College students in the midst of summer internships know that the seasonal experience presents a golden opportunity.

Many students are probably devising plans on how they can parlay a short-term stint into long-term employment.

Consider your internship as an "audition" of sorts, said David Fitzgerald, director of the Washington Center internship program at the University of Iowa's Pomerantz Career Center.

The goal is landing the "part" — a full-time job.

Workbytes asked college career and internship officials, as well as an employment specialist at a company based in Des Moines, Iowa, for tips on how interns can put themselves in the running for a full-time gig. Here's a list of 10 recommendations:

1. Never settle for less than your best. The overall quality of interns' work performance — from their technical and communication skills, to being punctual, self-confident and professional — has to be top-notch to land a full-time job, said Maureen Olson, senior employment specialist at EMC Insurance Cos.

Olson said the company, which started its internship program in 2002, has hired about 50 percent of its interns full time.

"It's performance — that's what it boils down to," she said. "So many times, when you're looking at interviews, past performance indicates future behavior."

2. Show initiative. Be proactive by asking others what you can do to help.

"Don't turn down anything extra that comes your way," said Jennifer Crow, a career counselor at Simpson College. That includes taking on additional work projects or participating in casual company events like a golf charity event, Crow said.

"Companies and the people that work there like to see that you have a personality aside from (the one) at work. If you're interning at a place that you want to work at full time ... go above and beyond what's expected of you on a daily basis."

3. Find a mentor. A mentor can be an invaluable resource. He or she can answer questions about the corporate culture, the ins and outs of a company and help you develop a strategy to land a full-time job, Crow said.

4. Speak up. "If you have an idea, do not be afraid to share it," Crow said. "I think too many times interns might feel intimidated. If you have an idea, it might get shot down, but who knows? It might start some other brainstorming ideas."

5. Listen and be respectful to everyone. There's much to be learned about a business from all levels of its workforce — from the person who greets you every morning at the front desk, to the company's head honcho. "It's important to get to know everybody in the company, and be gracious to all of those people," said Amy Jo Reimer-Myers, manager of career development for the College of Business and Public Administration, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University. "Everybody makes a contribution at a certain level. Listening and relationship building are critically important for everything you do for the rest of your life." Doing so, Reimer-Myers added, also helps separate you from the pack.

6. Be mindful of office politics. For example, if you're inquiring about a full-time job, talk to your immediate supervisor about it first, instead of going to the person above him or her. "The supervisor may feel like you're trying to go behind their back," Fitzgerald said.

7. Don't dress to distract. Attire should always be clean and pressed, Reimer-Myers advised. Wear polished shoes and a belt. Women, in particular, should stay away from all the "toos," she said — clothes that are too tight, too low, too short and too sheer, and wearing too much perfume. "You want people to focus on your intellectual abilities and not be distracted with what they might see," Reimer-Myers said.

8. Network. Get to know your supervisor as well as employees from other departments, Fitzgerald said. Asking questions about the kind of work and activities involved in other areas of the business helps interns figure where they'd like to "fit" into an organization. Even if you don't get a job with the company, Fitzgerald said, networking across departments will help interns determine interests.

9. Avoid nasty competition. What's the wrong way to stand out from a group of interns? Refusing to be a team player with the hope that the others will fail and fall flat on their faces, Fitzgerald said. In the end, "staying focused on being a good employee, a supportive one, who collaborates well with those they work with" will put you on the road to success.

10. Keep personal calls and e-mail to a minimum. Taking a quick call on your cell phone is fine, Reimer-Myers said, as long as it's "appropriate" and you keep your volume in check. If you have to, take a personal call outside. Better yet, Reimer-Myers advised, turn off the cell phone while in the office.