By Dara Adeeyo
As the economy seems to be dying and the job market appears to be doing the same, there’s no doubt that most college students are worried about landing a job post-graduation. Yes, the University’s Career Center is here to help you, but how far can their help really go? In my opinion, if you want to ensure that you don’t end up jobless after graduation, you must put yourself out there. In other words: intern, intern, intern!
I’m only a sophomore and I’ve already had two internships. Over the summer I was an editorial intern for First30days.com and currently, I am a fashion closet intern for Seventeen magazine-both of which are a part of the Hearst Corporation.
Sometime last year I realized that I wanted a career in journalism. It was kind of like the apple falling on Newton’s head-an “aha moment.” I was sitting in my room struggling with my chemistry homework and wondering why I was even taking the course. After all, I hate science. I glanced over at the stack of magazines on my dresser and knew I had to ditch the plan to become a doctor. I had finally found my passion: magazines.
To get the ball rolling on my aspiration to work at a magazine, I immediately started looking for a summer internship to gain experience. Although I must have sent out 60-plus resumes and cover letters, I only ended up with five interviews. I couldn’t blame the employers for not wanting to set up an interview. I was only going into my sophomore year and had little to no experience in journalism. Plain and simple, my resume was skimpy. The only (somewhat) related experience I had was writing for the oh-so fabulous editorial section of The Chronicle (*wink*wink*nudge*nudge*). Nevertheless, 60 or so resumes later, I landed an interview with First30days.com.
I have to admit that at first I wasn’t excited for the interview. Heck, I wanted my first internship to be at a well-known magazine! But in the end, I was excited that a prospective employer was interested in me.
Once I was accepted for the internship, I was just happy that I had my foot in the door. I knew that I would learn a lot from the editors at First30days.com and, well, I did! I don’t think I could have had a better internship to break the proverbial “intern ice.”
Halfway through the summer I decided that I wanted a fall internship and I had my heart set on Seventeen magazine. I had read Seventeen throughout my adolescence and wanted to know what it would be like to work behind the scenes of a magazine that serves as a guide to many teenage girls. Although I am only a couple weeks into my internship, never did I imagine that I would one day be able to say that I, Dara Adeeyo, work at Seventeen magazine. Moreover, aside from doing internships, it is important to network. It has been said that the key to success is to work hard and wait your turn to move up the ladder. Yes, it’s true-some people do achieve great success that way, but it is also said that the key to success is to find the biggest ass and kiss it. Unfortunately, in this day and age, networking is truly the key to great success.
During my stint at First30days.com, I managed to attend socials where I met other interns and magazine editors. Meeting magazine editors made it easier for me when I was applying for fall internships; they could put a face to a name (at least I hope so). I didn’t have to send out as many resumes and cover letters. In fact, I only sent out about five resumes-a big improvement from 60!
Lastly, I still keep in touch with my former editors at First30days.com. Every now and then I shoot them an e-mail about what’s going on in my life, so they know that I truly valued my internship with them. And hopefully in the future if they know of a job opening somewhere, I will be the first person they think about. What I’m trying to say is that success doesn’t just land in your lap. You have to put yourself out there.
Dara Adeeyo is a sophomore print journalism student. You may e-mail her at oadeey1@pride.hofstra.edu.