It's almost the end of summer, which means interns everywhere are approaching the looming question they've probably been avoiding: Am I getting a return offer?
The job market may feel more chaotic and competitive than usual — and AI certainly adds a layer of uncertainty as it reshapes the workforce and changes what companies are looking for. However, when it comes to proving yourself early in your career, much of the advice hasn't changed.
We rounded up some of the best tips former interns from companies like Google and Tinder have shared with us over the last two years on how they turned their internships into full-time offers. Their paths were different, but the same four lessons kept coming up.
Show eagerness to learn
In addition to taking initiative, interns should prioritize asking questions and show an eagerness to learn. Curiosity remains a key trait that executives look for in employees moving up the ladder.
Victoria Rozanska, a former Google intern, recently told Business Insider that embracing continuous learning was critical to her success. She said being open to feedback is "key to thriving."
Ryan Stewart, who interned at Tinder before eventually becoming a full-time brand manager, said in July that he was initially nervous about approaching senior leaders, but found that leading with curiosity made people receptive.
"If you're seen as being curious, there's no wrongdoing there, and I think you can go for it," Stewart said.
Asking questions is also a key part of learning how to do the job.
Kevin Gutierrez, a recent graduate of Columbia University, who interned at AWS and was later offered a full-time position, told Business Insider that when interns are given a project, it's their responsibility to gain a deep understanding of it. He said if you have a solid grasp on what's going on, it makes the work easier.
Build relationships
Former interns from both Google and Tinder had a similar piece of advice: build relationships whenever you get the chance.
Nancy Qi, a former Google intern who spent three summers at the tech giant before receiving a full-time offer, told Business Insider in 2024 that she ate lunch with her colleagues every day, and that helped create "team chemistry." Those relationships also made her more excited to come to work and motivated her on the job.
Interns should also strive to make connections beyond their immediate teammates.
Tinder's Stewart said that he scheduled one-on-one meetings with senior directors to learn more about the business.
Even if you don't ultimately stay at the company, those connections can make an internship feel less intimidating and leave you with a stronger network when you graduate.
"It's good to build up a good network of successful people, and it's just good to network with people that are farther along the career path than you," Tawfiq Mohammad, a former Google intern, said last year.
Take initiative
It can be intimidating to speak up when you're one of the least experienced people in the room, but that's all the more reason to use your voice whenever you have the chance. Taylor Wong, a former Tinder intern, said her Gen Z perspective became an asset because colleagues actively wanted to hear from someone in that demographic.
"When you are the Gen Z person in the room, everyone wants your opinion," Wong said in July, adding that other interns should "lean into that superpower."
Interns should take advantage of opportunities to show agency in projects they're assigned.
"You're going to be given a project that summer and try to own that project," Mohammad said about interning at Google. "Try to own it from A to Z."
Eric Brandon Kam, who received an offer at Tinder after his internship, said that for him, that meant speaking up and sharing his perspective on the projects he was assigned.
"Instead of just implementing tickets, I gave my own perspective on how we could better engineer a project to prioritize both user outcome and long-term code health," Kam said in July.
Keep track of your work — and your wins
Eventually, every intern has the inevitable conversation about whether they're getting a return offer, but the prep should start before.
Lydia Lam, who completed three Google internships before joining the company full time, recommended "producing a lot of artifacts." She said in 2025 that designs, projects, or other tangible work can demonstrate your skills and impact.
Qi took a similar approach to documenting her work. At the end of every week, she wrote down notes about what she was stuck on and what she accomplished. When she filled out the reflection at the end of the summer, she included screenshots and links to those weekly summaries. She said it showed effort and allowed the person reviewing her work to see her problem-solving process and how she approached each issue.
Stewart went a step further. He said he spent his internship identifying gaps in the business and pitched his own full-time role at the end of it. He approached the conversation knowing the worst answer was "no," and since his internship was already ending, he figured he had nothing to lose by asking.
