HR Experts Reveal How to Get Hired
For several years now, landing an internship at Facebook has been a hot commodity. Glassdoor
rated the social media giant No. 1 on its list of top-paying internship
programs this year, for the second straight year in a row. (The average
intern salary at Facebook is $8,000 per month, which is a nearly six-figure yearly salary).
Microsoft and IBM also offer competitive salaries, which is
great news for interns who return as full-time hires. "An internship is
an assessment for both you and the company potentially hiring you," says
Kathleen Hogan, Microsoft's chief people officer. "Consider it an
extended paid interview with lots of great perks!"
Summer internship programs are wrapping up, but it's not too
late to stand out from your peers. Here, talent and hiring managers
from Facebook, Microsoft, and IBM offer their best advice on how to
gracefully end your internship...with a potential job offer lined up.
1. Do more than what's asked of you.
It's something employees are told all the time, but it's important to ask: "Am I actually going above and beyond what's being asked?"
"Keelan was the first intern I managed, and he always stood
out because of how willing to learn he was," says Oscar Perez, who leads
Facebook's diversity programs and university recruiting. On top of
conducting his assigned research, Keelan signed up for Structured Query
Language (SQL) courses and connected with employees in other departments to learn more about what their teams were working on.
2. "Feedback is a gift." (No, your managers won't think it's annoying.)
The popular slogan couldn't be more true when it comes to internships.
Facebook's Perez says he regrets not asking enough questions
during his experience. "I was so concerned about not being a
distraction to my manager that I missed a lot of learning
opportunities," he says. "It never hurts to ask in-depth questions about
your performance, areas you excelled in, and potential blindspots."
At Microsoft, Hogan suggests taking the feedback
and working on it outside of the company. "There are extracurricular
activities to take advantage of," she says, citing opportunities ranging
from outside projects and classes to hackathons and coding
competitions.
3. Show that you're an asset in your end-of-internship interview.
Those last few weeks are crucial.
"At Facebook, we put a huge emphasis on how an
intern can demonstrate impact through a project, a bug fix, or any other
initiatives," says Perez.
In addition to that final performance review, he
suggests writing thank you cards. Make sure that each note is
personalized and articulates all the specific ways a teammate or manager
has helped you build experience and skills. Use that opportunity to
connect the dots between any feedback you were given.
4. Make it clear that you're interested in a full-time position.
Don't be shy, and don't wait until the very last minute.
"At Facebook, full-time employment won't come up
in every manager check-in, but it should be a conversation you're having
with your manager a few times before your final week," says Perez.
After all, internships are a two-way evaluation.
If you're not ready to for a job--for whatever
reason (e.g., you still have a few more semesters left of school, or
plan to take some time off)--ask about the best way to stay in touch.
"Be vocal and vigilant in searching for openings. Keep in touch with
specific industry contacts," says Anu Mitter, IBM's talent and
engagement leader.
5. Market yourself online.
Update your LinkedIn profile with your new skills.
Add accomplished projects that you're proud of to your website. Tweet
about your experience at the company. All of this will increase your
professional visibility.
"The key is to be active on digital spaces," says
Mitter. It will help you in seeking out mentors and other role models
who can help you in your future career.
By Anna Meyer
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