How to end your internship on a high note

This is a guide to help you get to the finish line of your internship on a high note. Photo by Say Cheeze Studios

You may wonder how to ensure a smooth transition with your internship ending. As onboarding activities must be done when you are newly hired, similar activities must occur as you prepare to leave the organization. You must engage your manager and find out what you need to do. However, here is a general list you can follow to help you in your transition.

1. Know and show what you have learned.

As an internship is a learning opportunity, you have amassed a formidable amount of information and skills in the months you have been working on that job. Make sure that you document all the new things that you have learned and make sure to show them off. You can prepare a slideshow or a presentation and share it with your manager and colleagues to show your value and the excellent job they did teaching you.

2. Wrap up any pending tasks.

Finish the tasks that you have been working on. In addition, discuss with your manager and find out how to hand over incomplete projects. Finally, find out which colleague or new intern will be taking over the project and make notes on what you have done and what they need to finish.

3. Get feedback

Ensure you get feedback from your colleagues and manager before you leave and find out the areas in which you excel and need to improve. This way, you will have a 360-degree perception of how you performed at your internship.

4. Solidify your connections

Photo by Nathana Rebouças

Suppose you made friends with some of your coworkers or would like to maintain a relationship with your colleagues. In that case, you can always add them to your online professional network, such as LinkedIn. First, ask them if you can add them and then send the request. This way, you will stay in touch with people in your industry.

5. Discuss the potential for an extension/ full-time offer.

If you have completed your studies and are looking for a full-time job or even an extension of your internship, speak about it with your manager and find out if a vacancy is available to you. Your manager will only know if you express interest in a position, and they can tell you how to apply for it. However, should a vacancy be unavailable, focus on solidifying a relationship that may be beneficial in the future should an opportunity arise.

6. Get recommendations

Ensure you get a letter of recommendation or a LinkedIn recommendation after completing your internship. This document will carry weight as it will testify to your work and conduct over the months you worked for an organization.

7. Update your CV

Photo by João Ferrão

Be sure to update your CV while your internship is still fresh. This way, you will remember all the tasks you have completed and accomplishments you have achieved, and you will not have to go back and try to remember the things you did there.

8. Say goodbye

Saying goodbye is the courteous thing to do at the end of your internship. Write a heartfelt “Thank You” message on the Slack channel or company-wide email, thanking them for the opportunity to work there and to learn from them. Saying goodbye not only provides closure to you as you close this chapter of your life but also makes you memorable to your colleagues.