6 Tips for Turning an Internship into a Full Time Job, with Nicole Williams of WORKS

6 Tips for Turning an Internship into a Full Time Job, with Nicole Williams of WORKS6 Tips for Turning an Internship into a Full Time Job, with Nicole Williams of WORKS28entry-level jobs and internships galore But just what is the best way to land these punkts and turn them into staff positions? turned to Nicole Williams, founder of WORKS, a career development company for young professionals, for her tips.Keep reading for tips from Nicole Williams on how to turn entry-level jobs and internships in staff positions1. What types of entry level jobs and internships are you seeing for the college graduating Class of 2012?Due to the ever-growing baby boomer population, healthcare jobs are plentiful. And as social technology grows so do jobs in tech and social media. Weve also seen a surge in marketing opportunities.2. For a young professional hoping to get their foot in the door of a company, what is the best approach?Before you start sending out dozens of resumes, stop and do some researc h. Turn to your existing contacts for help before competing with 1,000s of other qualified candidates. Internships and jobs are primarily found through connections. Make a list of the top 15 companies youd like to intern for. Log into LinkedIn and start following these companies. You can see if any of your first or second degree contacts works at one of these places. If so, reach out to them and ask them about their internship program.3. For unpaid internships, do you have any advice to help young professionals leid be taken advantage of?Its not uncommon for employers to take advantage of new internship hires. While on the initial bewerbungsgesprch ask about the day to day job description and ultimately about the probability of a paid job being a reality at the end of the internship. Remember in any internship (and entry level job) there is bound to be some slack work but dont hesitate to take the initiative. Join appropriate LinkedIn Groups to be privy to industry discussion to bri ng back to your team. Your goal is to contribute as much as possible. Dont hesitate to ask about the goals the employer is seeking to achieve in hiring an intern. Will you in charge of your own projects like growing the social media network? Building their blog? Helping with market research? Come prepared with a list of skills youd like to develop in helping to make the company better.4. And are there perks they should be asking for since they are unpaid?There are plenty of perks that interns can ask for. Typically, if an internship is unpaid they might be able to offer you a stipend for lunch or travel. Other soft perks you can ask for are to have weekly meetings with various departments at the company in order to get a better understanding of the inner workings of those fields. The other major perk of an internship is the opportunity to build relationships with people you can learn from and/or get hired by. Ask for introductions while youre in your internship and dont leave withou t as many recommendations as possible to help verify the quality of work youve contributed. Also, since you arent making any money and need to support yourself, you could ask for flexible hours to accommodate earning income at a part time job.5. At what point should an intern ask a company to consider them for a staff position within the company and what steps do you recommend they do to prepare before approaching the company?An intern should let it be known within the first interview that being hired full-time is their end goal. They should have a chat with their boss on their first week about the internship process and about the possibility of turning the internship into a full-time job. Remember that an internship is an opportunity for this company to try you out and the job offer will depend on your job performance. While you should check expectations at the beginning of the internship, its best to ask about the staff position once youve been able to prove your value.6. Any othe r advice for those hoping to intern and current interns hoping to obtain company employment status?Look, listen, and learn. The best thing about a fabulous internship is getting the insider scoop on your industry, so make sure to observe the processes, systems, and politics that are in place. Also sit in on meetings when you can and take note of not only whats being said, but whos saying it.Go above and beyond. Take a cue from your friendly neighborhood latte provider and follow the Starbucks initiative Just say yes. Say yes to any assignments that come your way, complete them before deadline - then ask for more.Keep in touch. According to Nicole Williams, once your internship is over, your career is just beginning. Start it off on the right foot by sending a follow-up message with industry questions and ask your supervisor if you can use them as a reference. Connect with them on LinkedIn so theyll always be a part of your professional network. Staying in good standing with your in ternship contacts will enable you to send them personal promotional material and apply to job openings in comfort, when the time comes, either via them or one of their many contacts.To learn more about Nicole Williams,visit WORKS.