I came across a blog by someone called
Nubby - the blog is
Nubbytwiglet.com.
I've only managed to have a short browse so far, but came across this article/piece of advice & thought it would be worth sharing!
After some thought (especially with regards to living situations) I have decided not to intern straight away - at the moment I'm applying for paid positions, that not only sound really interesting, but also like jobs I could (fingers crossed) actually do!
However if I find myself in a position to be able to intern, this will probably come in pretty handy. Hope you enjoy it too!
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"What is an Intern?"
An intern works in a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training (rather than merely employment). The benefit of being an intern is that you have the opportunity to be mentored and learn without many the pressures and responsibilities that regular employees have.
Finding an Internship
Many large companies have a section on their website with specific information for internships with openings and contact information. Even if they’re not currently seeking interns, it never hurts to still make contact and forward your résumé.
It's okay if your first choice is also everyone else's
Chances are, your top choices for an internship are probably the same as your peers. So, make yourself stand out! A little confidence can go a long way- you’ll never know if an opportunity awaits if you don’t try. Work harder to uniquely showcase your work. Instead of sending over a plain résumé, design a custom logo, folder and letterhead. Or, how about a fold-out poster? I know of one designer who made a special book (complete with rounded corners) and assembled it by hand! Personally, I’m all for sending over (or leaving behind) a folder of information instead of a book because it can be easily updated and modified to suit the focus of the internship you’re applying for. It can be as simple as building a stripped-down
press kit tailored to an internship, complete with a letter of introduction and a beautiful résumé.
Persistence pays off
Contact the appropriate person who handles internship opportunities; often times, this is an HR employee. Don’t feel like you’re being a pest. It’s all about follow-through. The important folks at ad agencies and design firms are often super busy. They have emails to answer, meetings to attend, and proposals to pitch. Getting back in touch with a possible intern is probably not at the top of their lists. A designer at a top agency visited my brother’s design class and told them point-blank that out of the entire class, maybe 10 students would consider setting up an internship and promise to make contact. Perhaps two would actually follow through. Make the effort to correspond and keep the line of communication flowing. If you don’t hear anything back immediately (or ever), don’t be offended! Try, try again. If email doesn’t work, place a call or send a letter.
Adrian Shaughnessy also reminds you:
Never forget, when approaching a design studio, that you will be judged by the quality of your approach. Your phone call, your e-mail, your letter will be scrutinized like a sniffer dog checks contraband at an airline carousel. Get it right and you’re halfway there, get it wrong and the prospect of stacking supermarket shelves starts to beckon.
Treat the inital meeting like a job interview
Show up on time (or early). There’s no need to dress overly fancy, but also don’t look like you just rolled out of bed. If you have a CV / résumé, bring a copy to hand over. Make sure it is impeccable; there’s nothing worse than spelling and grammatical errors on the resume.
Good manners rule supreme
If you do land an interview, remember that the interviewer is taking time out of their busy schedule to meet with you. Do your best to not over-talk yourself or the work. The interviewer has probably seen it all before and can make an instant judgement whether you and your work will ‘fit in’ with the company’s culture. When the interview is over, thank them for their time. Within a day, send a personalized email (or letter) thanking them again; be sure to include your contact information - you never know; they may be so impressed with your manners and thoughtfulness that they’ll call you on the spot!
Once you land an internship:
Keep an open mind; always be willing to pitch in to help with any (and all) tasks. If there’s nothing for you to do one day, offer to assist other departments (with permission, of course). I’ve done filing, spray painted shoes in the parking lot, sourced chandeliers, and spray-mounted advertisements to boards.
Even while performing the smallest tasks, I learned something and interacted with people I hadn’t met before. The more you absorb from these varied experiences, the more rounded you’ll become. You might also discover that you’d prefer to work in another department. The interactions you have on a daily basis could strongly impact your future, so treat everyone with respect. Chances are, they know others in the industry. Always turn up on time (ask your supervisor what time they prefer. Sometimes, they might not be ready for you first thing in the morning) and don’t rush out the door as soon as the day is over. Design is about commitment and getting the job done right, not about the number of hours you’ve worked."
Once again, the website I found this all on was
Nubbytwiglet.com - check it out! It's pretty swish.
In other news...
Been looking at
Hop Farm Festival - (first weekend of July I think) & the lineup looks amazing! Bob Dylan, Mumford & Sons, Seasick Steve, Pete Doherty, The Magic Numbers, Laura Marling & more to be announced!
All this...and for just £80 for the weekend? I'm there!
Hope you've all been having a lovely time in the sun this week - it's days like yesterday that make it feel like spring's here already. Lovely!
Picture of the day sums this up pretty well - in the sunshine, Pimp My Ride, Southampton Stylee!
xo
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