Summer Associate Roles: A Professional Finish

Summer Associate Roles: A Professional Finish

Your internship is almost over, you are completing your last projects and it’s time to round things up. But how? 

How do you say goodbye in a professional way, maintain your connections and get a job offer? The ending of a summer associate role is a chance to turn your temporary placement into a real job.

The first article in this series offered advice on how to get the summer placement while the following provided a useful list of do’s and don’ts during the internship itself. This last article will advise you on how to go out in style and maximize the positive impact that this internship will have on your future career. 

1. Evaluate. Review the goals that you set yourself for this internship, did you achieve them? An internship usually gives a boost to your personal level of confidence, self-esteem, and your contacts. Try to measure what you did against KPIs (both organizational as well as self-imposed) that you identified throughout the internship. This will come in handy when you speak to a potential employer in the future and are asked what your achievements were. It will also help you reflect in a structured manner on what you need to develop on. Lastly, check your resume. You will find out that you learned new things like software or maybe online tools that you can add.
2. Pass on your knowledge. Do you remember how in the beginning you had a hard time figuring things out and finding the right information? Wouldn't it be a waste to lose all that acquired knowledge? Then write an intern support document for your replacement. You would do the company/firm a big favor if you would make the transition as smooth as possible. You can write tips about: your daily activities, useful websites or the company dress code and culture. Rest assured, the organization’s and line manager’s gratitude will be reflected in the reference letter.
3. References. References are important - they validate and document your hard work as an intern. If you have a specific future position in mind, then ask your supervisor to gear his letter is this direction. Make a list of the people who you would validate as a good resource for a reference. Be sure to ask for your reference letter(s) in time, preferably two weeks before you leave. That way people have enough time to write them while not failing to integrate too many of the tasks that you finish towards the end on your placement. 
4. “Thank you!”. Saying “Thank you!” is not only a good way of expressing your appreciation, but also leaves a good impression on those who you have been working with. Make a list of the people that you would like to thank. The first one naturally goes to your internship supervisor, but don’t forget the other colleagues who have helped you out when you needed them, even if they only helped you out once. 
5. Future opportunities. Lastly but also the most important, how do you get a job offer? In 2012, 96.5% of the summer interns at 21 Biglaw firms got a job offer after their summer placement according to a survey conducted by Am Law Daily. Here’s how you could increase your chances of being one of those: (1) Make an appointment with your internship supervisor at a time that suits him/her the best, preferably one week before you finish your internship. (2) Make sure you convey to them that you are available to return to the firm should they want you to join.n (3) Have a list of future opportunities or openings within the firm with the added value that you would bring to the firm within that role. (4) Prepare a timetable for them to let them know what your future plans are and your time availability in the upcoming period (especially important if, for example, you are returning to university). (5) In the end, of course make sure to thank him/her for their time and consideration!