Internships are auditions. Here’s how to turn yours into an offer.
8 steps
- Learn names + roles in week 1 — be the person people know
- Ask for the success rubric: “What would make this internship a 10/10?”
- Ship 1 visible win in the first month
- Document everything — weekly updates to your manager
- Ask for feedback biweekly, act on it visibly
- Build 2-3 allies outside your team
- Express interest early: “I’d love to stay — what would it take?”
- Leave a handover doc — people remember professionalism
What managers actually decide on
Reliability > brilliance. Show up, communicate, finish.
If no offer comes
- Ask for: recommendation letter
- LinkedIn endorsement
- Referral to partner teams
FAQ
When should I ask about conversion?
Around the midpoint — early enough to act on feedback.
