*Abrakadabra JOB!*

Hi everybody! I hope you're enjoying this blog so far. We're just getting it off the ground but it should be pretty steady soon.

The holidays are here! :-) In a few seconds, I'm actually going to put on sparkly reindeer "ears" (not really antlers, more of a campy headband) and join my fellow peer educators for a pre-finals holiday get-together. Should be fun! And, speaking of the holidays, is anybody out there looking for some extra holiday money? Do yourselves a favour and check out Craiglist. Really! I suppose most people find it to be...skeevy, and those who don't usually use it to look for apartments and used furniture, but it can actually be a surprisingly useful job resource. Case in point: a few weeks ago, I found myself trolling through the job directory (keyword: "music") and stumbled across a listing for an internship in the management office of a rather legendary recording artist. The details, like many Clist ads, were a bit vague, but it seemed pretty cool and before long, I'd emailed a resume and set up an interview for the following week. I'll admit to now knowing much about the artist in question, so to prep in the days leading up to the interview, I did a Wikipedia search of both her and her general genre of music, and looked up the company online to learn the names of some of their important people. It's always good to have some background knowledge of any place you're working to become a part of.
The day of the interview, I made a quick list of everything related to artist management that I'd learned in some prior internships, and allowed myself enough time for a nice, leisurely walk up to the office. The actual interview itself was pretty casual, actually, although my new boss is kind of quirky and I was a little caught off-guard. But, I just answered honestly about what I knew and what I hoped to learn, and it worked, because I ended up getting hired! It's really casual, just 1 or 2 days a week (and unpaid) but it's a good way to keep myself involved in the industry and make some connections during an otherwise very academically heavy semester. I'll keep you updated as I go. It's been pretty educational so far, and I'm glad to be helping out.

So, the point of all that? Never be afraid to extend your feelers a little beyond your normal comfort zone, because you never know what you might come across. Usually, the rewards far outweigh the risks. :-) Time for my reindeer headband and some hot chocolate. Bye, guys!

Last year, you juggled an 18-hour credit load, an E-Board position, your sorority, and still managed to have a social life. You’ve held down cool internships before and loved it! Now, you’re ready for something a little more serious—something with more responsibility, more hours, and more opportunities. Don’t you think it’s time to take on a formal internship?

This semester, I had the wonderful opportunity to intern at The Clinton Global Initiative (yes, I got to meet Former President Clinton!). Although I had to endure a pretty difficult application process as well as an incredibly large time commitment, I am really excited about everything I have been learning.

How do I find “formal” internships?
CareerNet is a great resource for NYU students! If you haven’t signed up for a CareerNet account, make sure you visit the Wasserman front desk soon. But make sure you also do a quick google search. Sometimes you can find some pretty interesting opportunities on company websites.

How do I apply to a “formal” internship?
“Formal” internship programs typically have more demanding application processes. Instead of just sending a resume and a cover letter, you might also have to write an essay and multiple letters of recommendation. Make sure you do your research well before-hand so that you aren’t rushed right before the deadline.

What should I expect from a “formal” internship?
“Formal” internships typically require a much larger time commitment. But don’t let the “20 hours a week” requirement make you run the other way. It can actually be much better. You’re in the office more frequently so you’re more available for pressing last-minute projects, as well as long-term projects. Sometimes, “formal” internships offer opportunities for continuing education in the form of a “Brown Bag Lunch Speaker Series” or Intern Events (like going to see the taping of a show). With these sorts of internships, there is typically a more set time period (a semester or year-long cycle).

Check out these awesome internship opportunities on CareerNet:
*For privacy reasons, we could not publish the titles or descriptions. But for more information, all you have to do is log onto CareerNet!
CareerNet ID: 780435, Deadline: 11/15/09
CareerNet ID: 780460, Deadline: 10/31/09
CareerNet ID: 780201, Deadline: 4/14/10

Best of Luck,
Nadine <3 :) ;P