Top 10 Must-Do Things Before Your Internship Ends in 2025

Internships are stepping stones to professional growth. In South Africa, thousands of students and graduates will wrap up their internships between September and December 2025. These final weeks are more than a countdown to your last day. They are an opportunity to finish strong, leave a positive impression, and set yourself up for long-term success.

This guide outlines ten practical internship tips for South Africa. Each one will help you end on a high note, secure valuable references, and convert your experience into real career opportunities.

1. Complete Key Projects

Nothing leaves a stronger impression than finishing your work with excellence. Supervisors remember interns who deliver results. If you have outstanding projects, prioritise them and ensure they are completed to a high standard.

Go beyond expectations where possible. For example, if you were tasked with updating a database, consider creating a simple guide to help colleagues use it after you leave. Small touches like this demonstrate professionalism and reliability.

Before submitting, double-check your work. Confirm deadlines, ask for feedback early, and show initiative by tying up loose ends. The quality of your final output will shape how colleagues talk about your contribution long after you’ve left.

2. Seek Constructive Feedback

Feedback is one of the most valuable outcomes of an internship. Don’t wait for your supervisor to offer it. Request a dedicated meeting to discuss your performance. Ask specific questions like:

• What strengths stood out during my internship?
• Which skills should I develop further?
• How would you describe my overall contribution?

You’ll gain insights into your professional strengths and weaknesses, which can guide your next career move. Gathering feedback from colleagues as well can highlight teamwork and communication skills.

Document the feedback you receive. It will not only help you in future interviews but also give you clarity on how to improve.

3. Document Your Work

Your internship experience deserves to be captured. Build a portfolio that includes project summaries, presentations, reports, or visuals you contributed to. Always confirm with your supervisor what you are allowed to use publicly.

A well-documented record of your work can strengthen job applications. Instead of saying “I contributed to marketing campaigns,” you can say “I managed content for a campaign that grew social media engagement by 20%.”

Create a one-page summary of your achievements, highlighting skills gained, tasks completed, and measurable outcomes. This document becomes a powerful resource when updating your CV or preparing for interviews.

4. Network Intentionally

Your colleagues, supervisors, and fellow interns are part of your professional network. Building relationships now can open doors later. Schedule informal coffee chats or virtual check-ins before you leave. Ask about their career paths, lessons they’ve learned, and advice for entering your field.

Connect with your team on LinkedIn. Personalise your connection requests with a short note: “Thank you for the support during my internship at [Company]. I’d love to stay in touch as I continue my career journey.”

Networking in South Africa is particularly important, as many opportunities are shared through word-of-mouth and professional circles. The stronger your network, the more likely you are to hear about future roles.

5. Request a Recommendation

While your work is still fresh in your supervisor’s mind, ask for a LinkedIn recommendation or reference letter. This will be invaluable when applying for jobs.

Make the request easy for them. Share a short draft highlighting specific contributions:

• “Managed database of 1,000+ entries with zero errors.”
• “Supported a marketing campaign that reached 10,000 students.”

This saves them time and ensures your achievements are accurately recorded. A good reference builds credibility and sets you apart from other applicants.

6. Reflect on Your Experience

Internships are about learning as much as delivering. Take time to reflect on what you’ve achieved. Ask yourself:

• Did I meet the goals I set at the start?
• Which skills have I developed?
• How has this internship shaped my career direction?

Write down your reflections in a journal or digital document. This self-assessment will help you prepare for interviews where employers often ask, “What did you learn from your internship?”

By reflecting, you also gain clarity on whether you’d like to pursue a career in the same industry or shift focus to something new.

7. Learn a New Skill Before You Leave

Before your access to company tools and resources ends, use the opportunity to learn something new. This might include software, coding, design tools, or project management systems.

If your company offers internal training, complete as many modules as possible. For example, an intern in finance could learn more about Excel analytics, while a marketing intern might explore digital ad management.

Even shadowing a colleague for a day can give you practical knowledge. Adding one more skill before you leave ensures you walk away with more than you arrived with.

8. Express Gratitude

A simple thank you goes a long way. Send a farewell email to your team highlighting what you’ve learned and how you appreciated their guidance.

Here’s a practical structure:

1. Thank your supervisor and team for the opportunity.
2. Highlight a few specific lessons or experiences.
3. Express willingness to stay connected.

In addition to emails, thank people personally where possible. Gratitude shows emotional intelligence and leaves a lasting impression.

9. Update Your Resume and LinkedIn

Don’t wait months after your internship ends to update your profile. Add your internship title, responsibilities, and specific achievements while they’re still fresh.

Use action-oriented language:

• “Developed a social media campaign that increased engagement by 15%.”
• “Coordinated weekly reporting for a 10-member project team.”

Optimise your LinkedIn with keywords relevant to your field. For example, “Internship tips South Africa,” “digital marketing intern,” or “finance graduate intern.” Recruiters often search for these keywords when looking for candidates.

10. Inquire About Future Opportunities

Before you leave, show interest in staying connected with the organisation. Ask if there are full-time, part-time, or freelance opportunities. Even if there aren’t immediate openings, your willingness to contribute in the future will be remembered.

Frame the question positively:

• “I’ve enjoyed my time here and would be interested in exploring future opportunities. Could you let me know if something opens up?”

This positions you as proactive and career-focused without being pushy.

Tip: 15 Things Recruiters Want to See in Your CV

End-of-Internship Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist for your final week:

• Finish outstanding projects.
• Request feedback from your supervisor.
• Create a portfolio of your work.
• Connect with colleagues on LinkedIn.
• Ask for a recommendation.
• Reflect on your growth.
• Learn a new skill.
• Thank your team.
• Update your resume/LinkedIn.
• Inquire about future roles.

Check also: Top 5 In-Demand Skills to Boost Your Employability for 2026

An internship doesn’t just end with your last day in the office. How you wrap up determines the value you carry into your career. By completing projects, securing feedback, building networks, and expressing gratitude, you ensure that your experience becomes a foundation for future success.

The final weeks are not an ending, but a launchpad. Use these tips to turn your internship into the beginning of a meaningful professional journey.