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Category Archives: Career Planning
Spotlight On: IT Internships
Make that chip work!
You may be working hard studying to get a degree, you may have proven your smarts, but do you know what it’s like to work in a real IT position? Hiring managers will get plenty of applicants with the same qualifications as you. The key to getting an IT job is to get some hands-on experience with an IT internship.
Many major companies, such as the Vanguard Group, will take on small groups of interns to show them the ropes. These internship duties do not require grunt work like getting food and coffee. From day one you will get hands on experience. The senior HR manager Dawn Lindberg says, “Our internship program is highly structured. The group comes in as a class. They work together, network together, and present a class project in addition to their other assignments – programming, hardware, Web services or another technical area – from their supervisors. We involve students in the actual day-to-day duties of their department.”
The interviewing process is much like interviewing for a job. It’s yet another benefit to exploring internships — you’re getting practice with the procedures you’ll want to be comfortable with by the time you’re job-hunting.
Specifically for an IT internship, answer questions honestly. If you cannot answer technical questions that you have already claimed to have known, why would the hiring manager want to consider you? If you are up front about the skills you possess, companies know that you are looking to be an intern and know you will learn more through this experience. An awareness of what you know and recognizing what you don’t is good at this stage. Internships are meant to learning experiences, so don’t feel like you need to speak in 1′s and 0′s.
Be sure to show that you are eager to learn, because technology never stops changing. Programming languages some and go, so try to keep an open mind and avoid getting bogged down in learning just systems, or just networking, or just C+, PHP, MySQL, Ruby, etc. An internship is about dipping your toe in the water, not diving head-over-heels into a super-niche skill set.
One of the best things you can do, not only as a student but for the rest of your career, is contribute to open-source projects to hone your skills and add to your resume. Check out SourceForge for a list of open-source projects you can contribute to.
How To Turn Your Internship Into A Full-Time Job
Want to turn your internship into a job?
You’ve graduated (or you are soon), now what?
Are you a recent college grad struggling to find a job? It may not be the glitz and glam you imagined, and it may not even be paid, but an internship is a great way to test the waters and land the job of your dreams.
Do you feel like after you graduate, you’re supposed to have your life planned out?
Well, times have changed and most grads don’t even follow the path of their majors. You may not know what you really want to do with your life, and that’s okay. An internship is a great way to explore your options.
Intern to employee: Turning your internship into a full-time position
Aside from dipping your toes in an industry you might want to work in, you’re also starting your networking and getting your first opportunity to impress. Employers extend job offers to about 70 percent of their interns.
What you need to know
But what exactly does it take to get hired? First, you need to do some research to find the right internship:
-Who is the employer? What kind of opportunities do they have? Could you see yourself working for them?
-What kind of work do they want you to do?
-Is is challenging enough for you to learn from, or will you be filing papers all day?
-Is the internship paid? Unpaid? If it’s unpaid, can you get a travel stipend?
You will obviously need to make sure it fits your interests, but also be sure to review their hiring track record. Talk to previous interns or the company’s human resource department to inquire about their hiring policy.
Big or small: Choosing the right size company
Depending on your field, you may find yourself trying to decide between a big company and a small one. Big name corporations will be less likely to hire you, but having their name on your resume may be good for your experience, or at least make for great window dressing. If you’re looking to get a job immediately, a smaller company may be a better way to jump-start your career.
Come into your internship willing to exceed standards, and if you don’t know what your internship expects from you, figure this out up front. Contribute your own ideas if you have them, this is not the time to be shy. Be proactive with your work. Take the initiative to learn programs on your own, beat the deadlines, and ask for extra work (only if you have finished your assignments). The goal is to take as much from the experience as you can.
Done with your internship? Ask about a job!
Apart from an in-house job, internships offer many networking opportunities that can help lead to a full-time position. After you’ve spent time with your company, don’t be afraid to ask your boss or mentor what your future looks like with them. Set up a meeting, let them know that you have enjoyed working with them, and ask what your chances are of getting a position with the organization.
I trust your cash will fund my future, mom and dad.
- I trust my fund will never run out, right mom and dad?
A lot of students are lucky enough to have Mom and Dad front the bill for their college education. College is expensive enough, but according to the Wall Street Journal, college isn’t the only thing parents are stuck paying for.
In all seriousness, some parents have always shelled out cash for their kids. With college graduates facing a brutal job market, kids are milking their folks for as long as possible. A better solution? Getting one or several internships before (or even after) graduating can help make all the difference.
After all, rich kids like to work for free, and with the bad economy, parents are worried. So, an ever-more popular solution is buying their kids that foot in the door with an internship post-college. Some parents are creating direct mail campaigns advertising their kid’s potential, while others just buy internships in auctions.
Internship-placement programs are doing really well, but the price paid is pretty steep. University of Dreams in Los Gatos, California helps place interns at internships, for a whopping $5000-$9000 dollars. If that is a little out of your price range, you could always try out Fast Track Internships, they will help you polish your cover letter and resume for a mere $799.
The reality is, we don’t all have rich parents. And yes, internships are invaluable, and can defintely help you become successful, but there should be an easier, more accessible way to get an internship. That’s why we started interninc.com — we want to help you get the internship of your dreams at a price that’s a little more affordable for everyone: Free.
Spotlight On: Fashion Internships
The fashion industry is full of people who are dying to be the next Anna Wintour or Marc Jacobs. Money, fame and glamor lure people to major cities all over the world in hopes of making their fashion dreams come true. The reality is, the fashion industry is cutthroat. Whether you want to be a photographer, a designer, an editor or just an overall fashion icon, you’ve got to have a competitive edge.
Look no further than Bravo’s “Kell on Earth” for a glance into the ultra-competitive, tough world of fashion through the eyes of Kelly Cutrone — a fashion PR icon and founder of People’s Revolution. Cutrone rips through her interns in several episodes. It’s indicative of the dues young adults in fashion are expected to pay to make it in the industry.
It can be tough, but an internship is a great way to get a feel for the industry, get your name out there, and gain an advantage over all the fashion hopefuls.
What kind of internship you should shoot for depends a lot on how you want to get involved in fashion. It could be public relations, branding, marketing, design, production and so much more. Here’s a few recent examples of internships. Compare your skills to what these postings require. It’s a great way to figure out how to hone your skills and narrow your focus so you can make your way into the industry.
NYC – Dana Maxx Assistant Needed
FEBRUARY 25TH, 2010
Women’s RTW company Dana-Maxx (www.dana-maxx.com) is looking for an assistant who can begin ASAP and who has the ability to potentially grow with the company. The paid internship is approximately 1-3 days per week and hours vary.
Assistant responsibilities include:
-Working directly with the designer
-Sending emails and making calls on a daily basis
-Sending weekly updates
-Manage showroom samples
-Assisting the designer in various business meetings
-Helping with fittings
-Picking up fabric
-Meeting with vendors
-Attending private events
-Assisting the designer with daily duties and responsibilities
Candidate must have the following qualifications:
-Dedicated
-Organized and focused
-Reliable
-Ability to multitask
-Hard working and passionate
-Flexible schedule
-Honest
-Enthusiastic and positive attitude!
Please email your resume and availability. In the subject line, please put “Dana-Maxx Assistant.” Emails without this title will be disregarded! intern@dana-maxx.com
Interviews will be set up ASAP.
NYC – Ardistia New York Fashion Marketing & Business Internship
FEBRUARY 25TH, 2010
Company: Ardistia New York
Location: Flatiron/Gramercy
Availability: 2-3 full days/week
Duration: 2 months minimum
# of Interns: 2
Contact: Ardistia Dwiasri (ardistia@ardistianewyork.com)
Note: Please email only your resume. Include the number of days and hours/day you can work. Bachelor degree in Business and Fashion Design/Merchandising degree (AAS or BA) is required. Only qualified candidates will be contacted via email. This is an unpaid position. Thank you for your interest.
Job title: Fashion Marketing & Business Internship
Miami – Fashion Intern
FEBRUARY 17TH, 2010
· Location of internship: Miami, FL
· Name of company: MIAU Fashion
· Where applicants should send their applications: events@miaufashion.com
Concierge and Online Boutique, MIAU Fashion is seeking a bi-lingual intern to work directly with the owner and PR Company for a series of upcoming sales events and the re-launch of our online boutique.
This is a NON-PAID internship with bonuses based on your performance. Must be able to commit at least 10 hours per week between Brickell and South Beach. Must have reliable transportation and a lap top computer. Passion and knowledge about fashion is required. We encourage students to apply for class credit. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the credit granting process with their school. This internship can lead to a permanent position for the right candidate.
Only serious candidates need to apply. If you are interested please submit your resume along with a cover letter describing your interest in this internship and your available schedule.
Please email to events@miaufashion.com
LA – Three Rock & Republic Internships
JANUARY 30TH,2010
Rock & Republic, located in Culver City, CA is currently seeking two interns for the LASR (Los Angeles Showroom) located in downtown LA to assist the team. Interns will assist with our major accounts, Market week, and other projects/ duties as assigned. Interns with retail experience preferred. Please send your resume to jobs@rockandrepublic.com
NYC – Handbag Company looks for short-term intern
JANUARY 30TH, 2010
Searching for a organized, efficient and fast worker with advanced computer skills. Looking for someone able to dedicate 5 days a week but on a short term time spand. At least 2 years working experience in the fashion industry required with a good understanding of all the industry terms. This will be a paid job earning $8 an hour.
Knowledge of the fashion industry is a must!
Please send all resumes to info@malinim.com
http://www.limcollege.edu/
NYC – HH Productions Intern
JANUARY 21ST, 2010
HH Productions – Union Square, NYC , United States
Full service fashion company seeking stylish, proactive interns to assist through fashion week and market.
We work with the very best in the world.. Vogue, In Style, Barney’s, Intermix, Harvey Nichols, to name a few. Our focus is on Sales, Marketing, Brand Development, PR, Events, and Merchandising.
This internship is an excellent opportunity to connect and grow within the fashion industry.
We offer our interns real opportunities and help them move on to the next level!
This internship is unpaid but comes with perks.
Please only serious applicants apply, students preferred.
Thank you!
Please send resumes to:
info@hhproductionsnyc.com
Guess Internship Program
JANUARY 19TH, 2010
2010 Summer Internship Program will begin in June! GUESS offers opportunities in many different dept.’s. Apply now! www.guessinc.com/work
Visit Guess for more information.
NYC – Twinkle by Wenlan Design Intern
JANUARY 15TH, 2010
TWINKLE BY WENLAN OPPORTUNITIES
Fashion Design Intern
· Good sketching ability
· Fundamental knowledge of garment construction
· Basic sewing skills
· Must be hard working and a team player
· Creative, entrepreneurial, and detail-orientated
· Ability to recognize and react to change if work demands
· Will work in trimming, design, sketch, design board, inspiration, photo shoot, styling and fashion show
Showroom & Sales Assistant Intern
· Excellent communication as well as interpersonal skills
· Assist in growing the label and the business
· Will work directly with the sales team to organize and run sales events
· Track showroom samples
· Keep showroom neat and organized at all times
· Sit in on buying meetings
Positions available: 2
Start: Within 2 weeks
Clothing allowance available
Position held in New York City, in the heart of fashion district
Please send resume to internship@twinklebywenlan.com
Fashion Internships & Jobs Around the Web
JANUARY 14TH, 2010
Internships
NY – Summer interns needed at Cosmo
?? – Fashion Law Internship w/ Staci Riordan
NY – Frank Tell design internship
Remote – Factio Magazine Internship
NY – Elie Tahari Design Internship
NY - Elle Accessories intern
NY – Fashionista.com needs fashion week interns
NY – Harpers Bazaar needs FT editorial interns
NYC – Vogue Accessories Intern
New York, NY
VOGUE Spring 2010 Accessories
The accessories department at Vogue is looking for interns who can start immediately. Candidates must be self starters, extremely organized, have a great sense of decorum, as well as open to responsibility. Applicants must also be able to work Mondays as well as 3-4 days a week, and be able to receive documented school credit.
Please send cover letter and resume to megan_hayes@vogue.com
Also check out some solid fashion career advice.
If you think you’re ready to dive in, check out the Fashion Career Expo
Salaries Working For The Gov’t Vs. Private Sector
Check out this infographic from Kiplinger displaying the difference between various jobs in the U.S. government versus the private sector. Surprised by any of these? Interesting how some of the lower-paying private jobs are significantly more lucrative in the government…
Salaries in the gov't vs. private sector (click for larger view)