Bear with me here, this is going to be, admittedly, a bit of a “do-as-I-say” “not-as-I-did” piece.  Here’s what I mean.  When I went into college, I went in with the attitude of super gung-ho, optimistic, willing to work the wee hours of the night and do whatever it would take, to get the grades that would land me the dream, high-paying, one-of-a-kind job and all the glory that went with it.  And, basically, that’s how I went into college and exactly how I came out too.  I lived and breathed school.  I put full-time jobs on hold, I put social life on hold, and I did school. I graduated the top student in my college, I graduated with a 4.0 G.P.A. and was one of the top 40 graduates out of the entire 2,500 plus graduating students from my university.  And I thought, oh so foolishly, that I’d done it.  I’d sacrificed what I thought was a great deal at the time, but I was walking away with the grades and diploma that would soon make up for it all.

But here’s the thing: employers don’t really care much, (if they even care at all) what your grades were.  In fact, turns out most of them don’t bat an eyelash at a 4.0.  They care a whole lot about experience though, and they care most about proven success.  And guess what, there’s really only one solid way to get that: an internship.  If I could go back, I would plan an internship (or two) into my college education just like I planned everything else, like how many credits a year I would take and how to fit in the required core classes.  If you need 150 credits to graduate, you should just tack on an internship too.  Because that internship, and that stint of however many months, is honestly going to be very crucial to you finding the job that you want, especially given the state of the economy and the average job market at the moment.  It’s brutal out there right now.  And by brutal, I mean you’re probably going to be fighting lines and thousands of applicants in some areas.  I applied for a job a year ago in which the interviewer told me he had cut the ad after just 2 hours of posting online due to the response of 1,200 applicants.  Unheard of numbers are applying for single jobs right now.

So, let’s look at this logically.  Because, I know, what you’re thinking: internship = unpaid donated time, time I definitely don’t have.  I know the thoughts so well: “Time? Like I have any of that to spare?”  And you’re right.  You probably don’t think you have time for it.  But, if you want to graduate and start paying off those student loans, you’re going to have to make some time for it.  And, as it turns out, some internships do pay.  You just have to do a little research.

Plus, internships, on a very basic level for obtaining a future job, just make sense.  College is a whole lotta book work, and while sure, good grades do prove you can put your mind to something and do it, they don’t show you that you can actually do anything that the company needs to know you can do.  And lots of people have good grades.  Not lots of people have proven, valuable experience.  It’s your chance to stand out.  Your chance to be one step ahead of your countless competitors.

So, my suggestion?  Stop thinking of an internship as an option that you can think about and consider.  Start thinking about it as a must.  I think you’ll be glad you did, and if there’s any sacrifice involved now, I wholly believe it will more than pay itself off in the years to come.

Jocelyn Anne, a student of English literature, is now working as a freelancer.  At the moment, you’ll find her working alongside Electrical Heater, writing and blogging about their latest products.

Please leave a comment or send an email to Eric at Padosa dot COM if you are looking for an internship writing for a blog on baseball 9goodones.com. The applicant should be experience with the sport, as well as love statistics, research, and analysis. An addition to fantasy baseball, Bill James, and smart questions is a bonus. Bonus if you were obsessed with baseball cards as a kid, know what a T206 is, and enjoy vintage baseball.

The blog is targeting a launch in the first quarter of 2012.

 As a senior in college I have held two past internships, including one at a major magazine. I have also managed to work on several student publications and Internprogram360.com while maintaining a semi decent GPA. “Why does this matter?” you ask.  It matters because this past month I found myself near the end of my college career with a desperate need for an internship for credit. Now, with my resume it should be easy to find an internship right? Guess again!

In fact I found my internship, interviewed and started it all last week. A few weeks past the actual deadline I might add. Why am I telling you this? Because, I believe it is important for future interns to understand that the internship search can be hard and overwhelming, but these are not reasons to give up. In fact the harder you work at getting an internship shows your work effort, and this will hopefully translate into you doing well at your internship. So fellow interns and internship seekers I leave you with this, anything worth having is worth working for. So continue to send out those resumes if you have not already found your dream internships yet! And for those of you, who have started your internships, continue you do your best on every assignment.

Still Looking? Check out the links below

http://www.ed2010.com/

http://freefashioninternships.com/

http://www.mediabistro.com/

Enjoy hearing my personal perspective on things? Want to hear more about my current internship and road to graduation? Contact me below.

By Britany Ruby. Britany is a senior Applied Communications major at Kent State University. She is an Internet addict, facebook junkie, compulsive twitterhead and obsessive blogger. Contact Britany at bruby@kent.edu.

Wikipedia defines the term quarter life crisis as a term applied to the period of life immediately following the major changes of adolescence, usually ranging from the late teens to the early thirties. In other words it’s the major crisis most college students go through during their senior year. This crisis can be caused by the stress of finding a job after college, getting into a good grad school, or even stressing over graduation itself. No matter what the reason, around six months before graduation most college seniors cringe when they are asked, “What do you plan to do after graduation?”

I must admit that I am not excluded from this illness; in fact I’m almost certain I’m about 3 months into my current crisis. In fact I freaked out so much that I purposely pushed graduation back a semester. (Don’t tell my family.) Now, I know that sounds crazy, but until you’ve had everyone from your parents to your teachers telling you to make a five year plan at 21 years old, you can’t really understand. At a time when all you want to do is enjoy the moment, making major decisions for your future can be hard to do. So, to help myself and others that are currently going through the Quarter Life Crisis I came up with a small survival guide.

Now, Let’s get started.

1. Relax, have some fun: Now I know this seems self-explanatory however for some reason towards the end of their college career people get stressed and hide out in their respective study zones.  While cracking down and hitting the books hard is very important, stress normally does more harm than good. Instead of stressing over finals and resumes, college seniors should go out and have some fun. After all, after graduation comes the real responsibility and less chance to really get out and have fun.
2. Evaluate and Re-evaluate: It doesn’t matter what your major is or what you always said you wanted your career to be. Every college student should do some form of self-evaluation before they graduate to prevent them from committing to a career that doesn’t fit them.
3. Plan to plan: What this means is to sit down and make a small schedule for your last semester. This will help you complete the small steps towards your ultimate life plan. If you plan on getting a job right after college, start sending out resumes a few months before graduation. If you plan to go to Grad school set up a schedule so you don’t miss any deadlines.
4. Don’t Rush: While planning for the future is very important, taking your time and following your heart is even more important. As, I stated above you should do some form of self-evaluation. However, this evaluation is not always to figure out whether you’re choosing the right career but whether you have the right timing.  Who, knows you could come to find out that it would be in your best interest to travel the world after college?

You can follow the guidelines above, or create a survival guide of your own. No matter how you choose to do so, curing yourself of the quarter life crisis is a much needed investment. After all the last thing you should be doing on your graduation day is dreading the future.

Britany is a senior Applied Communications major at Kent State University. She is an Internet addict, facebook junkie, compulsive twitterhead and obsessive blogger. Contact Britany at bruby@kent.edu.

It’s nearly April and certainly by now, you’ve turned in many applications for your summer internship. If you haven’t gotten started yet, or you’re still looking, here are a few leads on internships:

Who wants to be a finance intern?

Northwestern Mutual plans to add 2,500 interns this year. The interns are usually called financial representative interns. To learn more, visit the company’s website at: http://www.northwesternmutual.com/.

State job retention site updated for internship

Students in Central Ohio can now find internships easier. EasyColumbus.com is the website to look at if you’re a student in that area seeking an internship related opportunity. In addition to internships, the site offers many other resources concerning employment.

Sports intern positions available

Like sports? SportsGrid is looking for summer interns. Get the details here.

In other news…

The U.S. Department of Labor has also revised internship definitions and labor laws. If you plan to be an intern, get informed by checking out the new laws.

By Kelly McLendon. Kelly is studying Environmental Policy and Journalism. She can be reached at mclendon.kelly@gmail.com.

The Glitz! The Glam! The Perks! That is typically what draws many people to interning in the fashion industry. What could be better than attending exclusive events and fashion shows or getting gifts and clothes? Well, before you get excited about all of the fabulous perks, you have to get your foot in the door first! This isn’t so easy. Getting into the fashion industry reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. Once you open one door, there are five other doors in all different shapes and sizes that you have to go through before you are able to get to the main door.

Networking

So how do you break through each door? NETWORKING. Join networking sites like  Meetup.com and LinkedIn. Also, Guestofaguest posts monthly calendars with all types of events that go on throughout the month. Most importantly, carry business cards when you go to events. Be proactive! The fashion industry is all about who you know. If you know the right person, it is common to bypass some of the roadblocks.

Don’t Be Discouraged

In addition to networking, you have to become accustomed to hearing “NO.” Being an only child, I wasn’t prepared for this but I quickly got over it. Don’t be discouraged! You may hear one hundred no’s and one yes. That one yes could be for an internship or job of a lifetime.

So, don’t be blinded by the glitz and glam. Get focused, network and stand tall when a door is closed, because another one will open.

By Candice N. Brown, freelance writer/PR intern. She can be reached at Candicenicol@gmail.com

In this post, we wrote about dressing for success during your interview.  But the real challenge is how to dress every day at your internship. You may work in a casual office where jeans are appropriate. Chose a pair that’s well-fitted and un-frayed, preferably in a dark wash. No matter what you wear, make sure it’s clean and wrinkle- free. Yes, this means you may need to buy an iron!

In some offices, jeans won’t cut it, even for interns. Remember the saying, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have,” and take wardrobe cues from junior staff members. Do they wear khakis and polo shirts? Do they wear button-downs with ties? Women should make sure their skirts are an appropriate length and their tops are not cut too low. Strike the right balance between fashionable and professional.

You may be wondering, ok, where am I supposed to get these clothes?  As an intern, you probably don’t have a lot of extra money. First, think of your wardrobe as an investment, especially if you’re a junior or senior.  Graduation is coming down the road and you’ll need office-ready outfits for your first post-college job.

Second, choose a few key pieces. Guys and girls can’t go wrong with a well-tailored pair of black pants and a long-sleeved button-down.  You can wear them separately or together. A clean pair of khakis—no cargo pockets!—can take you far. For fall and winter internships, a basic sweater in your favorite color is a great way to brighten up your internship wardrobe. And don’t forget your feet. Basic dress shoes for men (black or brown) are a good investment as are heels for women. Just try to keep them short enough so you don’t fall. Women can also punch up their work outfits with accessories. A bold necklace, funky earrings or a bright tote can add a wow factor.

Third, shop around.  Women especially can have luck at vintage and second-hand stories. One-of-a-kind pieces are a great way to make your internship wardrobe unique. If you can, hit outlets, where you can find brand-name clothes at a discount. Stores like Old Navy and Target are great places to both stock up on basics and try the latest trends for cheap.

With a little planning, you can create an internship wardrobe that’s appropriate and true to your personal style.  Work clothes don’t have to be boring.

By Danielle Bullen. Danielle is a writer and a resident of the Philadelphia area. Danielle can be reached at Daniellebullen@comcast.net.

NearSay.com is a hyperlocal news website that promotes NYC’s finest and most knowledgeable local voices and delivers them to millions of interested readers by neighborhood.  They are seeking a smart, enthusiastic candidate to join their newsroom as an editorial intern. This creative self-starter is passionate about writing and reporting, has exceptional written communication skills, wants to build their portfolio with daily bylines, and has an interest, knowledge and expertise in New York City, as well as an appreciation for its arts and culture, restaurants, shopping and/or nightlife scene.

The ideal candidate is bursting with ideas that have viral potential and has experience with online and social media tools. This is a fast-paced internship that requires dedication and enthusiasm. You will be executing ideas from the ground up, from pitching and researching to writing and reporting. Other duties will include photo research, promotional outreach, transcribing, and SEO.

Qualifications
• Must currently be either enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program (preferably majoring in Online Media/Journalism) or are a recent graduate. School credit is available.
• Superior communications skills, both oral and written.
• Well-organized, able to multi-task, and able to prioritize with minimal direction.
• Able to follow up with editors to ensure accurate and timely completion of deliverables, strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Native New Yorker preferred, but not necessary.

While this is an unpaid internship role, you will have the opportunity to reach millions of readers and gain excellent writing experience with daily bylines.

So, you’ve landed your first internship. Congrats! Your resume made it out of the pile and you passed the interview with flying colors. Think the hardest part is over? It’s not.  Making a good first impression will be one of the most important things you do as an intern. Here are some tips to make sure you’re memorable.

Dress for Success

In college, you may roll out of your dorm and wear pajama pants and a hoodie to class.  But an internship is in the real world.  Before you start, ask your supervisor about the dress code. When in doubt, err on the side of professional. Who makes a better impression, the intern in jeans and a tee-shirt or the intern in khakis and a polo?  Of course, certain industries, like finance, are more buttoned-up and certain industries, like advertising, are more casual, so take your wardrobe cues from your boss. It’s like they say, dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

Be on Time

Not just the first day, but every day. Be realistic about how long it’ll take you to get ready in the morning and set your alarm (or alarms) accordingly. Plan out how you will get to your internship ahead of time. You might be adept at getting to class lickity-split, but chances are your internship will involve a longer commute. If you’ll take public transportation make sure you have updated schedules and money for fares. If you’ll drive, be aware of construction and traffic patterns that could cause delays.  It’s a good idea to do a practice commute before the first day.

Be Cheerful

A good attitude is the most important thing you can bring to your internship. Yes, you may have some unglamorous tasks, like filing, sorting mail, and even getting lunch.  Whatever you do, do it with a smile. Everyone has to start somewhere. You’ll have to prove yourself with the small things before your boss can trust you with more responsibility.

It only takes 10 seconds to make a first impression, so make sure it counts.  Make every day at your internship a positive one.

By Danielle Bullen. Danielle is a writer and a resident of the Philadelphia area. Danielle can be reached at Daniellebullen@comcast.net.

We wrote about the professional uses of social media for all types of internships in this post. But did you know that there are internships devoted to social and new media?  As more companies realize the value of spreading their message via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Foursquare, they need more manpower to manage those accounts. How do you find social media internships? What is involved in them? What makes a good social media intern? We have some answers.

Finding Internships

• Be active on social media. Having a blog, Twitter account, etc. that you can show an interviewer gives you credibility. Many times, these internships are filled via virtual-word-of-mouth, so pay attention to what people post.
• Look everywhere. Social media doesn’t just belong to tech companies. You can find social media internships in non-profits, sports teams, Fortune 500 companies, magazines and newspapers, pretty much anywhere!

What is Involved?

• Listening.  Good social media is a conversation.  As a social media intern, you’ll monitor online conversations to see what people are saying about your company.  Engaging with them shows there’s a real person behind those corporate tweets and status updates.
• Sharing. Of course, a good part of your social media internship will be posting.  Providing interesting, relevant content to your audience will keep them coming back for more and hopefully, get your company new fans and followers.

What Makes a Good Social Media Intern?

• Strong writing skills. Social media is about persuasion. The ability to convey a message in 140 characters or less takes good communication skills.
• Quick thinking.  Social media is about reacting. Sure, it’s good to have a master plan but the ability to think on your feet and adjust to the latest happenings in your company and industry is important.

There’s much more to a social media internship than what’s outlined here. Every company has a different vision for their social media efforts.  The basics remain the same.  If you’re a good communicator who can think on your feet you might consider a social media internship. It’s a great resume builder and the skills you’ll learn can help you in many careers.

By Danielle Bullen. Danielle is a writer and a resident of the Philadelphia area. Danielle can be reached at Daniellebullen@comcast.net.