How To Be Remembered: Advice for Summer Interns

The end of the summer is drawing near, which means it’s almost time for you PR interns to say goodbye to the place you’ve called home for the past three months. Sure, you’ve had some laughs, made some friends, and probably done some really great work to help the company and earn valuable experience. However, the question remains: How do I keep the connections I’ve made this summer and ensure the company remembers me?

Fear not, because CGPR has you covered. Check out our top five tips on how to keep in touch and make sure that your phone rings the next time that company has an opening.

1. Ask for Feedback – During your last couple of weeks, try to set up a meeting with your supervisor to ask for feedback on your performance over the summer. Ask what you did well, how you can improve and advice for your future career. Asking for feedback will let your boss know that you are serious about your career and truly want to learn.
2. Write Thank You Notes – Did she say write? YES. Don’t settle for a generic email message to the whole company or group thanking them for the summer experience; any intern can do that. We are going old school this time around. Grab a pen and hand-write thank you notes to each individual person you worked with. Be specific in your notes and call out a certain thing you learned from that person or a memory you shared together. A personalized, hand-written note will show that you cared about and appreciated your experience. You will stand out from the rest of the interns who probably had their emails sent to the trash bin.
3. Ask for Cards – Ask colleagues for their business cards so that you have their contact information. This will show each person at the company that you are interested in staying in touch with them instead of saying “sayonara” forever when the clock strikes 5 on your last day.
4. Send Catch-Up Emails – Pick one or two people that you’d like to create a relationship with after your internship and send them periodic “catch-up” emails. Briefly share with them what you’re working on in school, if you’re doing an internship at school and how it’s going, ways you have applied your summer experiences in school or work, etc. You can also ask how some of the company’s clients are doing and what’s new, or follow up on a project you might have left before it was complete. Keeping in touch with your colleagues will show them that you still care about their company and you valued your experience, in addition to keeping you at the top of their mind when an entry-level position opens up.
5. Meet for Coffee or Lunch – When you’re home over a school break, don’t be afraid to ask one of your colleagues to meet for lunch or coffee. This will give you the opportunity to go more in-depth on the items you may have mentioned to them in past emails, allowing them to get to know you better both professionally and personally. Even if they can’t make a meeting, reaching out will show great initiative.

Good luck as you head back to school!