Internqueen.com

This is a guest blog from Elizabeth Solomon from Mizzou!

I have the best roommate in the world, in that she brings me back goodies when she has closing shifts at Panera. This time, it was a chocolate chip bagel and an orange scone. I decided today was a good day for the scone, and indulged in two minutes of pure bliss… until the last bite.

I looked and noticed that the corner was burned. It ruins the experience to have the last bite of a treat be burned, so naturally I couldn’t let myself eat it. If I had only checked for burned parts of the pastry beforehand, I could have saved myself some trouble.

How could this ever relate to getting internships, you ask? Check for the burned parts before you dig in.

• Look over your resumé. Employers look for careless spelling and grammar errors, and it matters more than you think.
• Check your portfolio before your interview. Make sure your work is in the order in which you want it to be so that you can be as calm and collected as possible when showcasing your projects. This is also to make sure nothing falls out if it’s a physical portfolio!
• Make sure you look put together. Girls, put on some makeup. Remember the pantyhose under pencil skirts. Guys, don’t slack on the shoes and the tie. A first impression can never be redone.
• When you meet with your potential employer for the first time, as well as anyone they introduce you to in the office, greet him or her with a smile and a firm handshake. I can’t tell you how many times I have used a smile and a good handshake to win people over. Common courtesy is, many times, forgotten.

People can tell when you arrive unprepared. It makes you look unprofessional and unreliable. So do yourself a favor and make sure you check for the burned parts. What have you got to lose?

Erica Moss is the community manager for the Masters Degree in Nursing program at Georgetown University. She adores photography, Mexican food and her English bulldog, Mona.

A couple of years after I graduated college, I found myself working a part-time job from home, and while that sounds somewhat glamorous, it wasn’t, and my dissatisfaction led me to start seeking opportunities elsewhere.

At the same time, I had really started ramping up my presence on Twitter, and I had formed a lot of great connections on the site. I was talking to other professionals in my field, looking for job opportunities and reading up on all of the latest industry trends.

Then one day I saw a tweet from a gentleman I had built a great rapport with and who worked for a local company. He made a witty remark about his employees, something very simple, and I decided to interject with an innocent comment, something along the lines of: “Have you ever thought about adding to that great team of yours?” I took a chance, but I really never thought anything would come out of it.

He tweets back: “Actually, I have. Why, are you looking?”

And just like that, we started a dialogue. A dialogue that I almost assuredly never would have had without the awesome tool that is Twitter. I explained to him the situation, and he asked to see my LinkedIn profile; he must’ve decided that I had the right experience for the job, because he asked me to send him a copy of my resume, which he then forwarded to the person who would, ultimately, be making the hiring decision. Two days later, I was sitting in a conference room at the company’s offices, answering questions about my background, where I was going, and how I might fit into the team dynamic.

They were proposing a full-time internship with benefits, with the possibility of the position becoming permanent down the road. It wasn’t ideal for a college graduate, but it was very appealing at the time, given my lack of enthusiasm for my current gig. They ended up offering me the position a day later, and while I turned it down in favor of a full-time job offer at another company, I’m still incredibly grateful for the experience because it illustrates just how powerful the relationships you foster on the site can be.

Now, I’m not implying that this strategy will work for every person in every situation, but I do think that, more and more, internship and job seekers will have to think outside of the box in order to land that dream gig.

Needless to say, I love when naysayers ask, “Can you really get a job using Twitter?” because it means I get to tell that story and confidently say yes, you can.

This is a guest blog post from our Florida State campus ambassador, Chandra!

Living on a college kids budget is never easy. Neither is saving up for graduation, especially when your plans consist of moving to New York City, which is why I decided to do something about it. Near the end of last year, I had thought of a bracelet design that I thought could be really fun for gamedays. I wore my design to the Florida State vs. Florida game & everyone loved them. I decided that by next fall, I would have them available for sale on my blog, FSU Fashion Girl.

I am SO excited to see this dream finally come true! You can now order your own collegiate gameday bracelet just in time for the first football game of the season. Better yet, this is not closed off to just FSU students. I welcome any & all orders regardless of your school (yes, even you Gators!).  These bracelets are completely customizable, adjustable & made to order. They are $30 each or 2/$50 and will be shipped within 7-10 days.

You can find more information about my bracelets & how to order at http://fsufashiongirl.com/shop. Order now to ensure that your wrists will be gameday ready in time for the first football game of the season!

I would LOVE to hear what you all think about the line. What style is your favorite?

This Guest Employer Blog was written by Chelsea Arme, an intern turned Event Coordinator for Haute Life PR. If you have any questions for Chelsea, comment below.

Having just graduated from college, I can honestly say that the “real world” has been good to me. I look around and see many of my former classmates struggling to find a job in the field they had hoped for in college. I see many of them struggling to find a job, period.

I feel very blessed to have fallen into an opportunity so quickly after college – but the truth is, I could not have done it without planning ahead – and by planning ahead, I mean an INTERNSHIP. I may sound like a broken record to you all, but let me explain just how important resources like ‘The Intern Queen’ are to your future.

I was a late bloomer (in comparison to Lauren Berger) in waiting to find an internship until I was a senior. When I realized how short on time I was to complete this requirement for my degree, I did what any college kid would do – jumped on Google. To my utmost satisfaction, ‘The Intern Queen’ helpfully popped onto my screen offering me the ability to send in my resume to multiple companies at once! So simple and easy? It was a dream come true.

Only two weeks later, I had been offered 3 different positions, in which I had the opportunity to choose from – Imagine that! I chose the one that best fit my interests (event planning and fashion), and needless to say, I am now a full time employee for Haute Life PR planning Sassy City Chicks events. I could not have asked for things to work out smoother!

Even if I had not landed the job at my first internship, I gained the skills, confidence, and contacts needed to plug me in somewhere else. I cannot explain how useful internships are (and I suggest having more than one) nor can I express how great it is that our generation has this resource that Lauren Berger has created to find them!

I just hope my success story motivates you to get started on your career while you’re still in college – and encourages you to GET AN INTERNSHIP!

Happy Hunting