So you’ve got your internship, but with graduation looming you’re wondering what to do come Fall. You’d like to stay with the company. How do you convince them that you’re worth paying?
Being such helpful folks we’ve gathered some ideas on this point and decided to share them with you.

• First, find ways to get more experience.
That’s why you’re there, so volunteer to help out in other areas than your assignments. Share the latest tricks you picked up. This’ll show them that you’re willing to work and worth having around.

• Track your accomplishments.
They look better on your resume than vague job descriptions and a reminder of how valuable you’ve been won’t hurt your chances when you apply at the end of your internship. Keep a journal of what you did, how you did it and what came out of it. Use that to update your resume periodically so it’s current and impressive.

• Find mentors.
Get to know people in the company you respect. Listen to them and find out what they know. You’ll gain tricks of trade that it would you years to work out on your own and it’s amazing how willing some of these people will be willing to go to bat for. A little respect for your elders can pay huge dividends in knowledge and opportunities.

• Get feedback.
If you’re interested in doing a good job people are more likely to give you one. Set up a couple meetings with you manager. Say, one midterm and one final with perhaps another thrown in for good measure. Make sure to ask how you can improve your performance as well as what’s going well. The point is to show willing and get better at your chosen profession, not just to get your ego stroked.

• Build those networks.
Ask your manager or your colleagues about people in the company, or industry in general, you should meet. Even people who don’t have a job for you now could prove very handy to know. And who knows? They may know a dude who knows a lady…

• Get to know the company.
Everything you can learn about how it operates and where it makes money, or looses it, and what it does is a chance for you to show what you can do. Figure out ways that you think it can do better or find things you don’t understand and bring these up in your reviews.

• And don’t forget references.
Get permission to use the company or colleagues as references and ask for letters of recommendation. They don’t cost much and can be very valuable in the future.