Summer Internship Checklist: Before, During & After
Most interns focus all their energy on landing the internship — and then show up without a plan for making the most of it. A deliberate approach to the 10–12 weeks of your summer internship dramatically increases your chance of a return offer, builds relationships that will matter for decades, and gives you concrete material for your resume and future job interviews. This checklist covers everything you should do before day one, during the internship, and after it ends.
Before Your First Day
Research the company thoroughly — read their annual report, recent press releases, and LinkedIn updates so you can speak intelligently from day one. Connect with your future manager and any other interns on LinkedIn before starting. Buy any professional attire you need and plan your commute or remote setup. Set 3 specific goals for the internship (one skills goal, one relationship goal, one project/deliverable goal) and write them down. Confirm your start time, first-day location, and who to ask for when you arrive. If relocating, arrange housing and transportation at least 3 weeks before start.
During the Internship — First Two Weeks
Schedule 30-minute introductory meetings with 5–10 people across your team and adjacent teams. Ask each person: what they work on, how their work connects to the team's broader goals, and what advice they'd give someone new to the company. Take detailed notes. Clarify your deliverables and success metrics with your manager in the first week — 'What does a great outcome look like for this internship?' Start a weekly accomplishment log: one paragraph each Friday documenting what you worked on, what you learned, and what you produced. This log becomes your resume material and return offer evidence.
During the Internship — Ongoing
Attend every optional event — team lunches, intern socials, speaker series, fireside chats — and introduce yourself to at least one new person at each one. Proactively ask for feedback at the midpoint of your internship, not just at the end. Ask: 'Is the work I'm producing what you expected? What should I be doing differently?' Volunteer for stretch assignments. Find one inefficiency or improvement opportunity in your team's workflow and propose a solution, even informally. Deliver your projects 1–2 days early whenever possible — ahead-of-schedule work is remembered.
After Your Last Day
Send personalized thank-you emails to your manager, skip-level manager, and every person who spent significant time mentoring you. Connect on LinkedIn with every person you met during the internship — the network you build is worth as much as the experience itself. Update your resume within two weeks of finishing — while the work is fresh. If you received a return offer, you have a decision window — use it fully, but don't ghost the company. If you didn't receive an offer, request feedback from your manager and recruiter while the relationship is warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring to my internship first day?
Bring your work authorization documents (passport, I-9 documentation), a notebook and pen, any onboarding forms already sent to you, and a list of questions for your manager. Bring your laptop if you've been told to. Arrive 5–10 minutes early, not 30 — too early can be awkward if no one's ready for you.
How many people should I try to meet during my internship?
Aim for 20–30 meaningful conversations beyond your immediate team. That's roughly 2–3 new people per week over 10 weeks. Prioritize quality — a genuine 30-minute conversation beats a 2-minute hallway introduction. Focus on people in roles you're curious about, not just the most senior people.