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Networking is a large part of any internship program, and once the program ends, you don’t want your new connections to end as well. Just like any relationship, professional connections require nurturing and thoughtful communication in order to keep them alive. Here is how you can maintain your professional connections once your internship is complete.
Before Leaving
The most important part of staying in contact is actually having their contact information. During the last two weeks of the program, start gathering the contact information of your new connections. Don’t overthink it—it’s not as weird as it may feel. The next time you run into a leader or peer you’ve built a relationship with, simply say, “I’d love to stay in touch once I leave here. What’s the best way to reach you?” They will respond with their phone number or email address, or ensure you two are connected on LinkedIn.. Be sure to use their preferred method of contact when you reach out to them in the future.
If you haven’t secured a full-time position post-internship, this is also a good time to ask about recommendation letters. It will be easier for your colleague to write one when your projects and work ethic are still at the forefront of their minds.
The Next 12 Months
In the year following the program, you’ll want to make periodic contact with your network. These touchpoints should be more than just a “Hey, how are you?” and should include something that they will actually care about. The quality of your message is much more important than the frequency of your messages.
2 Weeks
In the weeks following your program, send a short thank-you note to your internship manager or supervisor. Thank them for their guidance and mention a skill they taught you or a piece of advice they gave that really stuck with you.
3-4 Months
Once you’re in the midst of your semester or situated in your full-time role, reach out to your network with something relevant and tangible. Maybe you’ve been working on an assignment that required a skill you learned during your internship. Maybe your success in your new role is directly related to advice you were given during your internship. Whatever the case is, include something in your message that will make them care and add value to your relationship.
8-10 Months
Around this time, you will either be preparing for graduation or coming up on your one-year anniversary in your full-time role. Both provide a great opportunity to reach out to your network. Express your gratitude for how your past internship has helped you get to where you are today. If you’re still trying to secure a post-grad role, this is also the time to leverage your connections and see if they can provide a referral. Since you’ve stayed in touch over the last year, they will be more likely to provide one.
Natural Touchpoints
Pay attention to your LinkedIn feed so you can notice when your network has any updates, like a work anniversary or job change. Use these opportunities to send a message and chat about their update. You can also use industry and company news as a reason to reach out. If something happens in the industry you both work or study in, send a message to discuss it. Another strategy is sharing a relevant piece of content you come across, like a news article or podcast, that relates to their work and can spark a conversation.
These strategies will help ensure the networking you did during your internship program doesn’t go to waste, and your connections will continue to grow as you advance in your career.
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