How can jobseekers convert their internships to employment opportunities? A qualitative exploration with successful interns

This study is a qualitative investigation to understand how graduate interns navigate their work relationships and showcase their talent during internship periods and what are the main initiatives that lead to an internship being converted into pre-placement offers (PPOs). Semi-structured interviews conducted with twenty successful interns were analyzed using Thematic Analysis. The findings reveal important points of difference strategies that were adopted by these interns which helped them set themselves apart from their intern peers and resulted in them bagging the coveted PPO. The findings from the study are expected to serve as a prescription for future interns to learn the strategies to excel and convert their internships to successful pre-placement offers and secure their career even before the official placement season starts.