Internqueen.com

Q: Hello,

I’m a senior at a Westchester highschool and am looking for an internship in Westchester or NYC from April-June. I have looked through many internships listed on your site, but every one i find says “no high school students.” I am eighteen, outgoing, a hard worker, and would be willing to work in many different fields. Do you know of any opportunities for me? Thank you so much – Chandler

A: Hi Chandler,

I don’t currently work with any Westchester opportunities. The closest I can get you is in NYC. Here is what I suggest:

1. Personal Connections/Relationships. Think to yourself…who do I know that works in the industry I’m interested in? Who do my parents/brothers/sisters/grandparents know locally that might be willing to let me intern a few days per week?

2. Set a meeting with your school guidance counselor.

3. Make a list of your top 10 local companies – even try some NYC companies if you want. Start with smaller/local companies to get some experience under your belt.

4. Be ready to explain to an employer why you are the PERFECT candidate – even though you are still in high school.

5. Remember, ANYTHING is possible!

xx Lauren Berger
“The Intern Queen”

Q: Have you personally done any internships?

A: Hi Jordyn,

Thanks for being so honest. Internships can be scary but I can tell you from personal experience that they are well worth it. I did 15 internships – that’s where I came up with the title of “Intern Queen”. No one needs to do 15 internships but I do suggest 2 internships before you graduate college. If you are considering leaving a full-time job to intern, that’s a big step. Keep in mind that many employers limit their internships to students. Many adults enroll in nearby colleges just so they can officially take on an internship. Also, remember there are no guarantees – an internship is a learning experience and not a job. Regardless, internships are a great way to learn a new industry, build your resume, and build your rolodex. If you do have a full-time job, I would suggest first setting informational meetings with potential employers. Perhaps you can even take a day off to job shadow. Start with baby steps. Make sure you do what’s right for you.

Good luck!
Lauren Berger
“The Intern Queen”

This blog is written by Amanda G., our Campus Ambassador at Providence College. She is studying English and Business and will graduate May 2013. She hopes her internships at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Planned Television Arts (Ruder-Finn) will help her land an entertainment marketing position in New York City.

If I asked each of you what you were looking forward to about winter break I’m sure I could guess the responses. Home cooking, friends and family, and catching up on sleep would probably top the lists. The really motivated people out there are thinking about making time to catch up on work and apply for internships, but most students avoid any chances of ruining their relaxation.

Well, I have a secret to tell you. You will be way less stressed if you have a productive break. Don’t get me wrong, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of being home is sleeping in my own room, yet I’ve also learned that being lazy over break can be destructive for me.

Doing nothing over break is really fantastic when you’re still on break, but inevitably you’ll have to go back to school. And if your school is anything like mine, you will be hit with a ton of work on day one. All of the stress of classes will come flooding back within a week, and you’ll want to start the semester out strong and stay on top of all your assignments. This will make you put off looking for or following up with internships until before you know it, the pressure is on with approaching application deadlines. Your anxiety rises to the same high level it was at right before break, when you wanted nothing more than to be home lounging around all day for weeks.

I bet you can see where I’m going with this… if you spend just a little bit of time over break looking into internships, or standardized testing preparation, or grad school applications, or whatever other huge, non school related obligations you have, you will be all set to focus on school by the time you get back.

You may have heard this before—I have—but I also know how tempting it is to put all of that off until suddenly break is over. So let me encourage you now, before finals have deprived you of too much sleep and writing a to-do list for break is the last thing on your mind. Seriously consider how much better your second semester will be without the stress of preparations for the coming summer or fall hanging over your head. I promise you’ll have plenty of time for all the fun and restful activities you pictured would fill your break. A small sacrifice now will really pay off in a month or two.

Hi All -

Happy Friday! I hope you have a lovely weekend planned. I’m actually celebrating two friends birthdays this weekend and going wine tasting in Temecula tomorrow! I fly to Baltimore Sunday to speak at Towson University on Monday night which should be AMAZING!

Anyhow, we got tons of new listings this week. Here are FIVE opportunities that will go super fast. Check them out!

GREY ADVERTISING PAID INTERNSHIP (New York City)

MARIE CLAIRE FASHION INTERNSHIP (New York City)

BERMANBRAUN FILM/TV INTERNSHIP (Los Angeles)

CARO MARKETING FASHION/PR INTERNSHIP (Los Angeles)

MCGRAW HILL INTERNSHIP (Indianapolis)

This blog is written by Ellie, our Campus Ambassador for Iowa State University. She is a junior majoring in Agricultural Studies with minors in Advertising and Animal Science.

Recently I was chatting with a friend about an internship she really wanted. She was telling me how her interview went and how she was one of four that interviewed: great chances right? Right! However, this makes the little things so much more important. I asked her if she had followed up the interview with a thank you email and asking if the interviewer needed more information, and to my surprise, she had said no. Now to me, following up with a thank you is an interview basic, but she didn’t know that. So, I decided that blogging about interview basics would be a great idea! Plus, who doesn’t like freshening up on their interview manners? Here are my top five to-dos for before, during and after the interview!

1: Research research research! Look for key words throughout the company’s website, and internship materials. Keep those keywords in mind for when answering questions, revamping your resume or creating a cover letter. You will impress them with your knowledge of the company, and they will believe that you are the perfect fit because you take into account their core values.

2: Before the interview, make a list of at least five questions to ask during your time with the interviewer, or heaven forbid, more than one interviewer! (Do not panic, it’s not that bad!) There is nothing more annoying than asking your interviewee if they have any questions and they say no. A good go to question is for them to describe a typical day as an intern. This allows them to do the talking for a while and lets you sit back and evaluate how the particular position fits in with your internship standards and your work style.

3: One of the biggest no-no’s in interviewing is showing up late! I had a professor once tell me that showing up ten minutes early, means you’re early, arriving five minutes early, means you’re on time and showing up right on time, means you’re late! Another plus to showing up early is to chat with the secretary. Saying hello and asking how their day is going as well as creating a conversation about the picture of their kids on the desk can make the secretary tell their boss how nice, sociable and friendly you are. Aww, go you!

4: Before and after the interview, shake their hand firmly; like you are an important person because duh, you are! No one wants to shake hands with a limp fish.

5: Send a follow up email thanking them for their time, as well as asking if they would like you to send any more information, such as writing samples or links to websites you blog for, etc. Make sure to send this follow up email within 24 hours of your interview, being too late will be like you never sent one at all.

I hope this is a good refresher course and that these tips compliment you’re outstanding resume, helping you land that dream internship! Good luck, interns!