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This a blog by Danielle G., our Campus Ambassador from the University of Connecticut. Danielle is a Communications major with a concentration in Sociology. She will graduate in May.

As the months become colder we start switching out our flip flops for our Uggs and our light fleece jackets for our puffy winter ones. We find ourselves worrying about wind burn instead of sun burn and cannot leave the house with out a hat instead of sunglasses. Yes Mr. Winter is here and with that every intern needs to begin to think of the new essentials they will need while interning this winter.

1. Hand Crème/Sanitizer

An intern should always carry portable hand sanitizer because of all the places and people we come into contact with on a daily basis. Riding the subway, grabbing lunch, touching door handles and computers, and just shaking hands is a great way to catch the nasty winter viruses, which could hinder your holidays and your interning work ethic. Since it is winter though try switching to a hand sanitizer that doubles as a lotion too. With less humidity in the air your skin becomes very dry lacking its usual moisture. No one wants to shake a crocodile hand so lotion them up and your hand will thank you.

1. Portable Tissues

Even if you aren’t sick, going from the freezing temperatures outside to the warm buildings can cause your noise to run. You do not want to be the sniffling intern in a meeting or greet someone with a drippy nose. By carrying the little packs of tissues you will be able to compose yourself and your noise before even hitting the elevator. Bonus: These are also great if you find the wind makes your eyes tear. You wont have to worry about if your mascara is running because you could fix it with a tissue.

1. Touch Screen Gloves

Finally our prayers have been answered. They now make affordable gloves with a different material on the fingertips that touch screens media devices are compatible with. This means that you no longer have to take off your gloves to answer your touch screen phones or change a song on your touch screen MP3 players. What’s even better is I found these gloves at Walmart in all different colors for just $3! These gloves are the greatest invention yet. They are definitely something every intern needs and can afford.

Winter can be a fun and exciting time. Even though the weather changes and it gets darker quicker, we seem to spend more time with our family and friends, curl up with the latest seasonal drinks (Gingerbread Latte anyone?) and take in all the holiday cheer. It is also a great time to try a Wintership! If you do, hopefully my 3 tips above will help you brave the weather. Happy Interning!

This blog is written by Ariam, our campus ambassador from Stony Brook University.

Most associations/organizations hold career conferences for its members and the public. It’s a fun-filled day of meeting and networking with professionals in your desired field. Often the different committees within the conference anticipate this event and YOU shouldn’t miss out on the action.

Do Your Homework

The clock is ticking, and there’s one week left till the conference. What to do? Any recognized organization will begin promoting their conference months in advance. Do your research on who’s attending! Even if you’re completely stumped on panelists, check out who came the previous year. Create your own biographical sheet on these panelists—may want to include a picture to help you remember their face and look into their position at the company.

Pack the Essentials

• · Registration/confirmation e-mail—to check-in
• · Business cards—check out moo.com or vistaprint.com which offer great deals
• · 10 copies of your resume
• · 2 pens
• · Pad of paper
• · Purse of tote bag

Tip: Pack your essentials in a folder, so you don’t look like you’re pulling out of a hat all-day!

Look Simple, but Sharp

Just like any other event on-campus or professional setting, you want to dress appropriately and leave a lasting first impression to whomever you come in contact with. Looking sharp doesn’t equate sporting the most expensive pair of slacks or watch, but wearing attire that is suitable for your frame. DRESS COMFORTABLY as you’ll likely be standing on your feet for most of the event.

• · no heavy make-up
• · SHOES- flats or 3-inch heels (maximum); remember comfort is a MUST
• · Skirts should not be 3-inches above the knee
• · Try to match colors

Ladies: white button-up shirt or blouse with dark grey jacket and pencil skirt. Gentleman: Ideally black or dark brown shoes to accompany your suit will do.

Use Your Smartphone

Engage with the panel and other attendees throughout the conference by live-tweeting questions, comments, or answers that may surprised you using the appropriate hash tag! You never know—your tweet may end up in a post-coverage event.

Market Yourself

Think of this conference as a second-interview. You are already in the ballgame, so you must view your position as a student professional. Don’t fray the idea of bringing SAMPLES from your portfolio to show off your work.

Tip: If you’re looking to bring press releases or any other writing samples, make sure you include most recent work.

• Strike a friendly conversation with someone
• Take notes while they are speaking (if needed)
• Exchange business cards—it’s about who you know and WHO KNOWS YOU

FOLLOW UP WITHIN THE NEXT 2 DAYS. Send a friendly e-mail, tweet. But as always handwritten notes are most appreciated when done gracefully.

Ashley is our Parsons School of Design Ambassador in New York City! She is studying communication design and hopes to work doing editorial design in an art department for magazine.

Going into an internship on the first day, it’s hard to know what to expect to get out of it. For me, my internship with Teen Vogue changed my life and goals forever. I worked in Teen Vogue as a spring intern in the marketing and events department, where I got to help prepare for events and work on Teen Vogue programs and social media. I thought could be a great fit since I was both interested in business and working with people. I was a freshman at Parsons School of Design in New York City and was ready to declare my major as fashion design. I had no idea that walking through the doors of Conde Nast, and working with Teen Vogue could alter my career and educational goals so much. While I learned amazing lessons on the value and skills needed to market a magazine, I became so interested when I walked past the art department to see them working on graphics. They would put together beautiful layouts, talk about photo shoots and create designs for invitations posters and more. Eventually, I approached the art director, and told her that I had experience with photo shop and illustrator and if she ever needed any extra help I would love any opportunity. Before Teen Vogue Hate Spot, a launch of a Teen Vogue pop up store, she approached me and said they needed help. I came in an extra days, and got hands on experience seeing how they create layouts. It was everything that I loved, combining my love of art and creativity, with my interest in graphic design and marketing. I looked into different majors at my school and ended up switching to communication design, a major that focuses of information graphic design and I can emphasize on editorial layouts.

For many interns if it weren’t for their internship, I may have not found something that they were so passionate about. For me, it came from seeking an opportunity in a different department. I think internships can shape a clearer picture on the reality of an occupation because it allows you to see for yourself the good and bad of a particular job. I will always look back and love my time at Teen Vogue. So for anyone who isn’t sure what major to go into, trying an internship before you declare can save a lot of time and lead you are meant to do. While most my freshman friends were off exploring the city, I dedicated myself to three internships my freshman year. Looking back, I am really glad because it formed my interests and got me to where I am today.

This blog is written by our new Intern Queen Campus Ambassador, Laura, from Clemson. If you attend Clemson and want to blog for Intern Queen please comment here!

First impressions are extremely important. We have heard that our whole life. But how does that translate into the working world? Some might say that first impressions at an interview are crucial, and I agree. But many times you have to first impress your potential employer with your cover letter and resume in order to get asked to an interview.

One of my bosses, Kim Banks, wrote a great post on our company blog a few months ago about cover letters. She agreed to let me share a few of her tips with other interns for my blog post. Here are a few tips she suggests for hopeful job candidates…

Don’t tell them they should hire you because…

• You need a job
• You need money
• You need internship credit

While those things may be true, that’s not why they should hire you. Think about what you have to offer them, not what they have to offer you.

Do…

• Know what the company does
• Tell about recent successes you may have had – and how you can contribute to their workplace
• Tell them how you have worked hard and gone the extra mile in one of your classes
• Compliment them. Do you like their website? Enjoy reading their blog? Think they do a great job with their Twitter or Facebook account? Tell them!
• Spell their names right.
• Read the company blog if they have one. It shows you not only researched the company itself, but you also dug deeper to catch a glimpse inside the day-to-day activities of the office.
• If you attach a resume, title it with your first and last name- not just “Resume1.doc.”

I hope these tips were as helpful for you as they were for me. Do you have any other tips you have found particularly helpful?

This blog is written by Hannah, our campus ambassador from Loyola Marymount and one of Intern Queen’s fall interns.

It is every intern’s dream to spend a summer in a big fabulous city with an even bigger and more fabulous internship. Well congratulations! You applied, interviewed, and successfully nabbed that dream job – but now what? Sleep in subway bathrooms like Will and Jaden Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness? I don’t think so. Here is your ultimate guide to finding a (temporary) home for the summer your dreams.

University Housing

The great thing about university housing is that they always have vacancies, which means the school will do just about anything to get that room filled and paid for. Check the housing websites of all the universities in the city of your internship and see if they have an exchange program of some sort. I know for a fact that NYU in New York hosts hundreds of interns every summer.

Subleasing

There aren’t too many times that you will find the perfect apartment with a landlord that is willing to give you a 2-3 month lease. Thus, you should really check all your resources for people that need subleasers. Newspaper classifieds, Facebook groups, and websites like Uloop and Craigslist are all great resources to find people that need to rent out their apartment for a short period of time.

Networking

I know what you are thinking, that networking is generally a concept and activity used to further your career – well think again! Maybe you have a friend of a friend who’s cousin lives in the city and could use a couch surfer to help pay the rent. You can get details on the apartment, good information on the roommate you are sticking yourself with, etc. It’s like being backstage at a concert – you get all the nitty gritty details first!

Ask the Company!

Chances are, you are not the first intern to come from out of town. Maybe the company has a deal for cheap rates with the extended stay hotel across the street. At the very least, they have the emails of former interns, and it never hurts to shoot them an email and ask them what they did for their stay.

So good luck! And congrats on getting a fabulous internship and your impending adventure in a new city. Use these resources and you will be good to go!