| If you're lucky, at the end of your internship, you'll | | | | few papers or talking to payroll. Sometimes, |
| be asked to stay on as a full-time employee (or | | | | employers forget to discuss the nitty gritty, since |
| at least encouraged to apply for a full-time | | | | this seems like information you should already |
| position). The opportunities given to you since you | | | | know. Once you've been offered the job (and |
| have experience with the company might be | | | | usually before you accept), ask about your |
| great, but at the same time, it can be hard to | | | | vacation time, benefits, and sick/personal days. |
| make that jump from intern to employee. Here | | | | Know company policies for requesting days off |
| are a few tips to help with the transition: | | | | for any reason, and find out who to talk to if you |
| 1. Clearly define your job duties before you start, | | | | have insurance or retirement plan questions. Also, |
| and don't be afraid to remind others of them. | | | | find out about the other possible perks, which will |
| As an intern, you were likely asked to do lots of | | | | depend on your specific job. For example, do you |
| menial tasks just to get things done around the | | | | get a discount on a product your company |
| office. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as | | | | makes? Do you get a free parking spot? Does |
| you got real job experience as well. When you | | | | your company have employee tickets to sporting |
| move into a regular position with a company, it | | | | events? No one mentions these things at first |
| can be hard to get others - and yourself for that | | | | unless you ask! |
| matter - to think of you as anything more than | | | | 4. Get into the habit of showing up early. |
| an intern. However, if you're officially the | | | | You're probably used to a college schedule where |
| company's newest stockbroker, you shouldn't be | | | | being a bit late to class or skipping class |
| making coffee or delivering mail. If it isn't in your | | | | completely isn't a big deal. Your internship may |
| job description, politely remind the other | | | | have also been extremely flexible when it comes |
| employees that they should look to the new | | | | to timing. Don't fall into bad punctuality habits with |
| intern or the secretary to complete their tasks. | | | | your regular job, though. You can be fired for |
| Of course, pick you battles. If Donald Trump | | | | showing up late, especially if you do so |
| himself asks you to get him a cup of coffee, I | | | | consistently. At the very least, you'll be passed up |
| don't care who you are - you get him that java! | | | | for promotions or offered only very low annual |
| 2. Takes things seriously from the start. | | | | pay increases. |
| Chances are that you always took your internship | | | | 5. Ask questions, but realize that this is no longer |
| seriously. If you didn't, you wouldn't have been | | | | an education opportunity. |
| offered a full-time job. However, while in the past | | | | If you don't understand how to do something, it is |
| you might have been able to get away with | | | | always better to ask a question than to do it the |
| things (like taking a 20 minute break instead of a | | | | wrong way and have to clean up a mess. |
| 10 minute break or leaving at 3:30 instead of | | | | However, keep in mind that your job is not a |
| 4:00), that won't be the case any longer. You'll be | | | | learning experience like your internship was. You'll |
| expected to do your job as promised or they'll | | | | be expected to take initiative, and if you can |
| fire you. This isn't putting you at a risk for a bad | | | | figure out the answer to a problem without asking |
| grade. This is your livelihood! | | | | your boss or a co-worker for help, you should. |
| 3. Talk about vacation time, benefits, sick/personal | | | | It can be intimidating to move from your position |
| days, and perks. | | | | as an intern to a full-time position. Don't |
| As an intern, you probably didn't get anything - | | | | underestimate the differences between these |
| you may not have even gotten paid. In some | | | | two work dynamics. When transitioning to a |
| cases, your transition from full-time intern to | | | | regular job, be prepared for a few bumps in the |
| full-time employee is just a matter of signing a | | | | road. |