Good
morning,
In the
next few weeks most of your summer associates and interns will pack-up and
begin the mass migration back to school. I’ve created a short list of the top
10 things they should do as they wrap-up their summer experience. If you have
summer associates or interns in your office, please feel free to share this
content. If you’re in career services and have stayed in touch with the
students you worked so hard to place, please don’t hesitate to pass this
content onto them.
Also,
one quick advertisement: my latest book in the “100 Things You Need To Know”
series is now available via Amazon.com. “Business Etiquette” addresses a
variety of issues including:
•
Interviewing with style
• Working with your boss & coworkers
• Business dining
• Business communications
• Business travel
• Working globally
• Working with your boss & coworkers
• Business dining
• Business communications
• Business travel
• Working globally
Enjoy
the end of summer!
All the
best,
Mary
10 Things To Do
Before the Summer Ends
Over the
next few weeks your time as a summer associate or intern will rapidly come to a
close. Before you leave your summer employer, make sure you do the following 10
things to ensure you leave on a high note:
1.
Transition work –
Turn in completed work assignments. For any work that remains incomplete,
prepare a short memo detailing what you’ve done and what work remains. If you
have relied on specific sources for key information, list their names and key
contact information. Provide supporting documentation. Make it super easy
for someone else to finish the project.
2.
Meet with your supervisor(s) –
Ask for feedback. Listen carefully. If any feedback is less than positive, do
not become defensive. Show your appreciation for your supervisor’s willingness
to share his/her thoughts and time.
3.
Ask for copies of your work –
To begin building a portfolio, you may wish to keep copies of any work you
completed. Ask permission to do so. Remember, your work product belongs to your
employer. Don’t assume you may keep it.
4.
Say “thank you” –
In a private conversation, thank your supervisor for the summer experience.
Stop by the recruiting department and do the same. And don’t forget to thank other
people—administrators, tech department, library, mail-room, and others—who
helped you complete work.
5.
Share your career plans –
If you hope your summer experience will lead to a future job offer, clearly
express this desire. You may or may not receive a positive response, however,
don’t assume others know your goals and expectations.
6.
Speak positively –
If your summer experience was disappointing, suck it up. When you refer to it,
only focus on the positive. Avoid complaining. Never burn a bridge.
7.
Prepare to stay in touch –
Create a plan to stay in touch with key people. Update your LinkedIn profile,
adding information about your summer experience. Invite others to “link” to
you. Avoid using Facebook for this purpose.
8. No
gifting –
Do not give a gift to your supervisor or to anyone else with whom you worked.
Your good intent could be misinterpreted as an attempt to curry favor.
9.
Hand write a thank-you note –
Yes, it’s redundant, but this note gives you one last chance to leave a positive
impression with your supervisor. Keep it short, simple, and sincere. Mail it
within 48-hours of your last day of work.
10.
Update your résumé –
While your summer experience is still fresh in your mind, craft four or five
quality sentences that describe the experience and the skills you acquired as a
result.
Don’t let the end of
your summer experience just happen. View it as one more opportunity to take charge
of your career and close with class.
Copyright © 2014 Mary
Crane & Associates.
