A growing number of employers are using internships as a way to get a first look at job applicants. If they like you, they'll be more likely to hire you when you graduate. It also gives you an opportunity to size them up. Are they the right size company for you? Do you like the company culture? Will there be opportunities for growth? Employment is a two way street - both parties need to benefit from the deal.

Here's how you increase your chances of being a first pick:

1. Can-Do. Are you positive and willing to do anything assigned to you? Can you accept critique without becoming resentful? Do you show willingness and a sense of humor? If you do, you are one step up on the ladder to being hired.
   
   
2. Unwritten Rules. All companies have a culture that is full of tradition and unwritten rules. Do you ask questions of colleagues and pay attention to how people interact with each other? Do you apologize when you have unwittingly offended another? If so, you are on step two.
   
   
3. Seriously Persevere. Are you building a reputation of being dependable and accurate? Are you learning from your mistakes? Do you seek guidance from your supervisor and coworkers? Now you are on step three.
   
   
4. Hit Deadlines. Getting work done on time is necessary for any company's reputation. If you can't make a deadline, do you give your supervisor enough warning? Are you aware of priorities so you put your energies where they most count? That's step four.
   
   
5. Expectations and Goals. Are you meeting the expectations of your supervisor, your co-workers, and yourself? Are you learning about goal-setting? You'll be a mediocre employee if you are clueless in this area. Start setting goals for yourself as well as meeting your supervisor's goals and you'll be at step five.
   
   
6. Communicate...Communicate...Communicate. Even if you score I as the first letter on the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, you can't run away from communication. Both businesses and marriages fail when communication fails. Don't bug your supervisor by being too dependent, but be sure to keep your supervisor in the loop about important things and you're at step six.
   
   
7. Flexibility. Emergencies occur. Upper management has a new priority. A critical delivery is late. For those scoring J on the last letter of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, you may find these unexpected changes to be frustrating, but you'll still have to learn to be flexible to keep things rolling. If you can do that, you're at step seven.
   
   
8. Teaming. Those scoring F on the third letter of the Keirsey Sorter usually have an easier time of teaming up with others than those scoring T, but a certain degree of team work at times is necessary. If you're not a natural at teamwork, you probably won't be put in a situation where there is high demand for that behavior, but when it is necessary do your best to be cooperative to be on step eight.
   
   
9. Mentoring. Your supervisor has to check up on your work and rate you. A mentor is usually a co-worker who teaches you the ropes and gives you enough guidance so your early learning in the company goes more smoothly. Mentors can be tough or friendly. They can be social or just stick to business. No matter the mentoring style you need to adapt to, you'll have an edge to step nine if you can get someone to coach you.
   
   
10. Enjoyment and Interest. If the job and the company don't give you some enjoyment, it is not a good fit. Some companies are more playful and some companies are more sober. If your style and the company style are in conflict, this is not the right job for you. Also the work you do needs to be interesting. If you're bored, it's a no-fit. But if you enjoy the company and are interested in the work, you're at step ten and a good candidate for being hired when you graduate.