Transitioning from an Intern to a Full-time Position

Transitioning into a full-time position can be challenging.  You are no longer a student and you are not just gaining experience in the field anymore.  A full-time job begins your career path and the transition into this new role needs to be met head on.

When transitioning from an internship to a full-time position, use some of these strategies in order to deal with the change in a positive and effective manner.

Find resources - invest in some books or follow RSS/Blogs/Social Media about others who are going through a similar transition.

Keep a personal journal/blog - being aware of your challenges and successes can help you deal with and reflect on your transition. Think back to when you first entered college and what coping strategies you utilized.

Continue in your routine - while going through this life change, stick to what you know like (i.e. spending time with family/friends, exercising, etc.).

Maintain current support system - recognize your current supporters and those who will continue to support you in the future.

Continue to grow your network - life is all about who you know and not necessarily what you know, so ensure you are staying in touch with your professionals and personal network. Using LinkedIn is a great way to keep and maintain contacts before, during and after your experiences.

Be knowledgeable of ERAU's resources - utilize, faculty, advisors and of course Career Services staff.

The future is unpredictable and you do not always know what will happen unless you have a crystal ball, so creating coping strategies is crucial to getting you through life’s constant transitions.  Take time to reflect before, during, and after a transition to see how you will face life’s next transition.  Remember that most people change jobs on an average of 11 times throughout their lifetime, so it’s likely that you will have to transition again in the future and these tips can be helpful each time.