-Check out any connections you may have. Maybe a friend of a friend knows somebody who can put in a good word for you. Don't think of yourself as bothersome to that person. There is nothing wrong with asking them about a possible opportunity. If the answer is no, they'll tell you "no." But there is no way to find out until you ask.
-Stay on top of things. Dedicate at least a small portion of your day to working on the internship, whether it's researching companies, writing your cover letter or resume, networking via Twitter and Facebook, or communicating with people that have shown an interest in you.
-Always ALWAYS follow up. The quicker, the better. Be prompt. This ties in to the previous tip.
-Allow word of mouth to work for you. If you contact someone and they're interested in you but can't take you at this time, let them know they are more than welcome to forward your information on to anyone who might be able to use you.
-Follow people in the industry via Twitter or blogs. Start conversations with them. Learn from them. Contribute to the discussion.
-Participate in any contests or games that the company hosts. Show them you're interested. Even if you don't win, it may get you a bit of name recognition.
-If the companies have put out any books or blogs, read them. Not only will you learn an immense amount of knowledge, but you will also have something relevant to talk about when speaking to the author of the book or owner of the company.
-Retweet anything especially important that the company tweets. Spread their news.
-When having an interview, know it is okay to be nervous. It's a sure sign that you truly care about the opportunity.
-In an interview, smile and be confident, but above all- be yourself.
-Before the interview, make sure you set aside some examples of your work that you can refer to. Be ready to talk about them- what you like the best and what you could have done better. I was asked if there were any articles I had written that I was particularly proud of. Fortunately, my favorite one came to mind quickly, but the question caught me off guard.
-Just because you are a college student and they're a business professional does not mean they can walk all over you. Above all else, be polite and courteous. But if you're not okay with some of the terms, it's completely acceptable to address your concerns. Don't let people walk all over you, and don't settle for less than you think you can get.
-As tempting as it may be, do not automatically accept the first offer you are given-- especially if you have other offers pending. The company will want a quick response, but a 3-7 day time period to consider the offer should be completely acceptable in most cases.
-Discuss your options with different kinds of people. Grandparents will look at it a different way than your parents do. Friends will look at it from another perspective. Teachers and mentors will have their own view too. Everyone's advice is valuable. In the end you must make your own decision, but listen to what those who care about you have to say.
-Before accepting an offer, make sure you completely understand the whole thing. Ask as many questions as you need to. Be thorough.
-Always be polite and courteous!
Hope this helps!
-Rachel
-
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Background- My story.
In exactly seven weeks, I will be in the air. I'll be going back in time (3 hours to be exact) as I fly across the United States from Washington, D.C. to Seattle, Washington.
In seven weeks and two days, I will begin an internship with Nology Media, a Social Media Management company.
I am just shy of 20 years old. I'm a small town girl, close with my family and my Appalachian roots, and here I am preparing for a 3,000 mile move to a major metropolitan area! It's unreal.
How did I do this? I'd love to say it was cake. It was somewhat simple, but extremely-- and I mean EXTREMELY-- time consuming. My grades, my social life, and my exercise routine all suffered during the month it took to create this opportunity for myself. It all started in July 2009.
A close family friend named Rod Brooks, CMO for PEMCO Insurance in Seattle, WA, had mentioned to me over the summer that if I had any interest in an internship to let him know and he would give me advice. As a college student just ready to enter my sophomore year, internships weren't at the forefront of my agenda. I wasn't even considering an internship for 2010.
But in December of 2009, things changed. I went to Pittsburgh, PA with my mom and grandmothers to see a performance by the Radio City Rockettes. We went out to a nice dinner in the big city, and the show was wonderful. Walking along the streets in Pittsburgh, I realized that I would love an opportunity to spend some time in a large city. We returned to Morgantown late that night. I decided to send Rod a message saying "Yes, I am interested in internship opportunities for summer 2010." I sent him my interest letter and resume, and gave him full permission to send it to anyone who may be interested.
From there, my search went completely to Twitter. I began to follow a few people that work in some form of PR or with their own PR firms-- @NW_Mktg_Guy, @CMoffitt, @JenGehrt, @lfatzinger, @CommuniquePR, @NologyMedia, @firmani, and @MikeElliott to name a few-- and paid attention to what they were saying. Things were slow for the first couple weeks. I would give them a ReTweet here, a Reply there... but nothing too significant at first.
However, an opportunity for a breakthrough occurred! On February 12, 2010, Communique PR was hosting an online contest via Twitter. They would Tweet a question about their company (which I had researched thoroughly via their website!) and the first two correct responders to each question would receive a free copy of their book, Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR.
Time was on my side. Literally. I live in West Virginia, so I was 3 hours ahead of them. The contest started at 6 AM Seattle time--- which is 9 AM West Virginia time. Conveniently, this is the same time I wake up for class. I sat in front of my computer and waited, waited, waited for what seemed like forever. Finally, I received notification that there had been one new tweet. I eagerly clicked.
The question was simple- "What is the full title of our book?" Easy. I knew this one. I responded immediately. Lo and behold, I was the first respondent. This was excellent because the co-founders of the company had no choice but to read and learn my name as well as address an envelope to me. In other words, they noticed me. Even if it was for something small.
It took slightly over a week for the book to ship to my house. Once I received the book, I started tweeting about it, often tagging @CommuniquePR and the co-founders Colleen Moffitt (@CMoffitt) & Jen Gehrt (@JenGehrt), as well as always ending the tweet with the hashtag #StrategicPR. This encouraged additional conversation with the co-founders.
Rod had mailed Colleen my letter of interest and my resume. After I emailed Colleen with my address information, she said she'd like to speak with me over the phone to consider a possible summer internship position. Ecstatic does not even begin to describe how I felt!
On 2/22/10, I had a phone call with Colleen. I was extremely nervous (Nothing wrong with being nervous, it shows you care) but I smiled the entire time (yes, your smile shines through your voice!) and I hope that my eagerness was infectious. I thought Colleen was so nice, welcoming, and professional. In other words, it went well. One thing that I was asked and was not prepared for: showing a copy of my work. In hindsight, I can't believe I didn't think about it ahead of time. But it was my first time doing this kind of thing. You live and you learn! I selected an interview I had done for JRL 318- Reporting for Print Media- and it was well received.
By 2/26/10, I received an email inviting me to join their team as a summer intern! I nearly cried I was so pleased. I was honestly about to email them back immediately with a "YES!" but was advised not to do so just yet. It was unpaid and there was a rumor that I would be hearing from Leigh Fatzinger, CEO of Nology Media, and that I might receive an offer from him as well. So I held off on giving Communique confirmation just yet. (I had a week to do so.)
Leigh called me on 2/27/10. I recall the conversation well. I was sitting in my room at my parents house, snowed in with about 3 feet of that West Virginia snow. He seemed relaxed with a great sense of humor. He asked me if I was expecting payment. (Which I wasn't, but never sell yourself short.) I told him that it would be a selling point, and would be extremely beneficial when covering traveling costs and my rent payment. He informed me that the position WAS paid. Then he offered me the position.
At this point, I had a lot of thinking to do. I felt I had created a great relationship with Colleen. I loved reading the book that I won from their contest, and had nothing but the greatest respect for her. On the other hand, I am a poor college student and the prospect of getting paid for my work was quite lucrative. I spoke with my parents, grandparents, some close friends, and my mentor. After long lists of pro's and con's, I decided to go with Nology Media.
The following day (2/28/10) I e-mailed Leigh to say that I was flattered to have received the offer. I restated what I believed the terms of the agreement to be and requested a written copy of the terms of the offer, which his office manager sent to me within a day or two.
Then came the hardest part of all. A letter of declination. I am the kind of person that hates hates HATES letting anyone down or telling anyone "no." But I can't really work two jobs simultaneously, now, can I? I had to send a letter to Colleen, who I REALLY liked, saying "thanks, but no thanks" to an offer I couldn't even believe I had been awarded. It was unpleasant, it was tough, but I did it and did it well.
After hearing back from Colleen, I had the green-light to formally accept Leigh's offer. From this point on, it was merely a matter of filling out a bit of paperwork. Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom, it was completed.
Now, I have an internship for summer 2010!
-Rachel
Stay tuned for future posts:
Tips for getting an internship
How to write a letter of declination
In seven weeks and two days, I will begin an internship with Nology Media, a Social Media Management company.
I am just shy of 20 years old. I'm a small town girl, close with my family and my Appalachian roots, and here I am preparing for a 3,000 mile move to a major metropolitan area! It's unreal.
How did I do this? I'd love to say it was cake. It was somewhat simple, but extremely-- and I mean EXTREMELY-- time consuming. My grades, my social life, and my exercise routine all suffered during the month it took to create this opportunity for myself. It all started in July 2009.
A close family friend named Rod Brooks, CMO for PEMCO Insurance in Seattle, WA, had mentioned to me over the summer that if I had any interest in an internship to let him know and he would give me advice. As a college student just ready to enter my sophomore year, internships weren't at the forefront of my agenda. I wasn't even considering an internship for 2010.
But in December of 2009, things changed. I went to Pittsburgh, PA with my mom and grandmothers to see a performance by the Radio City Rockettes. We went out to a nice dinner in the big city, and the show was wonderful. Walking along the streets in Pittsburgh, I realized that I would love an opportunity to spend some time in a large city. We returned to Morgantown late that night. I decided to send Rod a message saying "Yes, I am interested in internship opportunities for summer 2010." I sent him my interest letter and resume, and gave him full permission to send it to anyone who may be interested.
From there, my search went completely to Twitter. I began to follow a few people that work in some form of PR or with their own PR firms-- @NW_Mktg_Guy, @CMoffitt, @JenGehrt, @lfatzinger, @CommuniquePR, @NologyMedia, @firmani, and @MikeElliott to name a few-- and paid attention to what they were saying. Things were slow for the first couple weeks. I would give them a ReTweet here, a Reply there... but nothing too significant at first.
However, an opportunity for a breakthrough occurred! On February 12, 2010, Communique PR was hosting an online contest via Twitter. They would Tweet a question about their company (which I had researched thoroughly via their website!) and the first two correct responders to each question would receive a free copy of their book, Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR.
Time was on my side. Literally. I live in West Virginia, so I was 3 hours ahead of them. The contest started at 6 AM Seattle time--- which is 9 AM West Virginia time. Conveniently, this is the same time I wake up for class. I sat in front of my computer and waited, waited, waited for what seemed like forever. Finally, I received notification that there had been one new tweet. I eagerly clicked.
The question was simple- "What is the full title of our book?" Easy. I knew this one. I responded immediately. Lo and behold, I was the first respondent. This was excellent because the co-founders of the company had no choice but to read and learn my name as well as address an envelope to me. In other words, they noticed me. Even if it was for something small.
It took slightly over a week for the book to ship to my house. Once I received the book, I started tweeting about it, often tagging @CommuniquePR and the co-founders Colleen Moffitt (@CMoffitt) & Jen Gehrt (@JenGehrt), as well as always ending the tweet with the hashtag #StrategicPR. This encouraged additional conversation with the co-founders.
Rod had mailed Colleen my letter of interest and my resume. After I emailed Colleen with my address information, she said she'd like to speak with me over the phone to consider a possible summer internship position. Ecstatic does not even begin to describe how I felt!
On 2/22/10, I had a phone call with Colleen. I was extremely nervous (Nothing wrong with being nervous, it shows you care) but I smiled the entire time (yes, your smile shines through your voice!) and I hope that my eagerness was infectious. I thought Colleen was so nice, welcoming, and professional. In other words, it went well. One thing that I was asked and was not prepared for: showing a copy of my work. In hindsight, I can't believe I didn't think about it ahead of time. But it was my first time doing this kind of thing. You live and you learn! I selected an interview I had done for JRL 318- Reporting for Print Media- and it was well received.
By 2/26/10, I received an email inviting me to join their team as a summer intern! I nearly cried I was so pleased. I was honestly about to email them back immediately with a "YES!" but was advised not to do so just yet. It was unpaid and there was a rumor that I would be hearing from Leigh Fatzinger, CEO of Nology Media, and that I might receive an offer from him as well. So I held off on giving Communique confirmation just yet. (I had a week to do so.)
Leigh called me on 2/27/10. I recall the conversation well. I was sitting in my room at my parents house, snowed in with about 3 feet of that West Virginia snow. He seemed relaxed with a great sense of humor. He asked me if I was expecting payment. (Which I wasn't, but never sell yourself short.) I told him that it would be a selling point, and would be extremely beneficial when covering traveling costs and my rent payment. He informed me that the position WAS paid. Then he offered me the position.
At this point, I had a lot of thinking to do. I felt I had created a great relationship with Colleen. I loved reading the book that I won from their contest, and had nothing but the greatest respect for her. On the other hand, I am a poor college student and the prospect of getting paid for my work was quite lucrative. I spoke with my parents, grandparents, some close friends, and my mentor. After long lists of pro's and con's, I decided to go with Nology Media.
The following day (2/28/10) I e-mailed Leigh to say that I was flattered to have received the offer. I restated what I believed the terms of the agreement to be and requested a written copy of the terms of the offer, which his office manager sent to me within a day or two.
Then came the hardest part of all. A letter of declination. I am the kind of person that hates hates HATES letting anyone down or telling anyone "no." But I can't really work two jobs simultaneously, now, can I? I had to send a letter to Colleen, who I REALLY liked, saying "thanks, but no thanks" to an offer I couldn't even believe I had been awarded. It was unpleasant, it was tough, but I did it and did it well.
After hearing back from Colleen, I had the green-light to formally accept Leigh's offer. From this point on, it was merely a matter of filling out a bit of paperwork. Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom, it was completed.
Now, I have an internship for summer 2010!
-Rachel
Stay tuned for future posts:
Tips for getting an internship
How to write a letter of declination
Monday, March 8, 2010
First Post.
Hi, my name is Rachel. I'm a 19 year old student at West Virginia University. I can't believe I haven't started this sooner. I have a few things to say, and I'm excited to have my own little space to say them. I like to really think and analyze before writing something, but I'm writing this introductory post because I can't quite contain my excitement!
Here is what you can expect from this blog.
-Information about how I obtained a summer internship.
-When summer comes, updates on that internship.
-A little bit of the life of a WVU undergrad - academically and socially.
-My personal story- my struggles and achievements.
-Links or videos that I find important, interesting, or entertaining.
-Music recommendations.
Sometimes, I like to write because it's the only way my thoughts make sense.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)