Q & A
New Question 4/15/09
Q:
Q: Hi I’m a Junior in High School and was wondering if it is possible for kids my age to get internships or if they usually only let college students in. If we can’t get any internships what are some other options for us to get experience in the entertainment business?
A: Kudos to you for even asking me about internships while you are still in high school! Internships are becoming more and more popular for high school students. If your school gets out early in the afternoon than you might be able to put in a few afternoons per week at an internship. This is really up to the company. I would recommend applying for a few different positions and clearly indicating in your resume and cover letter that you are in high school but extremely passionate about the entertainment business and ready to take on a full load of school and your internship. Best of luck and keep me posted on what happens! Check our some of our opportunities on www.quarterlife.com/intern as well as the opportunities on Entertainment Careers.
Q: Are there any internship programs for non-students who would like to explore other career opportunities?
A: Some companies do have special guidelines for non-students to enter their programs. However, most internships in the entertainment industry are unpaid so companies feel that they must compensate students with college credit. You will have a better chance finding opportunities with Paid internships because the company will feel like they are giving something back to you in return for your hard-work. Best of luck. And search for paid internships on the quarterlife site at www.quarterlife.com/intern.
Q: I did not finish college and I am almost 29 years old. I’ve been looking through your internship postings every one of them want college students. What can I do?
Absolutely love this idea and the industry you’ve formulated out of this idea. However, I do have one qualm, now, as a recent journalism graduate of May ‘08 and having some intern experience on my own, I’m having some trouble breaking into the world of entry level or mid entry level jobs, any advice? Maybe you could branch off and offer some postings/offerings for recent graduates? It still is in the same arena, and now being post internship yourself I think this would be a great idea. I’ve had previous internship experience with public relations and regional magazines and am now currently trying to break into the editorial industry. Thoughts?
- Samantha
Hey Samantha ! I’m so glad you are reading my blogs and you’ve reached out to me. I’m extremely familiar with the editorial/journalism industry because in college I was a part-time freelance writer for publications like Seventeen, Nickelodeon, etc. No matter how many internships you’ve had that deal with that industry you really need clips. I would go back through any old internship files you might have saved. You want to print out any press releases that you wrote, or articles that you wrote at those internships and start your portfolio. If you have no published clips you need to start local. I would reccomend getting another job so you can start building your clips in the meantime. It’s extremely difficult to break into the freelance writing/editorial business. Build up a portfolio and then start pitching magazines as a freelance writer. Pitch them an idea – if they decline, pitch them right back with another. One site that you will find extremely helpful for entry level journalism jobs and advice and news in that industry is ed2010.com – so check that out. Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck ! You might also want to check out some of the editorial internships on my site. Some of the companies pay and take students post-graduation
Lauren Berger, The Intern Queen, www.quarterlife.com/intern
Dear Intern Queen,
Hey I have started my Fall Internship that I got a cool production company through you. It’s been hardwork - a lot of office duties less creative stuff. What should i be expecting to get out from these internships?
-Chris, Los Angeles
Chris ! It is OK to be bored at your internship. In fact, many internships can be really boring. Once I was told to stand at a copy machine for 10 hours. Another time I was sent to archive tapes at NBC in the basement for 8 hours. This is completely normal. The important part is that you ALWAYS are the first to volunteer for whichever task is requested of you. This shows you are dedicated and loyal. Try having a chipper attitude no matter what you are doing. You want to be known as reliable, excited, and passionate at your internship. This makes you stand out. There is nothing worse than watching some ungrateful interns who have gloomy faces. Stay positive. Everyone starts somewhere – this is your time to start climbing the ladder. Meet as many different people as possible – make as many relationships as you can. As they say – It’s all about who you know
Hang in there and I’m so proud of you for interning in the first place – that shows lots of initiative !
Best,
Lauren Berger, The Intern Queen, www.quarterlife.com/intern
Q: Hello! I believe I emailed you before with my resume attached, i
am a singer/writer/musician and entrepreneur. I am
really passionate about my music and i really want to get wherever to
be seen. I have been writing since i was 11 and singing since I was 4, I love singing. I recently moved to NY, because it seemed like the place for people with passion like myself, now that i am here, i am recording and writing constantly, but i want more. So I am asking to work to get where i want to be, as an intern, because i have been informed of the access to the industry it provides. Thank you.
- C
A: C, Don’t feel bad about your situation at all. In fact, I’m so proud of you for moving to NYC to really follow and pursue your passion in the first place. Many people don’t have the courage to do something like that. I think that understanding all aspects of the industry that you desire to work in is extremely important. An internship can definitly help you get a foot in the door and help you get a feel for how the “business” side of music is run. That might in turn help you with your music and find your niche. Also, you might find that working on the business side of music will satisfy you until your personal music career takes off. I’ll take another look at your resume and send it to whichever music postings I have in the New York City area. Please follow up with me in two weeks and let me know if you’ve heard anything.
Best,
Lauren Berger
“The Intern Queen”
I found out about you through my school newspaper which happens to be your alum, GO KNIGHTS! I wanted to know with all your experience with finding internships where did you stay? Because I have been really interested in interns in LA or NY such as BET or NBC but most of the big time internships don’t offer pay or a place to stay and I would like to know how did you do it? It’s the only thing holding me back. I don’t know anyone that lives in these places such as family, friends.
Thanks,
E
A: This seems to be a very common question lately If you want to intern in New York City check out the NYU Summer program which can include a meal plan. You can also look into summer housing opportunities with some of the other colleges in the NYC area like THE NEW SCHOOL, COLUMBIA, LOYOLA. When I went to Los Angeles for the summer I subleased a room in an apartment off of Craigslist.com which worked out very well. Another summer I stayed at Oakwoods Corporate Housing which can is expensive but provides an “internship discount” and an experience of a lifetime.
All the best,
Lauren Berger “The Intern Queen”
Q: Hi Lauren,
I am currently a junior in marketing at the University of Illinois and was hoping to get an internship in LA this summer for a movie or television production company. The one for Universal Pictures particularly interests me, but there seem to be a lot of great ones you have listed. I was wondering if we can still apply for these even if we are not currently living in the LA area but know we will be able to find housing over the summer? Thank you so much for your help, and really appreciate everything you do! Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Paul
A: Hi Paul ! Thanks for writing. I would definitly suggest the Oakwoods Corporate Housing for Los Angeles. However, they do tend to be a bit expensive. I suggest calling them up and asking about their internship rates – please let them know that The Intern Queen referred you ! Also, you can look into subleasing an apartment for a few weeks which is what I also did one summer. Let me know if I can help further and please send in your resume !
Best,
Lauren Berger
“The Intern Queen”
www.quarterlife.com/intern
Dear Lauren,
Hi, my name is Esther. I currently live in Shanghai, China and I’m about
to become a sophomore in high school in the fall. But I do go back home
to LA over the summer. Don’t worry I’m not a stalker that’s just
randomly emailing you. I’ve been trying to find internships for high
school students that I’m interested in and it’s very hard. Although I
did find one but the time is not right. So I have to ask you something-
Are there any internships that you’ve posted on quarterlife for high
school students? Some say it is only applicable for college students but
some just doesn’t say. Thank you so much for your time.
Yours truly,
Esther
Hello IQ…
As the Chief of Staff for an Illinois legislator’s District Office in Chicago I oversee a few interns every summer.
I try to have organizational materials and plenty of projects ready when they start, but I’m on the lookout for more ways we can make the internship more productive for us and more worthwhile for them
Any suggestions?
Kevin
I am writing my cover letter, the business just gave me the email address to send my information to, should I call the business to get the name of the internship coordinator to personalize it a bit more or just write “to whom it may concern”?
Go with your instinct on this one. I always like to make that extra call and ask for a name however, if the person you spoke with sounded busy or “wasn’t giving you the time of day” just do a standard letter.
Hey Intern Queen,
When I first read the headline for your article on ED2010 I was shocked! I myself have had 8 internships based with the NYC metro area. (I guess I could be an intern princess:)…)
I really enjoyed reading all of your tips/advice/stories! But to tell you the truth, I am becoming more and more uneasy with just being an intern. I live in Brooklyn and it is not cheap. I WANT A JOB. When I graduated college (I am currently a Grad student at the same school), all I could think was: “I MUST GET A JOB!”
Again, thanks for all of the advice–but I am starting to lose hope for a full time position within the Fashion Industry. And slowly I am learning that it is not about what you know–IT IS ONLY ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW (furthermore, who likes you…)
Best,
Intern Princess
Hi I recieved my Bachelors degree in Business Administration and I really want to do a intern with MTV or BET or hte NBA. I want to go back to get my ,asters in a field where I can grow in one of these places. I wanted to know what steps should I take into making this happen?
Hi. I am a high school senior and I want to plan for an internship next summer, but i’m not sure how to go about doing this. I am extreamly interested in working in fashion/journalism. I live close enough to spend the summer in nyc if their was an internship, but I was wondering do many magazines offer internships to someone who hasn’t started college yet? Do you also have any suggestions for giving yourself a leg up over the other internship canidates? Thanks so much for your help!
Jem
Hi, i am going to be a senior and i am studying graphic design/digital media.
i am looking to find a internship in the fall in L.A. this has been my dream and i am so excited to do this. but i need to find the perfect internship and also find a place to live for the 4 or 5 months. if you have any suggestions on how to find housing not to expensive and any good sites or places to find a internship it would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
michelle
Hi Lauren;
I am senior in high school and recently got interested in getting an internship. I would like to intern in the summer right before I start college and my idea place would be New York but I currently live in California. Im writing you because I dnt know where to start. I would like an internship in the entertainment and fashion industry. Can you help me?? My concerns are where can I find these internships for big household names when I have no connections?? When should I start applying? What can I do to stand out and get the internship?
Thanks for taking the time to read and hopefully answer!
Hi, i was wondering if it is too early to apply for summer internships. I have noticed that many companies are just looking for spring 2010 interns. Does that mean i should not apply to them?!
Hi Lauren.
I’m an English major in Puerto Rico and I’m very interested in applying for an internship in the states. The problem is my department has no internship program/ system setup and most of the internships I am interested in require me to receive some college credit.
I’m interested in pursuing an editorial internship or any sort of internship that would give me a boost in my “career as a writer” but I do not know if there is any way for me to get past the whole issue with college credit. Also, since I am from PR, I am afraid that most magazines, companies and newspapers might turn me down because I live so far away… any thoughts?
Thanks!
Hi,
I was born and raised in Austin, Texas but the rest of my family is from Seoul, South Korea. I can speak Korean pretty well, as in nearly fluently (except for an accent). Is it impossible to get a summer internship overseas for a magazine?
I am a Journalism major and a Studio Art minor, focusing on photography. I am also really into fashion.
I am thinking of Nylon Korea.
How do you even go about applying for an internship in a foreign country?
Help!
Hello, I am currently in college, and next fall I will be a senior. I really want to get an internship under my belt, but I don’t want to have to pay for the college credit. Is it still an internship if it’s not through my school? I don’t want to lie on a resume.
Kelsey,
An internship can be for credit or not for credit but some companeis do have policies preventing students from interning just for experience. Ask the company you are applying for if you need to get school credit to do the internship. Good luck !
Lauren Berger