With summer internships well underway, mediabistro.com gave the hardworking interns a chance to mingle and share a drink at last night’s Mediabistro Student and Intern party.

On top of meeting future co-workers in the media world, the students also got a chance to chat with  Alex Weprin, editor of TVNewser, and yours truly, editorial assistant and social media coordinator. Also present were Jessica Carlson, client services associate of the Job Board, education manager Amanda Pacitti and education assistant Sandra Reitman. Lots of advice and questions were swapped, but what was the biggest concern for the interns? Breaking into that first job.

Luckily for them, online marketing manager Caitlin McKinney hosted speed interviews for two openings at our own company: online marketing coordinator and events assistant. Nineteen hopefuls jumped into the interview with two to three minutes to prove themselves.

The rest of the students didn’t leave empty-handed. Each attendee received with a $50 discount to a year-long AvantGuild membership, and all had a chance to win a free Mediabistro class and a coffee with a mentor in the field of their choice.

Missed out last night? Then tune in to our free July 31 webcast on what it takes to jumpstart your career in media. Execs and editors from Travel + Leisure, Comedy Central and ABC Television will be online to help you discover the best ways to get your foot in the door.

In the meantime, check out more photos below of last night’s fun after the jump. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Lars Schmidt, NPR’s talent acquisition leader, advised candidates to Google themselves to fully understand what the company may know about you. “You don’t want to be derailed by a question you’re not prepared for.”

Mediabistro VP of education and events Carmen Scheidel reminded viewers that the interview itself is a form of research, essentially a great opportunity to decide if the company culture is something that you can commit your career to.

Finally, HR pro Laurie Ruettimann advised job seekers to remain neutral — in both look and odor. That means no hot pink skirts or dumping on cologne. “You want to be memorable for your knowledge, skills and abilities, not for your wardrobe or how you smell.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

More and more employers are asking applicants to submit resumes to their online systems, but do you really know where your information is going, or even if it will get to human hands? In this Mediabistro Career Breakfast, our panel explains what happens after you apply and how you can stand out from the field of applicants.

David Gaspin, head of talent acquisition at TheLadders.com, and WeightWatchers HR rep Kate Van Arsdale spoke about how to write a resume that will grab a hiring manager’s attention, while THINQACTION CEO Antonio Neves, revealed the one thing that will guarantee you don’t get an interview.

Watch the full video above and follow us on Google+ to find out about our next Career Breakfast.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

There are lots of pages to fill at this niche pub, as editors are on a constant search for profiles of a special mom who’s making it work, and a closer look into certain industries through the lens of working motherhood. Get a few good clips under your belt from the glossy, and you might even land a full-time gig.

“We’re always looking for freelance writers who understand our initiatives and can pitch some fresh angle,” said senior research editor Krista Carothers.

Find out which sections are the most freelancer-friendly in How To Pitch: Working Mother. [subscription required]

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Adam Lyons who, as the founder of Insurance Zebra, has interviewed “hundreds of applicants” said, “If you don’t care, I don’t care. Sell yourself and get me excited to work with you. Sometimes people come off like they are sleeping — no excitement, no passion — and it’s a big turn-off.”

Find out how to fix eight more pet peeves of hiring managers in 9 Things You Should Never Do on a Job Interview.

This article is one of several mediabistro.com features exclusively available to AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, you can register for as little as $55 a year and get access to these articles, discounts on seminars and workshops, and more.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Tactic No. 1: Do something different. ”Become an elastic band. Push yourself to take on new assignments and gain some extra skills,” said Mark Swartz, senior career columnist for Monster Canada. “Be part of something bigger.”

“Know what you love and think about how to incorporate this aspect into your work,” said career coach and corporate trainer Carin Rockind. “Adding these passions will make you like your workplace and the rest of your job more.”

For five more ways that will help you go from hating to loving your job, read 6 Ways To Love The Job You Have.

This article is one of several mediabistro.com features exclusively available to AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, you can register for as little as $55 a year and get access to these articles, discounts on seminars and workshops, and more.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

No. 2: Listen first.

The one hard and fast rule to remember is to listen more than you talk, says Juli Monroe, a coach at 1 to 1 Discovery, a Washington, D.C.-based networking and social media agency. “If you listen first, then you know how to talk about yourself,” she explained. “If you can address their needs, then you can pitch your services, but in a targeted and strategic way.”

Read more in How To Network in Any Situation.

This article is one of several mediabistro.com features exclusively available to AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, you can register for as little as $55 a year and get access to these articles, discounts on seminars and workshops, and more.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made at work?

The key is to shift the focus from something you did wrong to something your team could have done better. ”Never openly admit to a mistake that might have caused damage to a client relationship or delayed a project,” said Tiffani Murray, human resources consultant. “Speak more in terms of lessons learned from successful projects. Point out a learning experience that was beneficial to both you and the company.”

Read more in 7 Tricky Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them.

This article is one of several mediabistro.com features exclusively available to AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, you can register for as little as $55 a year and get access to these articles, discounts on seminars and workshops, and more.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

According to the labor department, interns at a for-profit business who qualify as employees “typically must be paid at least the minimum wage and overtime compensation for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.” That means if your intern is slaving over a project until 2 a.m. at the office, you better be writing those checks.

Remember, the bottom line is that an unpaid intern’s experience should be focused on his education more so than his benefit to the company, so make sure he or she is picking up a valuable experience.

For more ways to keep your program legit and rewarding, read 7 Things That Are Ruining Your Company’s Internship Program.

This article is one of several mediabistro.com features exclusively available to AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, you can register for as little as $55 a year and get access to these articles, discounts on seminars and workshops, and more.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

“I actually think it’s a lot easier to do than people realize, but it’s about making choices,” trendspotter Marian Salzman, CEO of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR North America, said in mediabistro.com’s So What Do You Do? interview.

“And I think men tend to be more prepared to make the choices. You have to choose to delay your family plans well into your 30′s. You have to be prepared to live on at least three continents early in your career. And that means that someone’s career is going to come first, and someone’s career is going to have to come second… And I think if you’re going to be comfortable with that, that’s fine.”

For more on how Salzman jumped from advertising to PR and why she doesn’t believe in physical offices, read the full interview.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

But Dr. Wayne Dyer believes all you need to break out of a professional rut is a simple attitude adjustment.

“[People are] just going through unemployment benefits and complaining that they can’t get any work. But there are opportunities everywhere if you’re open to them,” the bestselling author said in mediabistro.com’s So What Do You Do? interview.  ”Instead of waiting for the government to do it, or for the factory to re-open, they can put their attention on abundance and prosperity will show up in your life.”

First step, says the “father of motivation,” is to realize that you are what you think.

“If you’re thinking about unemployment, or how bad the economy is, or all the reasons why you can’t do something, you’ll get exactly that. Instead, align yourself with the type of energy you want to attract and those kinds of people will show up in your life.”

Read the full interview to find out how he began his multi-million dollar empire.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

“A lot of it is making yourself indispensable to somebody or the organization. Honestly, it has nothing to do with titles or where you are. Everyone should try to find ways to be distinctive and valuable in an office and without being annoying,” she said in our So, What Do You Do? interview.

And she’s got some advice for those ambitious Millennials who often think a top executive position is their birthright.

“When [interviewees] say ‘I want to be an editor-in-chief one day,’ it’s such a turn-off. Immediately in your mind you’re like, ‘OK, this is someone who feels entitled who is not goig to want to work very hard.’”

Read more in So What Do You Do, Janice Min, Editorial Director of The Hollywood Reporter?

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

With help from media moguls, we list the seven traits that makes the difference between a wanna-be with an idea bulb and a successful entrepreneur.

One of the first steps: finding that perfect partner. Cezary Pietrzak was one of four friends who worked together to launch start-up travel site Wanderfly, and he credits their friendship with getting the company off the ground. “You expect to spend a lot of time with other folks in your company and pull late hours, so you have to have a great relationship.”

Read on for more on learning the business, handling those funds and honing on your big idea at 7 Definitive Traits You Need for Startup Success. [sub req'd]

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.