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This blog is written by Coly, our campus ambassador from Pace University.

I’ve been interning in the beautiful city of Manhattan since June, and in that time I have seen some unforgettable things.  I’ve made friends with strangers, been almost hit by a cab, and been caught in the rain.  But through these experiences I’ve learned some invaluable tips on how to survive when commuting in the city.

1. Wear comfy shoes on your walk: Ladies- we know that you spent a slightly shameful amount on those black pumps you’ve been dying to wear to work but be warned; the city is not shoe-friendly.  While you may look like a intern-superstar in your high heels, it is never a good idea to wear them on your commute to work, whether it’s for 2 blocks or 20. There’s a few reasons for this, one being that your arches, toes and heels will really start to resent you.  It’s not going to improve your morning mood or your productivity at work if you’re limping around because you have blisters.  Also, the city sidewalks are a dangerous place, full of holes, garbage, and the nasty stuff that pets tend to leave behind.  Looking cute on your walk to work is not worth breaking a heel or soiling a pair of shoes.
2. Always be prepared for the weather:   Although it may look sunny in the morning when you’re leaving for work, a lot can change while you’re in the office or even when you get out of the subway.  Small fold-able umbrellas are not only cheap but they’re extremely convenient.  Also, do yourself a favor and check out www.weather.com before you leave your place, or you can easily download the weather.com app onto your smart phone.
3. Always check your subway seat before AND after you sit: It may look like someone accidentally left their newspaper on the seat, but don’t be fooled.  More often than not, under that newspaper is a big wet mess.  I know the subways are crowded and you’re often rushed into a seat, but always check the seat for water, trash or other stain-guaranteed substances.  Secondly, how much would you hate yourself for leaving your phone or i-Pod behind?  Always, always, always take one last look before you get off the train or bus and make sure nothing fell out of your pockets or bag.
4. Bring chargers: We all know the sad truth about technology; a dead phone= end of the world.  Yes, it’s a little sad that many people in our generation cannot survive without phone, i-Pod, or i-Pad, but its reality.  Being stranded in the city with no phone and no i-Pod can lead to some bad things happening.  For one, if you’re someone who is depending on your Google Maps App to get you to where you need to go, a dead phone could mean being lost for an hour.  Or if you’re running late, need to send an email or make a call, a dead battery is going to be a huge inconvenience.  To prevent a tragedy like this from happening, always make sure your phone or i-Pod is charged before leaving the house, and what the heck, bring an extra charger with you just in case.
5. Street Meat is OK:  When I first moved into the city, I was very skeptical about the mystifying idea of street meat (that being those street vendors with smoke billowing out of the top, and various meats being served on a kebob).  But I learned something very important: street meat is indescribably delicious.  If you’re in a bind for lunch and need something quick and cheap, street meat is by far your best option.
6. Arm yourself with Apps:  New York City is a technology driven world, and if you want to keep up you’re going to have to jump on the bandwagon.  Useful apps like New York City Subway 24-Hour Kick Map and Exit Strategy can help you navigate the sometimes tricky subway system.  The app CabSense will direct you to best, nearest corner to hail a cab from, SitorSquat will direct you to the nearest bathroom, and the Central Park app will help you get in, out and around Central Park.  You might want to think about asking Santa for an i-Phone this year for Christmas!
7. Be skeptical about “free” samples:  Who doesn’t love picking up a free sample off of a generous salesman?  But here’s the catch, they might not be a salesman; they might be a psychopath who is trying to lure you in, get information from you, and cause you harm.  Some free samples are legit (I happened to pick up a free energy drink sample from a Red Bull this morning) but be wary and use your best judgment.  If you have a bad feeling or a hint of skepticism, it’s best just to opt out of the free sample.
8. Use eye-contact with caution: Growing up we were all told it’s polite to use eye-contact and to not do so is rude.  However, walking on the streets to work or sitting on the subway may not be the exact time you should be making eye contact with people.  It’s a huge city with people from different countries and cultures, and not everyone shares the American philosophy that eye-contact is acceptable.  Eye contact with the wrong person can lead to a confrontation, uncomfortable conversation, or you might even incite rage out of a random lunatic.  So just be slightly hesitant about flashing those lashes at the wrong person.
9. If the cross-walk light is red, don’t go:  I know, I know, it is so tempting to walk quickly across the street after the light stops flashing and turn red.  But take advice from an almost cab-fatality, just wait till it turns green again.  You never know when a car will be turning onto the road or come speeding out of nowhere and almost take you out.  Not to mention that jogging across the street could lead to you tripping, dropping things, or (gasp!) spilling coffee on your outfit
10. Have business cards on you at all times: A walk or ride to work could lead to many unexpected things, even a networking opportunity.  As a college student and intern, networking is practically a full-time job.  It is so important to always have a business card on you that has your name, number and email, so that you can whip one out and impress a future employer or fellow intern.

Remember, your commute to your internship is only half the work! This city is unpredictable so be sure to always give yourself enough time to get where you’re going, and arrive at your internship composed and ready to kick some butt!

This blog is written by Lauren, our campus ambassador from Binghamton University.

Congratulations! You’ve finally earned the internship of your dreams. After hours of résumé and cover letter writing and interviews, you’ve finally secured the position and are ready to begin. You are kind of bummed that the position is unpaid, but you figure that it is the experience that counts. Plus, all your friends are doing unpaid internships, so there must be nothing wrong with this practice…right? Actually, the answer may not be as clear-cut as it seems.

In this hard market economy, it is easy to think that an unpaid experience is better than no experience whatsoever. However, many states across the country have been cracking down on internship programs across the board. In the simplest terms, for an unpaid internship to be legal, an intern must not do any work that is of actual benefit to the company. In a broader sense, a company must follow the six criteria outlined by the United States Labor Department. These are:

1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;

1. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;

1. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;

1. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;

1. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and

1. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.

In many instances, you may be offered academic credit for your unpaid internship. However, if your internship does not have a significant educational component, this is just a way for the company to circumvent the laws. This directly applies if a majority of your internship involves menial tasks such as sweeping bathrooms. If this is true for your internship, the company may be violating federal minimum-wage laws!
Don’t get me wrong, I strongly believe an unpaid internship can be the stepping stone one needs towards launching the career he or she has always wanted. I’ve had them in the past and hopefully the opportunity for another one will present itself in the future. Yet, I also believe that is extremely important to weigh the pros and cons of the position you are about to take. If you personally believe that this experience will be worthwhile, then go for it and I wish you the best of luck. However, making sure that the unpaid component does not hinder you financially nor that it translates into free labor for the company you are working for is an equally important consideration in the internship process.

Whenever I speak about resume advice, I think about Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. I wish we could all use pink paper and spritz our resumes with sexy perfume – but that’s just not the case. Lately, I’m getting several resumes sent in that have the student address or phone number at the top of the resume instead of the student’s name. Always put your name at the very top of the resume. I thought this was a given. Make your name one font size larger than the rest of your resume. I also like to see the student’s name in BOLD. The employer shouldn’t have to search to find your name on a resume. Afterall, they need to know that all of the amazing information and experience on the resume speaks to YOU and YOUR capabilities. Good luck!

As a young entrepreneur & business owner, one of the most important ideas is that of time management. How will I spend my time? How will I divide up my day? I’m always curious to hear how successful people run their days and spend their time. I want to share a personal story about how I’ve been able to get more things done, be more proactive & productive, and hold myself accountable to complete tasks on a weekly basis. Ironically, this all stemmed from networking.

You never know when you might meet someone that will have a heavy impact on your life (one of the many reasons I believe internships are so powerful). In 2007, at a Women in Business awards ceremony, I met Morgan First, co-founder of The Second Glass (http://www.thesecondglass.com). In 2008, I met Elizabeth Saunders, co-founder of Real Life E (http://www.reallifee.com) at an Extreme Entrepreneur Tour Event.

Upon meeting Elizabeth I learned that she also knew Morgan. The three of us decided that we all had one thing in common – we all wanted to be successful entrepreneurs. We decided in November of 2008 that we would do a weekly conference call in attempts to hold one another accountable for completing tasks and achieving goals. Our businesses are in completely different industries but our constant need to focus on revenue, stay on task, and balance our personal and professional lives is the same.

Last month, I saw Elizabeth in person for the second time. It had been almost two years since our first meeting. Today, we dialed-in and spoke. We’ve all been speaking every week for almost two years. We’ve been able to hold ourselves accountable and help one another.

If you are a student, entrepreneur, or employee – I encourage you to seek out people with the same long-term goals. Start a conversation – you never know how far it will go.

Welcome back from the holidays everyone ! I’m working on a holiday wrap-up post to share my adventures from the past few weeks with you all! This past fall, I did a post called PIMP OUT YOUR FALL INTERNSHIP. We’ve changed it up a bit for the Spring Time and it’s featured on WorkingWomen.com’s new section, Campus Corner. This should be a great resource for young women who are interested in learning more about the workplace. You will see articles from myself, @LindsayPollak (an awesome career space blogger), and plenty more ! Here is the link to check it out !

http://womenworking.com/pimp-out-your-spring-internship

Enjoy !

Lauren Berger
The Intern Queen