10 Sneaky Ways to End Your Internship on a High Note

Now that coffee runs and transcribing duties are soon to be a thing of the past, it’s time to focus on making your last day at the internship just as good as your first. But don’t worry: Ed’s not peddling obvious tips — he knows you’ve already written your personalized thank-you notes and met with HR. Check out the lesser-known tricks his five fearless intern bloggers discovered the hard way.

Ask Your Boss For a Review
“As weird as that might sound, your boss has experience in the job you’re one day going to be applying for. Ask your boss to grab coffee with you before work or sit down for 15 minutes during the day to have a quick exit review about your performance. They can give you invaluable advice about how well you did your job, your work ethic, tips and ways to improve, etc. It’s a great opportunity to gain one-on-one time with your boss and take your relationship to the next professional level. You can pick their brain about how they got where they are, where they want to be in their career and how you can get there, too!”—Fashion Intern

But Don’t Get Defensive
“Even the best reviews will come with some constructive criticism. This isn’t the time to defend yourself. If they’re taking the time to gather some constructive criticism tailored specifically to you, chances are it’s something you need to hear. Be sure to write everything down and ask a question or two to show that you’re interested in improving.”—Edit Intern

Pitch All The Ideas You’ve Been Saving
“Our EIC has an impressive resume as an editor, and of course Annie and I were dying to leave with one of her perfectly polished pearls of wisdom. We were lucky, because she told us that she got to where she was by being vocal at every job she’d ever had. Vocal, but not intrusive. If she had some good ideas for an editor, she’d send them their way with no pressure for a reply. If someone needed to stay and get a late night project done, she never said no and doesn’t regret it. She told us that this industry is comprised of nothing but hard workers, but the key is to not suffer silently at your desk and not make an impression of some kind on the staff.” —Lifestyle Intern

Don’t Stop Asking Questions
“As an intern, you are there to learn as much as possible and the best way to do that is to ask questions. When in doubt, find out how to tackle a task or research a topic you’re unfamiliar with by going to the source (your supervisor). No matter how trivial, even the most ordinary inquiry can lead to an unexpected opportunity. Once I asked an editor about the newsworthiness of a story idea and as a result, I was able to write an article on it on the fly. Also, asking questions can open the door to dialogue with writers and editors, which is vital for building a relationship with everyone you work with in the office.”—Entertainment Intern

Talk About Freelancing
“If you’ve done any writing this summer, think about asking your supervisor if you can occasionally freelance for the magazine after you leave. Chances are, most of the assignments you’ve been given can be done from your bedroom at home just as easily as they can be done from the magazine’s office. Aside from the obviously valuable clips you’ll get, think about how much easier it will be to stay in touch – you won’t have to send any of those awkward update emails because you’ll still be in regular communication with at least one editor.”—Edit Intern

Don’t Let Your Assignments Come To An End
“An editor told us that one of her biggest pet peeves is interns who don’t do anything with their time, and don’t intend to. It wasn’t a bother to her if she was in the middle of a project and an intern asked her for an assignment, but it did bother her if an intern took her being busy as an excuse to peruse Facebook for an hour or two. If there is genuinely nothing for the intern to do, even after that intern has asked around the office for assignments, editors will rather see that you find a way to keep yourself busy rather than walk by and see you tweeting about how bored you are at your job.”—Lifestyle Intern

Get Everyone’s Contact Info
“Make sure there’s a way to stay in contact with the people you’ve gotten to know during your internship. Exchange phone numbers, e-mails or connect on LinkedIn. After you get that contact information, use it! Use your good judgment when staying connected — an e-mail every couple of months is good. An e-mail every couple of hours is not.”—Regional Intern

And That Includes Your Fellow Interns
“Whether or not you became BFFs with the other interns you worked with, they’re all going down the same career path you are and they’re invaluable contacts for your future. I’ve been told time and time again not to underestimate the power of the people you intern with. Someday those interns will get jobs somewhere else and by keeping in contact with them they can give you inside scoop on other jobs within the industry and be great references!”—Fashion Intern

Don’t Go Overboard With Gifts
“I’ve heard of some interns bringing elaborate parting gifts for the entire office on their last day. I’m sure opinions vary pretty widely on this topic, but I think that something small for each of your editors, combined with a very personalized thank you note, is the way to go. Plus, wouldn’t you rather be remembered because you did a lot of great work, not because you bought everyone $50 Starbucks gift cards?”—Edit Intern

Don’t Forget to Enjoy Being in College
“I’m glad I got a glimpse into what my life could be like post-college. Right now, I’m happy to be in college and enjoying the time I have left. I used to want to rush, rush, rush through everything to get to the being an adult and working thing. Now, I’m content with where I am and what I have because I’ve seen what being a full-fledged working girl is like (without pay, I might add!) and I’m glad I know. But I’m also glad I can turn back into a pumpkin and have the chance to hold onto childhood a little longer. Remember that interning should always be a learning experience and that you have the rest of your life to work so enjoy the right now and enjoy being young!”—Fashion Intern