Make the most of your Summer Placement by Networking

If you have been lucky enough to secure a placement or internship with a dream company this year, make sure that you make the most of it! It is especially important to “network” while on a summer placement as you will get to know people and it will benefit you not only during the course of the placement (and in obtaining a permanent position with the company) – you also never know where the people you meet might be able to help you out at some point in the future.

Participate

Make sure you take part in activities that the company holds while you are on your placement (whether they are specifically for interns or employees generally).

Make sure you speak up and join in with things such as group exercises and activities. Don’t spend your time being the mouse in the corner. If you don’t get to know others… they won’t get to know you.

Network with your Peer Group and the full time employees as well

Get to know the peer group that you are doing your placement with. However, don’t just mix with the other interns spend time getting to know the full-time employees that you are working with too. An easy way to do this is to have lunch (or coffee) with different people and get to know them better.

Introduce Yourself

Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to people you are not formally introduced to. Talk to different people to learn more about the company and about the people working there. Getting to know people – even if it is just recognising them or knowing their first name – it is a start. People will appreciate you making the effort to introduce yourself and get to know them.

Ask them what they do as this will help you get to know the company better.