One of the most common questions that people have asked me this summer is, "Why do you want to go into ______?" Whether the question comes from my boss as we discuss my future with the company or it initiates a conversation with a HR representative from a major PR company, it is important to cater the answer to whom you are speaking. Although I would like to consider myself well-informed about the differences between marketing, PR, advertising and brand management, the lines sometimes blur in my head and in practice. Other interns might have a set goal of working in a specific industry, but I am still open to this entire realm of jobs. However, when talking to someone that can help connect me to an interview or networking opportunity, I know it is important to express a greater interest in the appropriate industry. For example, I attended an event last week that focused on cosmetics and the fashion industry, which is something that I am not sure I want to enter; however, showing an interest in these industries gained me a few connections and business cards.
A few days ago I went to an event sponsored by Cosmetic Executive Women that specifically targeted young women in the beauty/fashion/retail industries. The Cocktails and Connections: Career Insights event was "geared toward enhancing your career building skills. Some of the industry's top HR experts are on hand to give tips on successful interviewing, improving your resume and cover letter, and how to make yourself a marketable candidate through social media." This was my first networking event ever and I honestly had no idea what to expect. The event consisted of multiple five minute one-on-one conversations with the various HR representatives. From the moment I walked in, I was intimidated by the confidence that the other women displayed and immediately realized that I was the youngest attendee. Thankfully I had the chance to eavesdrop on a few of the conversations prior to having one of my own, so I sort of knew how to start and what should be the focus.
Then came the hardest part - actually having the multiple five minute conversations. I learned a lot of valuable information and received tips to put into practice right away. Here are some of the highlights from the night:
1. Set up a LinkedIn account and start connecting! I thought that LinkedIn was primarily a networking site for those already employed, but I was so wrong. There are groups to help connect you with jobs, university alumni groups and networks for individual companies. These past few days have been spent finalizing my profile and connecting with as many people as possible.
2. Use your Twitter account effectively. It's important to create conversations with companies (or at least show that you are attempting to initiate a dialogue) and not just Tweet "So hungover! Sad the H&H near me is closed. :-/ Need bagels&lox NOW." Because my Twitter account isn't exactly something I would want to share with HR prior to an interview, I keep mine locked. As the summer ends, though, I will go through and delete the questionable Tweets and focus on communicating the image/message that I want to present.
3. Fake it until you make it. I spoke with a young publicist from a reputable PR agency. She explained to me that her PR major helped her understand the industry theoretically, but it took time and effort to understand her role and how to effectively execute her assignments. She Googled and Wikipedia-ed certain aspects of her job so she could perform better.
4. Show enthusiasm for every contact in every industry. As the night went on, I found that showing energetic enthusiasm towards the industry my connection worked for resulted in a more genuine conversation and landed me more business cards. You never know where networking could lead.
Rebecca
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Thursday, July 07, 2011
What's My Next Step?
I honestly can't believe I've been back at my internship for a whole month already - for better or for worse, the weeks have blended together in a way that it simultaneously feels like my first week and like I've never left. My daily routine has been finalized to the point that I can feel the difference in my schedule when I leave at 8:37 versus 8:40. There are some days when I do feel like just another cog in the machine, but they are balanced out by days of executing department parties (Party Planning Committee of One!) and variations on the standard assignments. Occasionally I am forced to spice things up with ham on my sandwich instead of the regular turkey - hey, you have to find variety somewhere! Honestly, I am having a great summer and feel truly lucky that my bosses ask a lot from me. While a few of my coworkers have mentioned the possibility of returning to the company next summer as a full-time employee (and yes, the possiblity, as in, "We have no control over this, but we like you and hope you like us, too!"), it is an awkward situation to navigate.
First, let me preface this with saying that, no, I am not delusional. I realize that it is a lot harder to get a job than someone at the company expressing their interest in you. This, however, has been on my mind lately and figured this would be a good place to process my thinking. Moving on...
When my coworkers have brought up the possibility of returning to the greater company that I work for (not just necessarily the brand where my current internship is), I have found that it is hard to figure out the "correct" reaction. My experiences here have been fantastic, but my only two summers of real-world work have been at this company. Part of me wants to diversify and explore what other companies have to offer. Part of this reasoning is the classic "The grass is always greener on the other side" mentality; as in, this has been great, but what if something out there is better? Then again, they also say not to put all your eggs in one basket, but that's enough idiomatic parables for today. My current game plan is to express as much interest as possible because there is nothing to lose. I do a little self-censorship in that I choose my words carefully as I would never want anyone to think that I assumed a future job is guaranteed.
For example, one of my standard responses: "I would love to have the opportunity to return to the company. I've really learned so much and it would be great to see how the recent changes help the brand!" (Or something.)
This, I think, is a lot better than: "Yeah, I know this gig is great and stuff, but I want to look at other places, too."
That may seem like a no-brainer, but here is some other advice for how to approach the next step:
1. Schedule a meeting with your HR representative before the end of summer. Mine is already scheduled for August and I'll be sure to update with advice from the conversation. I see this as a great chance to network with someone who will be directly working with my resume in a few short months.
2. If you think it's appropriate, give your resume to a coworker or two. They can help you brainstorm your strengths and show you how to highlight the assignments that you worked on throughout the summer.
3. Take a coworker (or someone you know who works in your industry) out to lunch for a job Q&A. It's not necessary to grill them with questions, but get a sense for where they were when they started out and what to expect in the next year.
4. As I've said before, at the end of your internship, share your contact information with your coworkers. Also be sure to get theirs to keep in touch over the course of your applications and such.
Hope that helps... Remember, I'm still navigating this, too, so any advice you'd like to add, let me know!
Rebecca
First, let me preface this with saying that, no, I am not delusional. I realize that it is a lot harder to get a job than someone at the company expressing their interest in you. This, however, has been on my mind lately and figured this would be a good place to process my thinking. Moving on...
When my coworkers have brought up the possibility of returning to the greater company that I work for (not just necessarily the brand where my current internship is), I have found that it is hard to figure out the "correct" reaction. My experiences here have been fantastic, but my only two summers of real-world work have been at this company. Part of me wants to diversify and explore what other companies have to offer. Part of this reasoning is the classic "The grass is always greener on the other side" mentality; as in, this has been great, but what if something out there is better? Then again, they also say not to put all your eggs in one basket, but that's enough idiomatic parables for today. My current game plan is to express as much interest as possible because there is nothing to lose. I do a little self-censorship in that I choose my words carefully as I would never want anyone to think that I assumed a future job is guaranteed.
For example, one of my standard responses: "I would love to have the opportunity to return to the company. I've really learned so much and it would be great to see how the recent changes help the brand!" (Or something.)
This, I think, is a lot better than: "Yeah, I know this gig is great and stuff, but I want to look at other places, too."
That may seem like a no-brainer, but here is some other advice for how to approach the next step:
1. Schedule a meeting with your HR representative before the end of summer. Mine is already scheduled for August and I'll be sure to update with advice from the conversation. I see this as a great chance to network with someone who will be directly working with my resume in a few short months.
2. If you think it's appropriate, give your resume to a coworker or two. They can help you brainstorm your strengths and show you how to highlight the assignments that you worked on throughout the summer.
3. Take a coworker (or someone you know who works in your industry) out to lunch for a job Q&A. It's not necessary to grill them with questions, but get a sense for where they were when they started out and what to expect in the next year.
4. As I've said before, at the end of your internship, share your contact information with your coworkers. Also be sure to get theirs to keep in touch over the course of your applications and such.
Hope that helps... Remember, I'm still navigating this, too, so any advice you'd like to add, let me know!
Rebecca
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