Graduate Law Fellow
There is a term in psychology called the Rule of Primacy and Recency. Essentially, people remember their first and last impressions and tend to forget what happened in the middle. How you end your internship can make a huge difference in how your supervisors see you in the future. A smooth departure will not make up for a lack of effort during the term, but a sloppy one can harm the good reputation you earned through your hard work. Ending on a high note will also open the door to future contacts with your soon-to-be former employer. Here are some tips to help you end well.
- Communicate early and often. This is, by far, the most important tip. Supervisors are often surprised to learn how early the semester ends, and they may not remember what your last day is. You need to communicate at least a week before your last day, preferably two (or more depending on the nature of your work), with your supervisor to plan out the remainder of your time. By communicating early, you set realistic expectations and greatly reduce the risk of upsetting your supervisor.
- Plan your last few weeks carefully. Try not to leave any assignments unfinished. This requires you to plan your last few weeks to ensure that all your assignments will be completed. If you will not be able to finish everything, prepare a detailed memo explaining the status of the project and what still needs to be completed.
- Be realistic about taking new assignments. It is hard to say “no” to a supervisor who wants you to do something, but it will look even worse if you commit to something you cannot deliver. Ask your supervisor how long they expect the project to take. Is there a smaller part of the assignment you can take? If you already have assignments from the same supervisor, is this more important than other assignments you are currently working on? The important thing is to remember tip #1 (communicate).
- Ask about the rules for using work as a writing sample. Different organizations have different rules about what you can use as a writing sample. Some will ask you to remove identifying features (names, dates, etc.) and/or certain sections. Show the employer the particular piece of writing you want to use, and get their permission to use it. If they have certain sentences/sections that need to be removed, they can let you know exactly what is acceptable.
- Write thank you notes to your supervisors and the support staff. Even though you have produced work of value to your employer, you have gained invaluable training, mentoring and knowledge that will help you over the course of your career. Expressing your appreciation in writing shows the employer how much you valued their time and will help them remember you in the future. Many attorneys and administrative staff see a huge volume of turnover among interns. You are likely to seek your employer’s assistance for references and advice down the road—by setting the stage, you are positioning yourself to be remembered as a shining star.
- Stay in touch. Your relationship with your employer does not need to end with your internship. By sending holiday or birthday cards, getting together for lunch or coffee, sending links to interesting articles, inquiring about high profile cases, or simply referring classmates as future interns, you will cultivate a deeper relationship and avoid the fate of being remembered as “just another former intern.”
