Intern Skills Employers Want

If you've landed that internship you always wanted, you might be thinking ahead and wondering how to turn that position into a full-time career.

Employers often view internship opportunities as a way to recruit new full-time talent, but there are certain skills and qualifications employers look for when considering new talent. Apart from relevant skills, employers usually seek someone with personal values, characteristics and personality traits that will lead to the company's success.

According to an About.com article by Penny Loretto, an internship is the perfect opportunity to learn what a potential employer wants and to show off those qualities. Some traits employers generally look for include:

• strong work ethic
• dependable and responsible
• possessing a positive attitude
• adaptability
• honesty and integrity
• self-motivated
• willing to grow and learn
• strong self-confidence
• professionalism
• loyalty

Especially in today's workforce, employers are giving employees, including interns, opportunities to give feedback and chances to lead. This gives employees a greater sense of satisfaction and control over their job. At the same time, empowerment encourages employees to do better because the company is trusting them and believes they will do a good job.
"Offering jobs that encourage learning and the development of new skills also gives employees a sense of empowerment in the workplace," Loretto states. "Aligning an employee's values with the goals of the organization will foster loyalty and a bond between employer and employee.

"Fostering good relationships within an organization and offering constructive ways to handle conflict provides a win – win situation for both employer and employee," Loretto continues. "Creating an organization that values loyalty within the organization can also work to its benefit by using the same techniques and strategies to establish loyalty with customers; and loyatly from customers ultimately makes for a successful business."

So whether an internship is a requirement through college or just a chance to learn more about the workforce, it should be looked as a potential chance to secure a future career.