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Topic: Importance of internships
| Author | Message |
| Notyet | Posted – 2/5/2008 12:27:49 PM | show profile How important are internships when looking for jobs? I worked my way through college and could not afford working one. I'm still trying to break into Publishing somehow and am getting discouraged. I've tried networking, Googling names and the result has always been zero. I'm at wits end on this one and am ready to give it all up. Anyone out there with any advice? |
| foodlit | Posted – 2/5/2008 1:22:50 PM | show profile They are incredibly important because they give you some relevant experience. So, you are likely losing out to candidates that have more experience than you even if it is internship experience. So, now you're out and looking, what to do? Take a job that is somehow relevant to publishing...even if it's a part-time gig at a Borders. Try temping and request publishing related assignments. That's what I'd focus on ....go in and wow them and it could lead to a perm job. I've seen it happen over and over and over again. You need to make it happen for yourself. Good luck! Pam |
| Unemployed-gal | Posted – 2/5/2008 4:38:26 PM | show profile Agreed with foodlit--they're incredibly important, especially when you're looking to break into publishing. Take it from someone with two years' experience job hunting in that field. I left college with no internships under my belt (went to a bad school in a bad part of the country, long story short), so it was difficult to even so much as get my resume looked at, much less be invited in for job interviews. Internships are also a great way of networking--I gotten a few informational interviews that way, just by saying, "hey I interned at the same company you used to work at, would it be alright if we met sometime so I could pick your brain a bit?" How extensive has your net working been? What sources have you used, besides Google, to get in touch with people? I know how you feel, though, it can get discouraging--just ask anyone who's listen to me grouse on these boards. From one job hunter to another, good luck! |
| WritingSoul | Posted – 2/5/2008 7:42:43 PM | show profile | email poster Internships are good for two reasons: 1) They give you experience (and don't require you to be a pro straight away) and 2) They give you connections that might lead to a job Paid internships are unfortunately not as common as they should be. But if you don't have relevant experience when you're applying for a job...you're out of luck. I understand you may not be able to take one on full-time due to financial issues, however, often certain companies may allow you to intern part-time (in fact, I think it's unfair to have an unpaid intern working full time, but I diverge), or you might consider living like a monk for a while and saving so that you can afford not to work while you're interning. These days, even getting an internship is competitive (I know b/c I've had interns), so can you imagine what it's like to get an actual job in media without experience? Consider it an investment, same as college was for you. |
| WritingSoul | Posted – 2/5/2008 7:46:43 PM | show profile BTW: Try to meet people as much as possible and network. Let your personality sell you too. So many interns look great on paper and turn out not to be quite as outgoing as I'd like. Personality does count for a lot. |
| reporterwriter | Posted – 2/5/2008 8:17:24 PM | show profile Surely you're discouraged by the answers so far, but just as surely you knew what they'd be. If you've been out of school less than two years, it isn't too late to do an internship or fellowship for recent grads. I worked my way through college, too, a billion years ago. I couldn't afford *not* to do an internship (unpaid) -- so I worked, went to school and did the internship all at the same time. The suffering lasted only a semester, and it was worth everything after graduation. |
| Notyet | Posted – 2/6/2008 12:26:28 PM | show profile Thanks BBelinda, (And to the other posters please don't take offense as I've tried all of those things too.) I thought about doing your suggestion yesterday before you posted. I have a way to contact the companies. I'm just hoping someone out there will understand where I'm coming from and hire me on a part-time - unpaid basis so I can gain experience. But thank you all for your advice. |
