Social media fad, frenzy, or fluff? What do you think?

Written by michael. Posted on May 11, 2010. Filed under Other Stuff. Tagged , , , . No comments.

Is social media just a fad? The Huffington Post breaks down the stats and claims behind a video based on Erik Qualman’s book Socialnomics. When your mom and dad are playing FarmVille on Facebook, you know this social media thing is the real deal.

Teenager invents super-cheap solar panel using human hair that could change the world.

Written by sarah. Posted on April 19, 2010. Filed under Amazing Things. Tagged , , , . No comments.

Milan Karki, and 18 year old from a  village in rural Nepal, believes he’s found a solution for the developing world’s energy needs.  Milan has invented a solar panel that uses human hair as a conductor.  The human hair replaces the silicone used in most solar panels.  Silicone is expensive, and if these human hair solar panels were mass produced, they could be sold for a quarter of the price of a traditional solar panel.

Human hair works as a conductor because it contains melanin, which give hair it’s pigment, but is also light sensitive, which makes it one of the factors in the conversion of energy.

Hair replaces silicon in these solar panels

These solar panels, can bring electricity to rural places that are not wired for electricity.  They are also very easy and inexpensive to maintain.  The solar panel can charge a mobile phone, or a battery pack that would provide light for the evening.

Take This Internship and USE It!

Written by monica. Posted on April 15, 2010. Filed under Internship Advice. Tagged , , . No comments.

Don't fret, an internship will pay off...

A few years back Anya Kamenetz wrote a disparaging article for the New York Times about the portrayal of internships and their ineffectiveness among students. Her reference to interns being equivalent to illegal immigrants makes it seem like interns only do menial work for menial pay, if they’re paid anything at all, and that an internship experience isn’t what the real world is about. This 2006 article may have been relevant in those times, but these days, internships DO matter. In fact, internships matter more now than ever.

The first point Kamenetz makes is that internships are only simulations to what a real job would entail. Not true.

Interns are no longer considered lowly servants who run around and get food and coffee — at least in most instances. Many companies now look to place their interns in positions where they are involved with the company and getting hands-on experience with projects.

As an advertising major, if I were to go to an ad firm with my resume and they saw host, nanny, and swim coach, I’m pretty sure they would laugh in my face. Being immersed in an environment related to your field of interest where you can learn the protocol intrigues employers. Experience does matter!

Many colleges are in fact making internships a graduation requirement. This is a benefit for you, the student, not the school. With an internship you can see what sort of work your major entails, and you can actually get some experience with that work.

Finding an internship may be a daunting process.

Many students put it off for as long as they can, even when they have the help of a career service adviser. That’s because you either have no clue where to start, or are overloaded with emails about all of the internships opportunities you could be interested in. How do you know which internship would be right for you?

Finding an internship that isn’t the coffee-fetching nightmare Kamenetz describes is tough. Do companies take advantage to students seeking internships? Sure. But that’s why InternInc.com is building out ratings and tools to ensure both students and employers are getting feedback. If a company has a track record to abusing the internship experience, students can warn others to avoid internships with that company.

Similarly, students should be accountable for the work they do. Just because an internship isn’t paid, doesn’t mean students can or should just coast through the experience so they can slap a big name on their resume.

What do you think? Have you had a great internship that really helped you out later? Have you had a nightmare internship? Let us know! Drop a comment here or DM us @internink or @interninc on Twitter!

Why Accountants Don’t Run Startups: Great Presentation from Steve Blank

Written by michael. Posted on April 15, 2010. Filed under Startup Scene. Tagged , , , , , . No comments.
Why Accountants Don’t Run Startups

View more presentations from steve blank.

How To Turn Your Internship Into A Full-Time Job

Written by monica. Posted on March 31, 2010. Filed under Career Planning, Internship Advice. Tagged , , , , . 1 Comment.

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.