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This is a guest post by our campus ambassador Jessica Strassman from University of California at Santa Cruz

If you’re interested in a career in the entertainment industry, one can often have a difficult time attaining an internship.  Sometimes it can be difficult to get an internship, even if you apply for more than 10 internships!  Here are some tips that I always keep in mind when I’m searching for an internship in the entertainment industry.

-       Talk to your school’s internship advisor at your career center.

o      Most career centers offer valuable advice on attaining your internship of choice.  If there is a specific company that you want to work for, the internship advisor at your career center may be able to put you in contact with an alumna who works at that company.

-       Check the career pages for different companies you’d like to work for, and check back often

o      Most companies have a job search on their website, which lists available internships.  If you don’t see what you’re looking for, be sure to check back frequently.

-       Check Intern Queen!

o      There are tons of entertainment internships listed on Intern Queen!

-       Check out this site: entertainmentcareers.net

o      Entertainmentcareers.net lists many different types of entertainment internships, and constantly update their site with new postings.

-       Let your connections know what kind of internship you are looking for.

o      If you know people who are already working in the entertainment industry, let them know that you are applying for internships.  They may know people at the companies you want to work for!

-       After you apply for an internship, always follow up.

o      Once you’ve applied for an internship, be sure to follow up.  I would recommend following up with a company if you haven’t heard within two weeks of sending in your application.

This is a guest blog by our campus ambassador Kayla Stevens from University of South Florida.

Anyone who is studying public relations, advertising, graphic design or any of the alike subjects, already knows that social media is a core part of our growing generation. While we might know the most popular social networks of today’s industry (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn), not everyone knows how they came to be.

This semester I came across four books that I have found to be pretty inspiring. Not only do they elaborate on how companies such as Google and Twitter came about, but they also discuss how these networks fit into our every day life.

1. Grown Up Digital by Don Tapscott
2. Googled by Ken Auletta
3. Twitterville by Shel Israel
4. The Facebook Effect by David Kirkpatrick

If you’ve read any of these books, which one(s) did you enjoy?

This is a guest post by our campus ambassador Alicia Valko from Towson University.

Perhaps it’s because I live and breathe PR, but I believe that everyone is essentially a brand. Did you know that the word “brand” started out as a way to identify livestock? Today, a “brand” is an identity; it gives the product or company a personality that distinguishes it from competitors. In business terms, a brand is a specific product, service, or company that can be identified by a name, sign, symbol, color combination, or trademark. How does this relate to you? Well, in terms of internship or job hunting, you should be looking at yourself as a brand. Your brand is what differentiates you from the many others vying for a specific position. In some cases, you may be competing against similarly qualified candidates, so your brand is what will stand out to employers. Like it or not, you are already a brand – do you like what your brand says about you? Look at everything you send to potential employers, look at everything you post online, look at your resume. Are these things consistent? Do they display your personality? If your current brand isn’t what you’d like employers to see, adjust it. Your brand needs to reflect your identity. My best advice is this: Hunt around online for business cards that show your personality. Then try to incorporate the color scheme, font, or graphics (or all three, if you can!) into the materials you send to employers. Make sure they scream your name, but keep it classy! Last year, I bought great business cards online (when you look at them, you can immediately tell they are mine) and used the graphic on my resume, cover letter, and some writing samples when appropriate. I also kept within the same color scheme for my personal blog. Be sure to keep your brand consistent, it is what you will be remembered by!

This is a guest post by our campus ambassador Saya Linden from the University of Central Florida.

Being a college student, you always have thousands of things running through your head a mile a minute. Whether it’s what classes to take, what internships to apply for, meeting critical deadlines, and now … financial issues?! We all have been there, struggling, trying to live off of that college life budget. When you’re so worried about keeping up with school, having a job, and even internships, managing your bank account can get pretty stressful, too! So, here is a little break down to keep in mind to help you save a penny or two!

1. Open up a savings account. Having a savings account will help you out in the long run. Slowly saving up money will be a nice little back up for when you graduate. This money can help you pay back student loans, put a down payment for a house once you graduate, or just to help pay all those bills!

2. Shop with only 10%. This is a challenging one, especially for me! I am guilty for wanting to shop ALL THE TIME! However, I know, as a college student, my money should be spent on more important things like rent, books, and bills! So, here’s a challenge for you! Try spending only 10% of your paycheck on little gifts for you! That way, you’ll help save up money, but you’ll also be able to treat yourself every once in a while! We deserve something nice every once in a while for all the hard work we do, right?! You just don’t want to be caught up spending all of your paycheck and then left with nothing. It is not a good feeling!

3. Pack a lunch. It can get pretty expensive eating out every day. Spending five to ten dollars a day on lunches can get pretty pricey. So, before you head out to work or campus, wake up a couple minutes early so you can pack yourself a nice, healthy lunch! That’ll help keeping your wallet thick of cash and your body healthy and nutritious!

4. The ultimate grocery list. Make a list of what you need from the store when you go grocery shopping. If you make a list and follow it, you are less tempted to walk down all the aisles, wondering what to get, and then throwing random pieces of junk food into your cart. If you make a list, you’ll be in and out of the store with only the items you really need and the food you’ll really eat. If I don’t have a grocery list, I tend to buy some foods that just end up sitting in the back of my fridge or pantry until it expires. Not a good way to waste away my money!

As a college student, we have a lot of things to stress about, so lets not make money issues one of our stress factors! We can manage our money, and if we manage it properly, there will be no problems! As long as you follow these guidelines and keep them in mind, you should be on the right path to becoming a wealthy college student!

I. Turn it off. Leave it home. Pay attention.

Have you or anyone you know been a victim of having your cell phone ring in class? Have you ever logged into iChat and not realize your volume was turned up until that distinctive sound fills the entire lecture hall? Can’t say its happened to me but isn’t it embarrassing? Why not spare the embarrassment and avoid being “that girl” or “that guy” and just turn off your phone, leave your laptop, iPad, or any other potential distractions at home so you won’t be tempted to use them in class.

1. Organize Your Life.

Just about every college student gets to that point in the semester when it seems like assigned readings are given out in every class, tests are being scheduled back-to-back, and your procrastination has caught up with you. Don’t panic. Just make an agenda. You should make a daily agenda that outlines every single thing you need to attend to. This allows you to really put your day into perspective and plan accordingly.

1. Eat, Drink, Be Merry.

Take a new approach to your eating and drinking habits. There were times I’d eat food and drink certain beverages and end up being unsatisfied by my meal. Most times it was due to my unhealthy diet and not having enough water in my system. I was lacking essential nutrients that my body needed in order to keep me going. If you feel like your health is not up to pair I would highly recommend speaking to a registered dietitian (R.D.) and get the facts about how to eat healthier.

1. Move Your Body.

Exercise. That doesn’t include your jog to class or that walk to the dining hall and student center. College students maintain a lifestyle that constantly demands them to be ready and able for anything that comes their way. Therefore, your body along with your mind and soul need some attending to in order to keep up with everything that is going on in that busy schedule. Try to exercise a minimum of 30-60 minutes a day.

1. Find A Study Buddy.

Studying is something our professors are always urging us to do but do we always listen? For some, it can be difficult to sit down, focus, and study effectively while others find studying alone to be very effective. I personally, found that studying in groups has helped me significantly because I’ve been able to understand concepts in new ways, which have prepared me to take my exams.

1. Utilize Your Resources.

You won’t be an undergrad forever, so it’s never too early to start thinking about your future career. The key to discovering what kind of career best suits you is to be an intern. But before you look for internships you should talk to your professors, advisors, mentors, and anyone that is an expert in their respective field. It doesn’t hurt to ask questions and most college/ universities cater to the needs of their students. One of the best places to get a head start in the right direction is to go to your school’s Career Services Office and get material that will guide you in the right direction.

1. Have Fun.

College is your time to meet new people and socialize. I’ve always viewed college as the ultimate social experiment because it is one of the only places where you can live, eat, and study with so many people that are of a different race, color, religion, creed, gender, and national origin. It’s an amalgamation of young people all gathered together for the purposes of bettering themselves through education.