The most common dilemma an intern has to go through is whether their internship is going to land them a full-time job or not. Since there is no certainty in this regard, interns better pay close heed to the signs.
Below are the signs which can be a forewarning whether the internship is going to result in a full-time job or not.
Lack of interest
If you do not show enough enthusiasm towards your work be very sure that it wouldn’t take your manager much time to pick up on it. You have to let your manager understand how much the work means to you. After all they will be looking to hire someone who actually shows interest in the work and is willing to work hard to earn their position.
It can go the other way round as well. If your gut feeling tells you that your manager isn’t showing enough interest in your work, be it mentoring you or proving feedback, you better take the hint and strategise to change your output level or look for a new job.Unchanged responsibility
Suppose you tend to notice that after hiring you as an intern your responsibilities in the company do not vary much then it is quite an alarming situation. Ideally, companies try to groom their interns in different sectors, giving them chances to strengthen their stance in the company. But if you are not learning and working enough and also not getting accustomed to the company environment then you better start looking for a job elsewhere.Introduction to others
If your boss isn’t introducing you to the company clients or important executives then it isn’t a good sign, since you are still not being considered as a permanent member of the company. Also it indicates that you haven’t yet left a mark on your managers as a prospective candidate for a full-time job.Teaching and learning
Another way to figure out if your internship is going to turn into a full-time job is by measuring your personal learning curve. If your supervisor has not invested much time into teaching and training you, it is a clear reflection on the fact that they are not interested to do so as they may have made up their mind to not hire you.Attendance in meetings
Interns are not always invited to important meetings to voice their opinions because they still do not have the competence in the respective matter of discussion. So it may not be much of a concern. But if other interns are being asked to attend the meetings and you are not, then you better pull up your socks and start contributing more to the company.Invites to social gatherings
There may be times when you notice that you are not being invited to social events or gatherings. Then it is quite a clear sign which can infer that you have not been able to gel with your colleagues and not adapted well with the office environment. If you want the job, up your networking game.Performance
When your supervisors constantly need to keep a check on your work and explain to you over and over again then it is an evident signal that your work is not meeting their level of expectation. So they may not consider you as someone potent enough for the full-time job.Avoiding the topic of full-time employment
Everytime you ask your boss about getting a seat at the table, and they get uncomfortable, you may be in serious trouble. And to avoid the topic if they happen to divert the topic by volunteering to find you a new job, you may have gotten yourself into serious distress.Promise of job offers
It shouldn’t bother you much when you hear news of your fellow interns getting full-time job offers, it just might be on your way too. But just to stay on the safe side you should start looking for new jobs beforehand in case you cannot absorb last minute shocks. After all, better safe than sorry.
So now the big question,How to deal with the situation when you are aware of the all the mentioned signs?
Just talk to your boss frankly. Be direct. Since it is a matter of your career, it holds great importance. If you have a gut feeling that you lagged behind in your performance ask them if you still stand a chance at rectifying your mistakes. You will never know unless you take that shot. . Try to highlight how much the work means to you and how eager you are to be a part of the team. You can even try to emphasise on your achievements during the internship experience. If it's still a no, do not even think of ending things on a bitter note. Thank them for the experience that you gathered. Bid them goodbye on cordial terms, exchanging contact information because life is unpredictable, when one door closes another just might be waiting to be opened through that link.
