corporate banking divisions, says her company will still be looking for good people to hire for full-time positions in the fall. But she warns: "Will it be competitive? Absolutely. They must bring their 'A' game at all times."
Naturally, interns looking to stay on at their employer should always be looking at ways they can stand out during a summer stint. But these days, that means making an extra push to demonstrate skills, work ethic, and an ability to fit in well with the company's culture. "Anytime there's a bit of a challenge to the market, [interns] need to redouble their efforts. There are no guarantees," says Michael Malone, director of career education and advising at Columbia Business School. "This is an odds business. You increase your odds by acting as a leader in the making."
Here are some tips on how to turn your internship into a full-time job offer, even in a competitive year like this one:
Maintain perspective.
"You don't go to business school to get an internship," says Cai Steger, a 2008 Columbia graduate who converted his MBA internship at the Natural Resources Defense Council into a full-time job as a corporate projects manager for the organization's Center for Market Innovation in New York. "You go to business school to get a career."
As you get to know the company, its culture, and your potential there, you should be deciding whether this is the right place for you. It's O.K. to experiment and question your choice.
Reach out to your boss.
Drop an e-mail to the person with whom you'll be working early in your internship or even before it begins to find out how he or she would like you to communicate. Also, ask about your manager's overall goal for you, and if you should do any work to prepare for the internship, such as reading a particular book, says Al Cotrone, director of career services and student affairs at University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
Career advisers across the board suggest you evaluate and determine exactly what the company is trying to accomplish and the role you'll be playing in its effort.
Communicate early and often.
As you start working on projects, you must keep your superiors and team members in the loop about what you're accomplishing. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you're not sure what to do next. Career advisers warn that you could end up taking the wrong route or disappointing your managers if you are not up-front about what you're doing.
Along the same lines, you should always be prepared to give a short spiel on what you're working on in case you run into anyone, such as the CEO, in the elevator, says Jeff Fischer, director of the University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School MBA Career Management Center.
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