Ed's Intern Diaries 2011

From New York, In Tears, And How To Make A Lasting Impression

2011-09-01T08:00:00.004-04:00

This is it, Edsters--the farewell I've been dreading all summer.

I'm in much the same situation now as I was when I wrote my first blog--sitting in my room,

surrounded by mounds of clothes, this time trying to figure out how to pack everything I brought with everything I bought. It probably won't work well.

Leaving is the last action I want to take right now. I've really taken a step back this week, and thought about everything I've experienced. Who can say they've worked at the men's magazine, seen the Macy's 4th of July fireworks from the riverfront, filled in for their boss, mastered the subway system, gone home with their boss and freelanced into the wee hours of the morning, found the one famous Halal food cart in the city (it's on 53rd and 6th)? I've looked out my window every night at the most incredible, sparkling cityscape. I've buid relationships with editors and writers.

I am really excited and amazed at my own accomplishments thus far, Edsters. I was scared I wouldn't be. I was scared I was just going through the motions and not getting anything out of the experience. But now I'm training new interns and my bosses are asking me if I "can please stay forever." It's surreal. And I feel so blessed to be here, even though it must end with me being so sad to leave.

But I cannot end this incredible summer on a sullen note, Edsters. Every second counts in this bustling industry, so I plan to make the best exit I possibly can, as you should, too:

1. Plan a kick-ass outfit. You want to be remembered.

2. Work hard. Even though it's your last day, it doesn't mean it's time to relax. You're still making an impression.

3. Write the standard "thank you" e-mails to all those who have helped you along the way or who you feel are good people to stay in touch with. Make them heartfelt and honet, but remember, these people are busy--don't ramble!

4. Take some extra time and write thank-you notes to those who have been closest to you. I'm writing mine to my direct boss, her boss, and the freelance girl who has helped me a lot along the way. They have all been especially important to me.

5. Don't just walk out of the building when it's time to go home. Take the time to turn around really see where you've been this whole term. It's easy to work, work, work and kind of forget to appreciate all your advancements, but don't let that happen. You've accomplished great things, Edsters, or you will, and you need to appreciate all those moments in life, or you'll let it pass without meaning.

I hope I haven't taken this experience for granted--I don't think I have. I feel so blessed to have

worked at the men's magazine, and though I'm so sad to be leaving, I also know it's just for now. I'm no longer a mid-west girl who visits the city when she's so fortunate. I'm a New Yorker, who has to leave for a little while.

You can count on it, Edsters. I'm coming back.

See you in The City,
Ed's Web Intern

Fashion and Beyond: 4 Things My Summer Internship Taught Me

2011-08-30T13:52:00.001-04:00

Hey Edsters!

Good news: I officially survived my summer at the Fashion Mag! My last day was a bittersweet one (and, ironically, the slowest day I’ve ever experienced in the closet). While I was happy to reach the finish line of what turned out to be a challenging adventure, I was a little sad to be leaving the closet. The other interns and I have grown so close – as cliché as it sounds, we became a tight knit, overworked, well-dressed family.

Interning at the Fashion Mag definitely opened my eyes to some aspects of the magazine industry that I was not previously aware of. I learned how much planning goes into a single photo shoot – it’s more than models, clothes and a photographer. A photo shoot is an editor going to runway shows in Paris months before the story will run in the magazine. A photo shoot is an assistant calling in clothes and styles from designer’s lookbooks. A photo shoot needs an intern assembling clothing racks at 8 a.m. in the morning and breaking them down at 8 p.m. To know that I played a tiny part in such a huge production is a great feeling.

I’ve also learned what the phrase “eye for detail” means. I’ve used that phrase in many cover letters, but nothing teaches you patience and develops your eye for detail like sorting through 500 pairs of socks looking for a particular design. My patience and determination has grown this summer – I feel like I can tackle any challenge presented to me. Patience is a virtue.

Perhaps the most important thing I’ve learned at the Mag is that interns need not be scared, timid creatures waiting for orders; instead, they should let their personality shine through while respecting authority. I feel like I didn’t do enough of this. I showed the fashion assistants that I was a hard worker, but they didn’t really know anything about me except that I had a knack for finding missing earrings and was really good at organizing trunks. For my next internship, I’ll be sure to work on the way I interact with the higher-ups.

This internship provided me with invaluable magazine experience, new friendships, knowledge of the city, and a beefed up LinkedIn profile. I started out as a girl from Jersey’s suburbs, and now I can’t stay away.

What did you learn from your summer internship, Edsters? Do you feel accomplished, or just cheated out of a summer vacation?

Off to read the September issue,

Fashion Intern

Summer Recap: The 5 Lessons I Took from NYC

2011-08-30T08:00:00.002-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

The summer’s coming to an official close, and it’s hard to think it’s almost time to pack up and head back down to school.

I’ve undergone such a transformation in New York: who I am now is very different from who I was at the beginning of the summer — but in a good way! I’ve become so much more confident and fearless in my work. I’m comfortable in the city. And I know now more than ever this is what I want to do, and New York is where I want to do it.

At every internship, I take different lessons. This year is no different. The journey may have been a little more challenging: adjusting to New York and a major internship away from home is no cake walk. But every second was worth it. My internship at the mag was nothing but a positive experience, and I’ve loved every moment of it.

My top lessons from this year?

1) New York can be a big, lonely place, but give it time: it gets better. Adjusting to a new city where you don’t know anyone is never easy. But it’s so important to keep pushing. A lot of the editors I met with this summer told me the transition to New York was actually harder than the transition from intern to editorial assistant work. The best advice they gave me to deal? “Stay out as much as possible.” Avoid that lonely apartment and immerse yourself with people. Go to events. Reach out to alumni from your school living in the area, coworkers or friends of friends. Cast out as many lines as you can, and soon enough you’ll have a circle of friends who will help keep homesickness out of the picture.

2) Always, always step up. Never let the opportunity to lend an extra hand pass you by at your internship. When editors give you bigger assignments, it’s important to cast aside your doubt and remember that they gave you this assignment because they know you’re capable. So prove them right and do the best you can with it. It’s always OK to ask questions when in serious doubt, but give your judgement some credit too. Follow your common sense, and don’t doubt yourself. You’ve proven yourself with the small things; now it’s time to rock the bigger ones.

3) Organization is the key to success. A clean space is a clear mind; a to-do list is time management’s best friend. At any internship, it’s important to be able to balance tasks and judge which is more important. Staying on top of everything not only makes your day a little easier, but also makes you more of an asset to your editor. When doing assignments, let that organization carry into them, too: explain clearly what you’ve done. Label and use stickies so the assignment is easy to follow for your busy ed. Editors like thoroughness: show you’ve got that, and you will stand out.

4) Take advantage of what’s around you. Don’t forget you’re in New York, at the heart of the industry. Take advantage of the people working on the publication with you: try to get to know them and foster relationships with them, whether through informational interviews or just doing assignments for them. And keep in mind the people out of your mag too: the HR contact at your organization, editors in different publishing houses, other fellow interns, etc. The person who helps you land that first job could be just one coffee meeting away. So keep talking, networking and taking advantage of the subway that links you to anyone.

5) Don’t forget to enjoy the ride. It’s so easy to get preoccupied with doing the best at work or networking. At the end of the day, however, ask yourself how much fun you’re having. Do you love what you’re doing? This internship is more than your chance to help a publication; it’s the chance to see if you’ll really be happy here and if this is what you want to do. Think of it as a career consultation. If at the end of the day you’re exhausted and miserable, it may be time to reevaluate, and that’s not a bad thing. It’s just as meaningful to learn something is the wrong fit as it is to learn it’s the right one. Keep in mind your feelings; they’re more important than anyone else’s. After all, it’s your career and life. Shouldn’t you have the best one you can?

And there we have it, Edsters: the biggest lessons from this summer! It’s been such a pleasure sharing my experience and advice with you; I hope it’s made a difference. I wish you all the best in everything and look forward to meeting you someday down the line, when we’re all big-shot editors, reflecting on our journey during an Ed happy hour (hey, we can dream, right?)

Best of luck, keep pushing and aim for the stars! You never know how far you’ll go.

My best always,
Women’s Mag Intern

Event Planning 101: How To Mingle With Celebs On The Job

2011-08-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday, Edsters!

Are you ready for this? By “this,” I obviously mean your exclusive peek into the world of fame, fortune, and, best of all, features. “This” is the saga of the elite event our magazine recently hosted, the role I played in its planning, and how us interns kept things running smoothly.

And yes, that means we actually got to attend.

I KNOW, RIGHT?!

Is your curiosity piqued yet, Edsters? Read on to find out what it’s like planning a major event for high-profile guests, and to tell me whether or not I committed an embarrassing gaffe right before everything kicked off.

I should have suspected something was up a few weeks ago, when an intern friend of mine and I saw my EIC walking out of the building with an under-the-radar celeb. It was weird that we didn’t run a piece on her of any sort, but I figured, well, you know, this is my goddess EIC. Of course she just has lunch with celebrities.

Fast-forward a few weeks. My boss called me over to her desk to work on an assignment. When I saw the Excel spreadsheet, I groaned inwardly. Excel spreadsheets mean only one thing: an afternoon of tedium. My boss started explaining my assignment in hushed tones, which I thought was weird, until I realized the words “top secret” were being bandied about, as well as the name of the celeb I’d seen my EIC with a few weeks ago. My assignment was to format the guest list of an event (I hoped for a party, but it was more of a conference) we were hosting in conjunction with said celeb – and I was not to breathe a word. There was even a slight chance the interns would get to go!

When my bosses give me particularly boring but sensitive tasks (i.e. picking up that editor’s visa), they tell me it’s because they know they can really trust me. I sort of think this is just their tricky way of getting me to cheerfully take on whatever unsavory task is chucked my way, but I have to admit, it feels great being trusted with something “top secret.”

So for the next two weeks, I was the go-to girl for this guest list. It was pretty dull stuff – combining separate lists, deleting duplicates, reformatting columns. But the names on the list itself – WOW. Sure, there were celebrities, but there were also editors and writers from major publications, who are basically my celebrities. So my time chained to the Excel spreadsheet wasn’t wholly boring, because I got to fantasize about being in a room with all these people.

And then, after all my hard (okay, hard-ish) work, one of the other interns got invited to the event.

Talk about humiliating. I could rationalize that it was because she’s only there on Thursdays and Fridays, and our boss wanted to ask her in person. But when a day and a half passed and still no word from my boss, I started to panic and beat myself up. What had I done wrong? Did she only trust me to do behind-the-scenes work? Was the other intern that much better than me?

Of course, my boss then proceeded to casually invite me at her desk a few days later, beginning with, “So, I don’t know if I’ve told you about it, but we’re having this event for So-and-So… Oh, right, duh, you’re working on the guest list.” As though I hadn’t been waiting to have this conversation with her for three weeks. So I got my invite, as did the other features interns. Of course, we weren’t there just to enjoy the party. We had elevator buttons to press, guests to direct and packets to hand out. I was utterly fine with that. Pressing buttons for, directing, and handing out packets to FAMOUS guests!

On the day of the event, all the other interns and I showed up in little black dresses and heels, as per our boss’ request. At four, we were scurrying around the mindblowingly beautiful conference room at the top of our building (you should see the view). I was placing flyers and reserved signs that I’d printed out on each individual chair in the room. At 5:30, my fellow interns were stationed at various elevator banks and entryways to direct our guests to the conference room, while I served as my boss’ backup: if she couldn’t make it upstairs in time for the panel to start, I was in charge of handing the guests microphones during the Q&A portion of the event.

What that actually meant was that I was free to fix all the minor glitches that arose behind the scenes right before the event commenced. I printed out extra nametags and ferried them back and forth between the lobby and the top floor of the building. I brought my boss her Chapstick. And, embarrassingly, I tiptoed into the green room where our EIC, all the celebs and their assistants were popping champagne and chatting before the event.

Yes, that’s the gaffe. My boss sent me upstairs with a nametag to deliver to a woman I’d never met before, and all I had to go off was “she’s short and has brown hair.” She added that she would probably be in the green room, which I knew was where all the stars were seated. Great. I walked in and found one of my favorite editors in the back of the room, and I asked her quietly if she knew the girl I was looking for. No dice. I then went up to another editor I knew, who was sitting near our EIC, and whispered her name, expecting her to at least turn around. Nope. She wouldn’t even look at me. I’m not sure if it’s because she didn’t hear me or if she deliberately ignored me because our EIC was talking. Either way, it was so awful, and I slunk right out of there, and found the girl in a completely different room a few minutes later.

What do you think, Edsters? Did I screw up?

Anyway, I kind of just did laps around a few of the floors, because being “backup” means there’s not much to do unless you actually need to back someone up. I tried greeting people for a while. I continued to run the last minute errands my boss texted me about. For a few minutes, I even hid in the coat closet with the piles of magazines my fellow interns had brought up to distribute to the guests when they left. I was greatly relieved when the event started and I no longer had to feel awkward about just standing next to a fellow intern.

For the first fifteen minutes or so, all of us features interns stood together at the doorway, straining our ears to hear the discussion. Then, one of my two bosses saw us standing there and beckoned us all inside. It made me so happy that she cared enough to include us, and I’m so grateful she did tell us to come in, because the conference was so, so interesting. We stayed until the last fifteen minutes, at which point we restationed outside, holding magazines and informational packets to hand out to guests and preparing to direct them to their elevators.

I’m not going to brag or anything, but I totally told the star celebrity of the evening which elevator to go to. (Okay, me and another intern. Whatever.) No big deal.

By half-past eight, at least a dozen of our coworkers had swung by to tell us how chic we looked, and to thank us for helping the event run smoothly. Though I was certainly basking in the glow of recognition, I was also trying to avoid the mind-numbing pain setting in from my five-inch heels. When my boss swung by and told us two girls could go home, part of me wanted to stay longer to brush once more with the rich and famous partygoers (the conference had devolved into cocktails at that point), my feet did really, really hurt, and I hadn’t eaten since noon. When no one would volunteer to go and my boss was on the verge of picking us, I volunteered to leave. Another intern also offered to leave, and together we hobbled back down to the office (when I got there, I promptly removed my heels. Shh!) and gossiped about all of the amazing people we’d seen that night.

And that was it, Edsters. My "Page Six" evening. Have you ever gotten to go to a really cool event for your magazine job? Do you suspect your bosses tell you they trust you only so you’ll submit to busy work without a fight?

Love,
Your starstruck Features Intern

How To Stay Recognized--And Score A Freelance Gig Even AFter Your Internship

2011-08-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

So by boss invited me to her house two nights in a row this week.
Then on Friday, the editor gave me his direct cell phone number.

I've been scoring left and right, Edsters—okay, maybe not like THAT. But this week has been pretty fantastic. We're under deadline again at the magazine, and two new interns have started working with us. One of them is my replacement, but let's not think about that for right now. We're working on the September issue, which is the biggest issue for most magazines, and on top of it, we're launching a special half-issue this month, so there's plenty to do.

We've been hustling pretty hard, and just looking around the office is enough to see the stress across everyone's faces. Editors are weighed down with decisions and delayed copy. Writers are burned out from preparing two issues at once. The printer is dying becaue we've used so much ink, and there's just never enough coffee to sustain us all. And from the back off the office in our little alcove, I've been noticing it all.

I started coming in to work an hour earlier this week just to get a head start on the day's work. I packed my lunch so I could stay at my desk, and I've been trying to anticipate anything that could help the Web process run smoother for the bosses. Now that I've worked through a couple issues, I have a feel for what needs done, so I can work ahead instead of waiting to be told what to do. And to try to help my direct boss a little more, I've been showing the newest interns how our CSS works by having them watch/help me and the other interns while we run through this issue.

I know I've made progress since I've begun working this summer, but it surprised me again to be recognized for my efforts. I've accomplished three things this week, and I have to say, I'm pretty proud of them.

1. You know I've been freelancing for my boss on the side, and this week we've been working extra hard. It's like something out of a movie. After work is over, we grab a train downtown, where we work on organizing, business management, and preparation in her little apartment over sushi into the wee hours of the morning. I grab a taxi home to sleep for a few hours, and repeat the next day. It's incredibly satisfying. I feel like you would really have to trust someone to invite him or her into your home to join your business. Incredibly wonderful.

2. I am, once again, filling in for my boss this coming week. She is going to be out of town for a day, and both she and her boss chose me to fill in. It's a very flattering feeling.

3. When the Web editor agreed I should fill in for my boss, he walked into the Web intern alcove and we talked for a moment about what the day would be like. He's not going to be in the office right away that morning, but left the conversation with, "I trust you. Here, I'll give you my cell phone number, too." And he did.

I don't know, Edsters. This summer has had its ups and its downs. But I really cannot believe how incredible everything seems to have turned out. I'm finding that the times I feel the most challenged and stressed are the times that wonderful opportunities arise shortly after. My boss has asked me to continue to freelance for her once I move home at the end of the summer, and I couldn't be more thrilled for the opportunity.

I just feel...infinite. (Have you read "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"? You should if you haven't)

Where are you in your summer journeys?

For now,
Ed's Web Intern

6 Ways To End Your Internship On The Right Note

2011-08-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

I just wrapped up my last week at the mag – it’s crazy to even write it.

Summer flew by, and I still can’t quite believe it’s over. It’s been a good experience, and I’ve learned a lot about magazines and about myself and the things I want in a job and a career. I’ve also met some incredible, successful journalists and had some great conversations. Sure, there were ups and downs as you all know, but I’m still glad I did it.

Since I’m sure many of you are wrapping up your summer stints soon, here are a few tips for how to navigate the last week of your internships:

1. Set up lunches in advance. Email any editors you worked with or connected with, as well as any editors you’ve been meaning to get to know, and let them know that it’s your last week and you’d like to get lunch with them. Even if you see them regularly, it’s good to take an hour to get outside the office, step back, and talk about the whole summer, about your career plans, etc. Just remember that if you suggest the lunch, you should be ready to pay (most editors will probably offer, but be prepared just in case).

2. If you’re a rising senior, or if you’ve graduated, have an answer ready for when people ask “do you think you’d like to work in the magazine industry?” If you do want to work in mags, you’re set. But if you don’t or if you’re considering other things, you don’t want to insult anyone at the mag by implying that it was your internship that made you waver in your commitment to journalism (even if that was the case), but you also want to be honest. So have an answer ready, even if it’s just that you want to try other things before you decide or you think you prefer newspapers or whatever the case may be – and make sure you can phrase it in a tactful way that makes it clear you still valued your mag experience this summer.

3. Finish your assignments early, and then come up with tasks for yourself. You don’t want to be in the office until 7 p.m. on your last Friday trying to wrap things up, but you don’t want to be done with everything on Tuesday and then sit there for three days because no one will give you work. So, get everything done so you know you won’t be rushed at the end, but then come up with a way to stay productive in your last few days. Can you organize something in the office? Is there any information you can compile to pass on to the next intern? Doss your boss need some story ideas? Find a way to make yourself useful.

4. Don’t wait until the last minute to say goodbye. Remember, especially if your last day is a Friday, that it is still summer, and there’s a good chance some editors you want to see won’t be in the office, or that they’ll leave early. If there’s someone you want to make sure you see, email and set up a time, or stop by their office a day or so before your last day. And if you do miss people, leave a note or send an email so you can still keep the line of communication open and it doesn’t seem like you just disappeared.

5. Write thank you notes! Everyone talks about this, but from what I’ve heard from editors not many people do it. It’s so simple, and leaves a really good impression, plus it gives you a chance to give your editor (and any other people you worked closely with) your non-work contact information, making it easy to stay in touch.

6. Take your boss to coffee. Talk about the summer, and ask them what you still need to work on. If you’re getting close to job-searching time, ask for their advice. Or find out what internships they think you should try for next year. Ask if they’d be willing to write a reference for you when the time comes. And, of course, thank them for everything they’ve done.

Anything I’ve missed, Edsters? How are the final days of your internship going?

Xoxo,

Edit intern

4 Things to Do After You Leave

2011-08-23T08:00:00.004-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

It’s morning here, but outside my window I don’t hear the bustle of traffic in New York City. Instead, I hear birds chirping. I’m sitting at home; my internship has ended. My summer has come full circle, and it just doesn’t seem real.

Just three days ago, I was in the office, finishing my last day. When 6 p.m. came (and far too quickly), I dropped into my editors’ offices to say goodbye. I gave them my handwritten thank-you notes and a little gift — the least I could do for their kindness. I gathered the supplies from my desk, stepped on the elevator with them and exited the lobby. I staggered onto the subway and rode back home.

I did it. I finished my internship. It was over, right? Not quite. It may be because I’m not a goodbye person, but I know from my other internships that this isn’t truly the end nor should it be. An internship is just one stage in your relationship with a publication. Just as much work and care should be put in after to maintain your ties to it — ties that could ultimately lead to a mentorship and job.

So what to do? Four things:

1) Keep following the publication you worked for. Stay up to date on their projects. Read what your editors write; look for signs of work you did. If you can, find your name in the masthead and proudly display it to your family and friends. And keep those issues: you never know if you’ll someday take an edit test for that publication. Better to get a head start learning the publication (and having a solid archive) now instead of later!

2) Email your editors from time to time to update them. It’s so important to maintain the relationships you made at work. Remember, your bosses invested in you. They do care and want to hear back every once in a while. “You’d be surprised,” an editor told me, “how few interns email until they’re looking for a job.” Don’t be one of them. Instead, try to email your editor at least once a semester — once a month the three months before you graduate. They’re humans too. So let them know about what you’ve done; let them know if you’ve liked a piece they’ve written. Show it’s more than just the job you’re going for when you contact them; it’s the relationship.

3) Stay involved. Just because you’ve left the office doesn’t mean you still can’t help out a bit. Ask about freelancing opportunities or if you can help with any projects. The worst they can say is no, but they’ll still know you cared enough to take initiative. Send pitches or even interesting research you stumble upon on occasion. It may not feel like you’re making a difference, but you’d be surprised: little things always help a busy editor, and it shows you’re still mindful of their workload even though you’re not there.

4) If you’re in town, don’t be a stranger. If you can, make a point to visit New York City again before the next summer. When you come, don’t hesitate to let your editors know. Chances are they’ll love to have you pop in and see your face again. Remember, at the end of your internship, it’s all about maintaining contact. You don’t want to be forgotten. Make it your goal now to go from the helpful intern in the office to the great contributor out.

So what do you think, Edsters? What are your must-dos after your internship ends to maintain contact? And what did you do for your last day?

Until next time,
Women’s Mag Intern

The Importance of Playing the Name Game

2011-08-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Even though it took a while, the fashion closet has really started feeling like home to me. Walking into the room and being greeted by clothes and accessories in every shape, size, color and pattern imaginable are a daily experience I’ve really come to look forward to. The fact that my internship is coming to an end is bittersweet; I’m looking forward to having a small break before school starts, but at the same time I’ve spent so much time here and met so many great people that I’m going to miss it. But let’s flashback to about three months ago, when I was first starting out and didn’t know anyone’s name...

Before my interview, I studied the Fashion Mag’s masthead the way a lawyer studies for the bar. I could name every fashion and accessories editor and assistant in my sleep. I knew who represented which market and what designers they worked with.

What I didn’t know is what all these people looked liked.

For my next internship, I’m definitely going to make it a point to learn where every editor’s office or desk is. At the Fashion Mag, we’re always consulting the editors and asking them whether certain samples should be returned or not. Actually knowing who’s who makes things a million times easier.

So while my time here is coming to an end, here are two things to take to your next internship:

Pay Attention: If you’re given a tour of the office, take note of who sits where. It may sound like common sense, but if you don’t force yourself to pay attention, you may not remember. Even better, bring a notepad with you.

Always Ask: When in doubt, ask questions. I made this mistake once and called one of the editors by the wrong name – majorly embarrassing. I should have asked the fashion assistant before taking a chance like that.

How did you learn everyone names, Edsters? Did you get a grand tour of complete introductions, or were you left to figure it out on your own?

XOXO,

Fashion Intern

Secrets of an EA: My Whirlwind Day Of Filling In For My Boss

2011-08-19T08:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday, Edsters!

So, here I am, typing this blog post, which means – are you ready for it? – that I managed to make it through one whole day filling in for our Editorial Assistant. Not only was I successful in my endeavor to not destroy the magazine singlehandedly (and I was filling in the day before a big-huge-major event, so it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility), but also she wrote me to let her know that her boss said I did a fantastic job.

Getting to step into the shoes of an EA for one day was such an educational experience for me. Of course, I wasn’t slammed with all of her duties. I doubt my experience was even a microcosm of what she has to deal with every day. I do think I got a taste of what the job entails. Check out what my day as an EA looked like and what I learned!

Although my EA told me to be in at 9:30, I obviously showed up at 9 like a giant dork. No way was I going to relieve my half-hour-late-on-my-first-day fiasco! The day before she left, my manager and I had a conversation about what I had to do, as well as what snafus I might encounter and how to deal with them as they sprang up. My EA assists our executive editor, one of the highest-up players on the masthead; my job is to make my manager’s job easier so my manager can make this woman’s job easier.

First things first – I turned on the exec’s computer and brought her a glass of ice water. I remember thinking this morning routine was kind of weird when I first got here and watched another intern fill in for our EA one morning, but it seems pretty normal to me now. Ice water and a warmed-up computer are pretty ordinary requests. I shot the exec an email letting her know I was in the office and happy to help her with whatever she needed.

She flew in, let me know she would be in a meeting, and asked me to swing down to the cafeteria to get her an iced coffee “the color of coffee-colored ice cream” (which, frankly, I can’t visualize. I Googled it later that night, and I totally made her coffee too dark. Oops) and a slice of toast. I’m used to coffee runs, but I’ve never been sent out to get someone’s food. She asked pleasantly, though, and I figured, if my biggest challenge today is figuring out how to use the toaster, this day will be fine.

When I came back, I arranged everything neatly on her desk, only to receive an email sent from her Blackberry asking me to quietly sneak the coffee into her meeting. Sneak I did, and on her way back, she asked me to run back downstairs and get her a cappuccino. Lesson #1: high-up editors need a lot of caffeine to start their days.

I spent the morning working on two bio packets due at noon and keeping an eye on the exec’s outbox. She edits literally everything that goes into our magazine, and is always piling edited pages into her outbox, which usually go to either our EIC or the copy desk. It’s my EA’s job to get these pages where they needed to go.

Around 12:40, I went downstairs to get the exec’s lunch. This went fairly smoothly, although it took me a few minutes to make out her quickly-scrawled request for a “grccn anblc” (which meant “green apple,” or hopefully meant green apple, anyway, because that’s what she got). I brought her food up and took some messages for her as she bopped in and out of meetings.

I think the most difficult part of my day was fielding off the other editors in the office who wanted to talk to her when I knew she’d rather not be disturbed. My EA gave me a ton of information about the event we had the next day, but I couldn’t answer every single question, and it was hard to know when I should ask editors to come back at another time and when it was okay to let them in her office. Lesson #2: don’t be afraid to say no. People’s questions can usually wait a few minutes.

The highlight was getting to bring her tea in the EIC’s office and having the EIC ask for one, too. Except I couldn’t hear the EIC when she made her milk specification, so I checked with her assistant, and he made hers for her then, and we presented them together. A little embarrassing to need help making a cup of tea just because I was too chicken to ask her to repeat herself (I did not have this problem with my exec. I had to ask her to repeat her order three times), but whatever. At least I got to go in her office. I NEVER get to go in there!

At one point, the exec asked me to do something I simply didn’t (and don’t) know how to do: she wanted me to edit some super-important, event-related PDF files, though we don’t have the proper programs to get that done. I wound up running up to her as she walked and explaining that I couldn’t figure it out; she wound up brushing me onto someone else she knew who didn’t really know how to either… Eventually, I just retyped the documents, incorporating the changes she had asked me to make. I felt dumb for even going up to her to explain I didn’t know how – way to be silly, me. Lesson #3: if there’s any feasible way to take care of it yourself, take care of it yourself.

In my downtime, I worked on a few mini write-ups for another editor due at end of day, and fortunately, I was able to get that done. In fact, I got them done well before EOD, because my EOD was about an hour later than usual for me – my manager asked me to stay until the exec left, which took awhile.

Altogether, the day was way less stressful than I’d envisioned, and it was really great to get to help out our exec, who is one of the women I admire the most on the masthead. I’m also glad to have a better idea of the kind of stuff my EA deals with every day – it puts all of the work the interns get, meaningful and menial alike, into much sharper perspective. It’s good to know that everything I assist my managers with really does help their days run more smoothly.

Have any of you ever filled in for your boss? How did the day go, and what are your tips for handling the added pressure?

Next week – the SUPER exciting and glamorous event the interns got to assist with, AKA my brush with celebrity!

Famously yours,
Features Intern

Biting Off More Than You Chew: How To Avoid Burnout

2011-08-18T08:00:00.002-04:00

Hey Edsters,

How are your internships going? If you read my last blog, you know my head has been spinning with work, internships and freelance projects. I'm still loving it more than any of my words can begin to express, but I've lately learned a very valuable lesson: be realistic.

I've always been pretty solid on time management and meeting deadlines, and let's be honest, I still am. When I promise work to a set deadline, I meet it, even it that means sacrificing time with friends or a few hours of sleep. It's really important to me to stay reliable because that's how you build relationships and gain trust for present and future professional relationships. But what I have been seeing, Edsters, is a slight decrease in the quality of my work performance.

When I'm at my part-time job, it takes all my control not to yell back at the rude boss I told you about before. When I'm at my internship, I can't work as quickly as I previously could. And when I'm with my friends, I barely have the patience to be relaxed and calm. I've realized I'm only thinking about work, and even when I am out exploring the city, I feel traces of guilt for not working on the projects I know are waiting for me at home. I think, for one week, I agreed to take on too many projects.

It has been a crazy week. I've found myself working 20-hour days, leaving my internship at 6 to run to work, then closing the store at 1 a.m. and walking home to start my freelance projects. When I was finally so weary I couldn't keep my eyes peeled anymore, I would retire to sleep for the few hours until I had to push repeat and start over. It wasn't healthy.

I didn't want to admit it, but I was wearing myself down to the point that I wouldn't be a valuable asset for much longer. I didn't want to admit it, but I was realizing my boundaries. I didn't want to admit it, but I only had 24 hours in each day like everyone else--I couldn't do everything.

Maybe I'm preaching to the choir (sorry for the cliche), as I'm sure you're all just as driven and dying to succeed as I am, but you really have to make sure you're only taking on a mangeable workload. I feel so silly for some of these tidbits of advice, as they sound so average, but I'm really finding myself in situations where they're hitting me hard. It's like when someone says "that's hot," but you know you're going to touch it to find out on your own. I had to meet my boundary before I could ever adjust and work with it correctly. Maybe you'll have to learn the same way, or maybe you can just gradually take on projects and evaluate your own mental health with each new addition. That might be the smarter one, Edsters. I think it may have helped me avoid a few exhausted mornings.

You can do it, though. You can make it wherever you want to be, and you can build the connections you need to be there. I promise. I really, really do. It'll just take some hard work, and I hope you can manage it along the way in the best manner possible for you. I've learned where my boundaries are, and I've evaluated how much work I can fit inside of them.

How do you handle stress and time management? Do you have tricks or tips to make sure you don't overload yourself? I'd love the insight and to hear any questions you might have.

Good luck this week!

For now,
Ed's Web Intern

Should You Apologize For A Mistake That Wasn’t Your Fault?

2011-08-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

Earlier this summer, I wrote about the mini-crisis I had when I found out an assignment I was researching was due that week and no one had told me. That one, I’ll admit, was largely my fault, since I didn’t ask what my deadline was.

But I learned from my mistake. After that snafu, I made a point of always asking when my assignments were due.

That’s why this recent incident is particularly frustrating. I had been assigned a small piece for a web-only supplement to an article, and told I had two weeks to do it.

But last week, I got an email from the assigning editor asking if the piece was done yet. I was a little surprised, since it was a full week and a half before the deadline I had been given, but I told the editor I would try to get it to him the next day.

I frantically sent a third follow-up email to the source I needed for the story and tried to call him multiple times, but with the time difference and other factors, he didn’t get back to me. I waited, and called, and emailed, and called other people from the organization, and crossed my fingers and prayed to the journalism gods, but by 4 p.m. the next day, I still didn’t have the interview I needed and couldn't write the piece.

I felt terrible. I couldn’t find the right words to tell the editor that I didn’t have the story. I tried to write him an email, but there was no way to express how awful I felt without sounding whiny or pathetic or just incompetent. So I went to his office and sheepishly explained that I had tried – really, I had – but didn’t have the interview yet.

My editor was understanding enough – turns out he had misunderstood when the web team needed the piece, which is why he had told me I had two weeks to write it. When I heard this I was a little angry. Why was I suffering because of my editor’s mistake? Why hadn't he told me earlier he had made a mistake instead of just demanding the story a week and a half early? Was he going to apologize for making me scramble and feel terrible about myself when I hadn’t actually done anything wrong?

Of course, he's the editor, so he doesn’t have to apologize. I have to apologize. And even though I really didn’t believe it, and even though I wanted to scream, I told him, “I’m so sorry. It’s my fault.”

I was upset for a while. I felt like a failure, and I was mad my editor had made me feel that way, because I know I could’ve gotten that interview in three days if I hadn’t thought I had two weeks. But a few days later, the editor came by with another assignment. I was shocked, thinking I had lost his trust forever by blowing the first story, but it turns out he really appreciated that I had taken responsibility for missing the deadline, even though he now acknowledged it wasn’t my fault.

I’m glad I took responsibility for this mistake, even though I’m not sure it was entirely my fault, because it preserved my relationship with my editor. I guess the way I think of it is that if we were colleagues, I wouldn’t want to throw him under the bus, and just because I'm an intern it shouldn't be any different. But I’m also still a little upset that the whole incident made me look inept as a reporter.

So what do you think, Edsters? Did I do the right thing? How would you handle a situation like this?

Happy Wednesday,
Edit intern

Last Week? 4 Things You Must Do!

2011-08-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

The moment’s finally here for me: I only have five days left until I pack my bags and head home. It doesn’t seem real. Was it really two months ago I started my first day? Struggled to find my cubicle? Now the office feels like a second home. It’s dizzying to think how much time has passed. My internship has been one of the best experiences in my life, and I’m crushed to think it’s almost over.

But right now I can’t be sentimental. This last week is bound to be my busiest ever. At the mag, we’re closing an issue and launching a new product — which means tons of assignments to do to help my editors keep their cool. I don’t have time to stress about goodbyes when there’s so much in front of me. There’s too much to get done.

And I’m not the only one feeling the pressure. Because we’re all now seasoned interns, a lot of my friends are getting bigger assignments too. The last week on an internship isn’t the time to coast. It’s the time to step up and put in your very best to tackle those last challenges.

But will you be ready for the end of the week? It may be easy to get bogged down, but there are four things that regardless of how busy things get on the job, every intern should strive to do:

1) Give your bosses handwritten thank you notes. This is the most important. Whenever I leave an internship, I give all my editors thank-you notes. I make my own card on InDesign and always hand-write the message. It’s so much more personal. Write thank-yous for the editors you’ve worked with and the internship coordinator at your office. Let them know all you’ve learned and thank them for giving you the opportunity to do it.

2) Get contact information to follow up. Make sure you ask your editors what the best way to stay in contact with them in (typically this is work email, but some prefer personal). If you haven’t already, ask for HR’s email and connect with them. Because you’ve interned at the company, it’s important to establish that relationship before you leave (and while you still have your company email, which they will no doubt be more responsive to than your personal). Knowing someone in HR (and staying in contact with them) can help with securing next year’s internship and prove invaluable when you’re looking for jobs.

3) Get (and give) feedback. At the end of your last day when your editors have a moment, step in, wish them a proper goodbye and just talk with them for 10-15 minutes. This is your chance to connect with them as a person and not just the intern they’ve worked with. Let your personality shine so they get an impression of you beyond the assignments you’ve done for them. And if the opportunity presents itself, ask them for feedback on your performance (you can always do this through email later if it doesn’t work out here). Above all, be sure to thank them for their kindness and the opportunity they gave you. Show gratitude. The way to end your internship is on a high note.

4) When it’s all over, reflect on the journey. When you finish your last day and step out of that building, take a moment to look up and reflect on all you’ve accomplished. Maybe the journey’s been smooth; maybe it’s been bumpy. But what’s most important is you made it through. Pinpoint where you’ve grown and where you hope to grow next time. And then pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself, Edsters. It’s been a summer well done!

So what do you think, Edsters? What’s the most important thing to do on the last week? And how do you keep your cool when things get busy?

Good luck and until next week,
Women’s Mag Intern

End Of Internship Etiquette

2011-08-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Hey Edsters!

As your internship draws to an end, there are a few little things that need to be done before you walk out of the office for the last time. Keep these things in mind during your last month.

Two week’s notice: If you’re like me and are one of many interns, your editor may not remember which intern ends on what date. I’d suggest following the two week’s rule and sending an e-mail stating your last day, and a brief paragraph thanking your boss for the opportunity and experience. Be genuine with this – don’t just say you learned a lot, but give an example. Just don’t write a novel, you don’t want to be annoying!

Paperwork: If you’re receiving a stipend, be sure to fill out any forms that may be required of you and get appropriate signatures. Likewise, if you’re interning for school credit, make sure everything is in order on both your side and your college’s. My school gave me a lot of problems in the beginning of the summer and didn’t want to give me credit for my internship! Avoid a situation like this by verifying that everything is in order. Also, if you have schoolwork to complete for your internship…get started! (Hmm, just remembered that I have a 10 page paper due next week about my internship. I better get to work!)

Thank You Note: Once your last day finally rolls around, think about giving your editor a small thank you card with a handwritten message inside. It will make you stand out and allows you to leave on great terms.

What else needs to be done before the final day? Share your tips!

XOXO,
Fashion Intern

3 Tips My Editors Shared To Get Your Dream Job

2011-08-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

Good news, Edsters! I'm feeling much more positive since last week, mainly because I was able to get coffee with The Fitness Mag's EA, as well as Miss Editor. The EA kept rescheduling, so I was really relieved when she finally had an hour free to go get coffee and chat about her path to breaking in to the mag industry.

As you know from my earlier posts, I've been thinking a lot about the career path I want to take, and wondering whether I have what it takes to make it in this industry. Meeting with my EA really helped me identify my concerns and what I need to start doing to step up my job hunting game.

When I chatted with my EA, she told me about her daily tasks and how she landed her job. Basically it all came down to perfect timing and luck, and she didn't even have to take an edit test. She had interned with The Fitness Mag the summer before her senior year, and was hired on the spot when she came to visit the office after graduation. In fact, there wasn't even an open position. They created one for her because she had made herself that invaluable to the staff. This was her advice...

Be Pateient. She told me that I was doing a great job (which was awesome to hear!) and that something would come up if I stayed persistent. She said that one of her best friends from college had wanted to work for a magazine so badly and she was really discouraged because several friends landed mag jobs before her, but she kept applying. It took her friend over a year of applying and interviews, but she finally landed her first position.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. I'm admittedly shy and sometimes uncomfortable to flat out ask someone if they know of any jobs. But my EA said that as long as you contact a former editor every once in a while (she said once ever 2 months is good), you can ask if they've heard of any open positions.

The next day, I went to get coffee with Miss Editor. We got down to some real world advice, and she said that it may be really hard to find a job in this industry right now, but that she would love to stay in contact and refer me if any positions became available. She seemed pretty burnt out from the mag industry and made comments about the bad pay, long hours, and catty office atmosphere at most magazines. Here's what she had to say...

Broaden your horizons. She told me to look for positions at places other than magazines, because the pay is usually better and there's more room for promotions in other industries. She said that if I need something to pay the bills, I should take a non-mag job and try to freelance and stay in the game, then if something came along I would have recent writing experience to show. Most importantly, she told me that I'm 22, and I don't need to worry about having my entire life figured out. If I don't get a job at a magazine, I'm not necessarily giving up on my dream. Just....adjusting it.

What advice have your editors given you?

Till Next Saturday,

Fitness Intern

Going Digital: How To Write A Magazine Quiz For The Ipad

2011-08-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday, Edsters!

I type this the day before what will probably be the scariest day of my interning life. My manager is out of the office tomorrow, so I have the pleasure (is it, though?) of sitting at her desk and, as far as I can tell, basically being her for the day. Yes, that's right – I am a 9:30 to whenever-they-need-me-there-until Editorial Assistant tomorrow. Not only that, but tomorrow is the day before a HUGE event the Mag is throwing for a swoon-worthy guest list, so it's going to be absolutely crazy there. I already have two bio packets due by noon!

So I'd like to promise you more on that next Friday, but it's unclear if I'll make it out alive, so... More on that later, potentially.

How about something a little lighter than the weight of the magazine world resting more heavily than usual on my shoulders? I went digital this week! By that, I mean I got to write a quiz for the iPad version of our Mag, which was a ton of fun. I only wish I had an iPad so I could see it with my own two eyes!

Articles, I brainstorm all the time, but quizzes? I've been skipping over those in magazines since I was about 12, when I realized that I was deliberately picking the safe "b" option, the one that made me just the right amount of daring/caring/glam/assertive and, oh yeah, people occasionally fall into more than three categories. This wasn't one of those superficial bad boys, though. As it turns out, a lot of work goes into writing a quiz – so at least give them a glimpse!

Here's how I landed the gig and pulled it off.

Any gold I've struck during my time at the Mag can be accredited to being nice to editors and doing whatever they ask me to efficiently and with a positive attitude, and getting to write this iPad quiz was no exception. I filed a couple of contracts for our digital editor a couple of weeks ago, and I let her know I'd be interested in any writing opportunities she came across.

The assignment she gave: to read a nonfiction book, decide what kind of quiz I thought would work best, convene with her, and then try my hand at writing said quiz.

I read the whole book cover-to-cover. Not that I had time to do that at work, mind you – as reluctant as I am to do homework ever again, I did bring the book home with me, because I wanted to be thorough. Indeed, I proceeded to treat it like actual homework. I went crazy flagging interesting stories and facts with Post-It notes, just like I do when I write a paper, so I'd be able to be sharp during my meeting with the digital editor. The book was jam-packed with facts, and I decided that a True/False would be the best format for the quiz.

After I met with her, she told me to pick about 15 interesting facts and to write questions and answers for them. She instructed me to make each question and each answer about three-lines long. All of this was harder than it sounded: even though I had at least 35 pages flagged down, not all of the fun facts translated themselves easily into true/false questions, and some of them were so weighed-down with jargon that it was near-impossible to condense them into three lines apiece.

I reread the book, peeled off the majority of my Post-Its, added a few more, made margin notes, and wrote some preliminary questions. I tried to focus on getting the information down before adding in a dash of writerly style. My editor advised me to write the questions and answers as though I was explaining them to a 14-year girl. Although our reader base is about double that age, I found it really helpful to consider a younger audience in mind while writing: it forced me to clean up my prose and refrain from using complicated jargon that, let's face it, not even actual adults want to read in a glossy.

And then I was done! Done at last! Done with the book I had started off loving, but rapidly grown averse to, as I probably read it at least four times in the question-writing process!

Except, of course, I wasn't done, because the digital editor had a bunch of edits for me to take into account. Her comments were all very constructive, and most of them were easy enough fixes, though a few gave me trouble (how can I give her more information on this factoid when the book doesn't discuss it further? How can I possibly pare down this question any further?). It took me a little under two hours to fix everything, at which point I emailed everything back to her, and she told me to prepare my book for research.

Happily, my crazy Post-It noting turned out to be exactly what I needed to do for research, so there wasn't much to do from that point. I annotated my quiz with page numbers corresponding to each bit of information, emailed it to the editor, and dropped the book off at research. The quiz is going to our executive editor next, and then, hopefully, voila! Quiz!

I think this is one of my favorite projects so far, and I'm glad it pushed me out of my comfort zone a little. What's the most fun project you've ever gotten to do at your internships, Edsters? Are you interested in going digital, too?

Quizzically yours,

Features Intern

Fake It ‘Til You Make It: An Ode To Multitasking

2011-08-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

Hey Edsters,

So I’m weeks and weeks deep into my internship, silently loathing the approaching time when I have to move home, and soaking up as much information as I possibly can on how to succeed.

If I’m picking up one thing more than anything else, it’s the importance of being able to multitask. We’re in a tough major, Edsters. I think we can all agree on that. We’re in a time when huge magazines would rather outsource freelancers than hire staffers, when one week of bad reviews can get you fired and sent back to school for a new career. It’s hitting hard for me, as I just saw someone fired yesterday. The person came into the office, went out to coffee with the boss, and then never came back. In that switch of a moment, his life was drastically different. He woke up with a life plan and went home with a box.

I started to think about my future in magazines. After having a real talk with my boss, I was much more than reassured.

Here’s what I learned:

-Everyone is multitasking. Hardly anyone in the magazine world is strictly focused on their 9-5. They have side businesses and freelancing projects and Web ventures and books. I knew this was obviously true, but I wasn’t able to fully grasp just how big it is until I was discussing it with my boss, and the next highest boss overheard us and joined in. He offered the next point of success.

-Not to say you should ever lie, but “fake it ‘til you make it” IS true to an extent. Ever worked in a kitchen and had to hurry before? Yeah, you have fast food experience. Ever bartended on Saint Patrick’s day or other crazy holidays? Mhmm, you’ve bartended in a high-volume atmosphere. Ever go to the post office or create an e-mail for your boss? Looks like you’re someone’s personal assistant. There are ALWAYS ways to spruce up your experiences and market yourself in the best possible light—especially if you’re a fast learner. Which my boss agreed with and added the next point.

-Never stop hustling. This is such a competitive career choice (as we all know) that you have to dedicate a lot of time to it. Sometimes that means sacrificing certain things, like relationships or sleep. It doesn’t always mean that, Edsters, but on this express train to success or failure, I think sacrifice is an unexpected stop we’ll all take. Listening to this back-and-forth conversation gave me mixed feelings.

Obviously, I’m so happy to have the mentorship and guidance of established professionals. That experience is invaluable. (Or maybe worth the staggering rent I’m paying to be here this summer.) But I almost felt embarrassed by how little I’m accomplishing while I’m in New York this summer.

Sure, I’m interning, working with Ed’s blog, doing a part-time job, and freelancing, but I feel like there is so much more creativity I’m capable of that has just been stifled. There were so many ventures and books and articles and projects I’ve considered in the past, but haven’t pursued. Just as true, I feel like I haven’t been brainstorming new ideas as of late, which upsets me greatly. This is going to change. It has to, and I want it to.

From now on, I vow to multitask better, revive and pursue at least one idea/venture, and start brainstorming and recording new ideas, even if I don’t have time to go after them right this minute. That’s my vow, Edsters.

What about you? Are you feeling creatively drained, or have you found ways to multitask your projects like a pro? Let me hear about it because I’m sure I’m not alone.

For now,
Ed’s Web Intern

p.s. (On a happier note) I submitted my first invoice for freelance work today. Yay!

3 Tips For Writing Your First Mag Story

2011-08-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy hump day, Edsters!

Some big news this week – I have a byline in the magazine!

Last week I blogged about a story I was doing research for. I’m going to get a small research credit for that, but this week something even better developed. My own story and a real byline. I can’t even fully believe it.

Admittedly, this story is not the most exciting thing ever. It’s a small, front-of-the-book item, barely more than 40 words. But still, it means my name and my writing is going to be read by people all over the country, and I couldn’t be more excited.

It was an interesting experience, too. I’m used to writing longer pieces – for me, 500 words is pretty short, never mind 50. I had to figure out a way to shrink three 30-minute interviews into three sentences, which was more of a challenge than I thought it would be. Here are a few things I’ve learned about writing short-form for mags:

1. Every word counts. I actually went through more drafts for this tiny piece than I usually do for longer pieces, because I had to scrutinize every word. I used the thesaurus a lot trying to find words whose meanings were exactly right – there is no room for imprecision when you have less than 50 words.

2. Pay attention to graphics. Magazines, unlike newspapers, rely on the relationship between text and visuals. If there’s a graphic or a picture to go with your story, you don’t have to repeat the information in the graphic or caption. This can be tricky, since, at least at my mag, the graphics department is pretty separate from the text department, so I had to go out of my way to contact the designer and find out what information was going in the graphic.

3. Be prepared for edits – even on tiny stories. I met with the editor twice after I submitted my copy, and basically rewrote the entire story. You have to be ready to be critiqued. Chances are you didn’t do a bad job, it’s just that every mag has a really specific voice, and your editor whose been there for years is going to understand that voice a lot better than you will as an intern whose been around for a few months at most.

The other day, I saw a proof of the page my story will be on, and it hit me just how cool this really is. I’ve certainly had some ups-and-downs through this internship, but right now, I couldn’t be happier.

How about you, Edsters? Any bylines coming up?

Until next time,
Edit intern

Internship Ending? 5 Things to Do Now!

2011-08-09T08:00:00.005-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

Time is flying far too fast. Weeks just shoot by, and the finish line for my internship is coming into sight. I’ve got a little bit of time left, but I still can’t believe how much closer the end gets every day — my friends and I talk about it in shock. I’ve fallen in love with my internship and this city, and I’ve learned so much. I know I’ll be back next summer (fingers crossed!), but every time I leave the office, I can’t help but look back and dread the day that single-digit countdown will begin.

It’s not unusual though. It’s the way it’s been with all my internships. I don’t regret a day of the journey at them, but the end always makes me sentimental. There’s still some time left to learn more, but the biggest mountains have been climbed. Now it’s time to head back down and end with grace.

What I’ve learned about this period — the falling action, you’d call it in literature — is that it’s important to be as conscious making that great good-bye as you were with that impressive hello. And great good-byes don’t happen in a week.

I always try to make sure my ends are tied as nicely as possible, and that process starts as early as three weeks before my internship ends. Getting ready to go too? Here are the five things I make sure I’ve done before I get to the last day:

1) Talk to everyone you have an interest in. Is there an editor at your internship whose work you adore, but you’ve never gotten the chance to meet? Shoot them an email and ask them if you can buy them coffee sometime during the day. This is your chance to network with anyone at that publication — they share an office with you. Take advantage of it.

2) Wrap up long-term projects. Have long-term assignments sitting? Take the time out now to put the extra effort in them. Show your editor you did more than just the minimum with them. Strive to go above and beyond so when you turn them on your last day, your editor is blown away.

3) Ask about future opportunities at the publication after your internship. While of course it’s important to stay in touch with your editor, don’t think the moment you leave your internship, your career there does too. Ask about freelance opportunities or chances to help out in the fall. You never know what gig you might run into — at my last internship, I was able to do paid freelance writing (not too shabby after an unpaid internship!) where my articles appeared in print.

4) Get to know your other interns and the editors you work with if you haven’t already. This may be the last time you run into your fellow interns for a while. Make a point to have dinner with them and get to know each other one-on-one (you never know where they’ll end up in the industry, and there’s no such thing as too many friends!) Try to schedule a lunch with your editor before your last week too or just a chance to talk. It’ll help him or her get to know you before you’re handing him or her that good-bye card.

5) Stay focused. It’s easy to let complacency dull your work during the last week or two at an internship. Know, however, it’s imperative you continue to put in the same effort you did that first week. Your Eds do notice.

So what do you think, Edsters? What’s on your internship bucket list? And what’s the most important thing any intern should do before they leave?

Until next time,
Women’ s Mag Intern

Fashion Secrets From The Closet

2011-08-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

Aloha Edsters!

We’re a week into August, meaning that my internship (and summer vacation!) is nearing its end.

As an intern, I’ve learned that no matter what market you’re in (fashion, editorial, sports, feature, etc.) you’re going to have to work your way up from the bottom.

Cue the clichés.

That’s how it’s been, that’s how it is, and most likely how it will continue to be. I see nothing wrong with putting in long hours to get to where you want to be. There are no shortcuts to success. Heard it all before? Me too. But I’m starting to think that my parents, professors, bosses and everyone who’s every offered unsolicited advice to me may be on to something.

Life lessons aside, I’ve also learned a lot about fashion this summer. I’ve learned how to correctly pronounce the names of French and Italian designers (and how to keep my mouth shut when I can’t figure it out! I cringe at the memory of another intern gushing over the latest “Give-en-chee” samples only to be quickly corrected by the fashion assistant. For the record, Givenchy is pronounced Gee-VON-shee. Check this page out on The Chic Spy for more tricky pronunciations). And I’ve also uncovered one major truth:

Fashion isn’t about what you wear, it’s about how you wear it.

The Fashion Mag features editorial fashion, meaning that’s it’s more about art than retail. To be honest, the Mag can be a little intimidating to those who know nothing about the fashion world. Angular models in sky high-heels, a species of handsome men at ease in suits – it’s another world. I used to feel like an outsider, not unlike Anne Hathaway’s character in the beginning of The Devil Wears Prada.

Slowly though, I got used to the environment. The fast-pace of the city, the urgency of photo shoots, the attitude of editors and stylists. If I managed to fit in here, anyone can fit in wherever they desire. (No seriously, a few months ago I wasn’t exactly fashion intern material. Now my friends refer to me as “Ms. Fashion Mag.”)

Back to the fashion isn’t about what you wear thing. I know it sounds a little vague, but I’m starting to realize it’s not all about the clothes, it’s about the way you feel after you put them on. It’s about how heels can make an intern feel awkward or powerful. How a dress can make me feel confident even when I’m drenched from the rain. How shoes can make or break the man.

Wait, you knew that? So maybe I’m one step behind the crowd Edsters, but you know what? I’m doing this at my own pace.

You can find me at 5^th Ave,

Fashion Intern

Trying to Stay Motivated When Your Job Hunt Hits A Wall

2011-08-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Howdy there, Edsters! Today's post is pretty deep. I know I've offered advice, stories and useless information about my NYC escapades. But now it's time for some wisdom and truth. So get ready.

When I first moved in to my closet-sized NY apartment, my roommates had this anonymous quote on our refrigerator and it's really had me thinking these last few days:

"The creatively strong survive. It takes a lot of courage and determination to make it out here. There will be many paths to choose and some may not alway be the best. Try not to get caught up in the scene. It can destroy people. Be careful who you trust . New York and Los Angeles are both cities of dreams, and your dreams and motivations have to be strong or they will be lost in the confusion of these cities."

I try to look at this quotation every morning and remind myself that I have to stay motivated to achieve my goals, but lately I feel like I haven't been giving my all to my internship at The Fitness Mag. I look at my fellow interns, high on the success of landing their first big gig, and I wish I could get that enthusiasm back. I'm not getting paid, and I feel like I'm back to square one, when I had my first magazine internship.

It seems like some of the other Ed Intern Diaries contributors are having more luck that I am, because I haven't even had an official interview yet. Most EA jobs are word of mouth, and so I feel like I haven't even been able to apply for many jobs, because I don't hear about them. I've sent in resumes and cover letters to online postings, and to HR contacts at magazine publishers, but no one has followed-up for an interview.

As you remember from my first post, I said this was "show time", because I have to find a job in NYC by the fall if I want to stay here (which I do, SO badly). I've been applying to jobs at PR agencies, as well as magazines, because I desperately need a paying job. But if I already feel like giving up on my dream job, maybe I'm not cut out for the cut-throat world that is New York City magazines.

To be totally honest, I don't know if I have the drive to fight as hard as I need to to get a magazine job. I know I need to be setting up informational interviews, trying to make contacts for freelance writing, and networking with anyone in the industry. But every time I meet other inters that have done everything right and still can't land a job- like my friend that interned with two national publications but now works as a secretary, and a fellow Fitness Mag intern who's been interning for 8 months- I find it really difficult to stay motivated.

Right now, I'm trying to stay patient, because life doesn't always work on our timeline. In tough industries, like the one we're all trying to break in to, it takes perseverance and dedication to make it. If working for a magazine is really your dream job, you have to have thick skin. You're going to feel rejected, and you're going to feel like a loser that can't even get an email response when you send in your resume. But you have to drown out the people that want to see you fail, and focus on what you've accomplished and the people that have faith in you and your dreams.

But hey, that's way easier said than done.

Any words of wisdom, Edsters?

Till Next Saturday,

Fitness Intern

3 Ways To Make Yourself Useful On A Slow Day

2011-08-05T08:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday, Edsters!

One great thing about Fridays is that no matter how hectic the week is (and the past few have been very, very hectic. Stopping and smelling the roses does not seem to play a major role in the lives of magazine editors), Fridays are a little more relaxed. A special brand of quietness sweeps across the office; sunlight seems to stream more meaningfully through the windows.

And no one wants to do a damn thing, people leave early, and the interns get bored.

This Friday, I wasn’t exactly complaining. I like contributing as much as the next person, but after three weeks in a row that I could swear were all closing weeks, it wasn’t exactly killing me to scrunch down in my cubicle with a few old issues of the Mag and a coffee expensed to the Mag’s account.

It was killing one of our other interns, though. She must have swung by my desk fifteen times trying to brainstorm projects for herself. Though I would have been one thousand percent content to just breathe for the first time all week and read my magazine, after I’d finished my cup of coffee and felt less cranky, I gained a little respect for her initiative.

But how do you make yourself useful when there’s really, really nothing to do?

1. Organize. Remove abandoned documents from the printer. Straighten out the supply closet. Throw out the seven cups of coffee “decorating” your desk. Label cabinets. Organize the many shelves of magazines stationed around the office. Ask for old Excel spreadsheets to update. If an editor is out of the office on vacation, ask his or her assistant if they’d like help straightening things up. Et cetera. Ad infinitum.

2. Deliver mail. Last week, my boss was incredibly stressed-out, so I got into the habit of swinging by her mailbox once an hour so I could drop her mail off on her desk for her. Halfway through the week, she sent all the interns an email, thanking whoever the “rock star” was who delivered her mail. I thought responding to the email would be too obnoxious (“It was me, by the way. I’m the rock star. You’re welcome”) – after all, my job is to make her life easier, not to show off or to kiss her butt.

3. Read old issues of the magazine. I wasn’t just being lazy the other day. I take notes on old stories and try to brainstorm new ways to cover them. My great white hope is that this exercise will lead me to a brilliant idea of my very own that I can pitch. After all, as an intern, I’m not just a worker – I’m a student. I’m still learning. No shame in doing my homework during study break.

What about you, Edsters – can you think of any other ways to get promoted from intern to rock star during the duller moments?

Rock on,

Features Intern

How To Impress The Hell Out Of Your Bosses—And Become One

2011-08-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

So I got a lovely little surprise this week, Edsters, and let me tell you, it feels WONDERFUL to be recognized at the mag. I've been working hard and trying to remember all the little details I overhear in the office--like which editors prefer e-mails and which want in-person conversations, which are too busy to be bothered this week and which have time to play with hand puppets. While I feel like I've just been keeping my head down and doing the best work I can with assigned tasks, I must be doing something else right.

I'm standing in for my boss tomorrow.

Yeah, I couldn't believe it, either, but this is how it happened: My direct boss is out of town for a few days, so a freelancer who often fills in has been overseeing me and the other interns. However, she cannot come in to work tomorrow, and that leaves us boss-less. Now, that's not the end of the world. For one day, we could cope with the production schedule and tasks we know need to be completed. However, another person in the office was in quite a panic that he would have no one to consult for project progress and any other discussions/questions that arise during the boss-less day. He was so concerned, in fact, that he addressed HIS boss to see if the issue could be resolved. That discussion was shared with the BOSS, the concerned MAN, and the FREELANCE girl who was in the office that day.

While the conversation was rapid-fire, mostly monopolized by the MAN panicking, the BOSS wasn't so concerned. In fact, he said, "So it'll just be the interns tomorrow?" With a slight nod from all of us, he shrugged unconcerned and motioned toward me. "She's the boss. She knows everything anyway; I have faith in her."

I swooned. I'm pretty sure that was the single most flattering achievement of my spell at the men's magazine so far. I'm excited to be freelancing and workout outside the mag, but it's just an incredible feeling to know that I'm standing out...to an editor...of a national magazine who is so busy he can't e-mail everyone he needs to, but who found the time to let me know I'm doing a good job with the department.

I'm gaining a whole new appreciation for the little, seemingly obvious, facts of life, Edsters. Truths like "always try your hardest" and "humility is never overrated" are bits I've heard throughout my entire life, but they mean so much more to me now.

If you can not only complete the tasks your bosses assign to you, but figure out ways to do them more efficiently or in a more organized manner, you'll stand out among your fellow interns. One of the tasks my bosses have mentioned they've appreciated most happened out of pure boredom--it was a slow day at the mag, so I went through a mass of Web copy before we posted it, and I found a number of copy editing oversights. When my boss wasn't busy, I pointed them out, and we ended up implementing a new step in the Web posting process because of it.

You can do it, Edsters. Even if it doesn’t feel like it’s happening—because I surely didn’t realize it was—you can stand out and prove you deserve the job they hired you for. You can take on more work than the sometimes-menial intern work, and you can start establishing yourself in the magazine industry before you even graduate. That’s my hope—that someone will remember my name after this summer. I’m feeling very inspired as of late, and I can’t wait for the perfect outlet of this pent-up creativity.

Fingers crossed for me and you! Let’s do more than we ever thought we could. How have your internships (or treks toward them) been going? Anything so exciting or incredibly stressful that you just have to share?? Let's hear it!

For now,

Ed's Web Intern

Avoiding Disaster 101: The Importance of Getting Deadlines

2011-08-03T08:00:00.003-04:00

So for the past six weeks or so, my internship has consisted largely of preliminary research – basically looking into stories and writing memos about what I find so editors can decide if the stories are worth pursuing for future issues. Sometimes I write lists of things to be made into graphics. But the point is, for the most part, I’m researching unscheduled, tentative stories, so everything is just sort of ongoing.

Imagine my surprise, then, when during a meeting I just happened to decide to attend I heard the editors discuss one of my stories, which, apparently, is scheduled for the December issue. And, apparently, the deadline for the December issue is next week. Whoa.

Now, obviously, this is awesome, because it means I’m going to be in print. Or at least, my research is going to be in print. Turns out one of the stories I was doing preliminary research for isn't so preliminary after all. The problem, though, is I had no idea this story was scheduled, or due anytime soon. I had actually thought it was one of the more tentative ones, so I had put it pretty low on my priority list and had been focusing on other things.

I rushed back to my office after the meeting and ditched everything else I was working on to finish researching this story, which I managed to pull together in about a day. I was frustrated, though, because I really felt like I could have done a better job with more time. But at the same time, I’m so excited to be in print, even if it is just as a research credit.

And it was a good lesson, too. I had assumed my editor would tell me if something I was working on was urgent, and it seems my editor had sort of assumed I understood the deadlines and production schedule (which I don’t, at all). So now I know. When I get an assignment, I ask about deadlines immediately so we’re all on the same page. Good lesson to learn with three weeks left, right?

What about you, Edsters? Any near crises you avoided?

See you next Wednesday,

Edit intern

5 Ways to Step Up at Your Internship

2011-08-02T08:00:00.004-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

Another week, another set of memories that have made my time in New York unlike any other. I’ve been given a lot at work to juggle, but I love the challenge. I know the work I’m doing — especially now and however small the task — is really helping my editors. The work of an intern may not appear in print, but it’s felt around the office. A better office environment means a smoother operation and stronger publication. Never doubt your impact.

But with the weeks flying by until my (and your) internship’s end unfortunately, now more than ever it’s important to step up. My editors know me now and what I’m capable of. They’ve come to trust my ability to do assignments. Now it’s time for me — and you — to use that relationship to your advantage!

The people I’ve talked to in the industry have told me the most memorable interns are the ones who do more than just what they’re told. They’re the interns that go the extra mile constantly. And they’re the interns to strive to be. So what’s their common traits? What did they do? The five ways to stand out like them:

1) Always do more. No matter what the task, always go above the minimum. This is a good habit to get into earlier rather than later. Example: Your editor asks you to brainstorm three ideas for such-and-such-page. The good intern does three quickly. The great intern does five and beyond. Always see the number an editor sets as a minimum, not a maximum. (This is especially important on the edit test you’ll take later on for EA positions!)

2) Take initiative. Have a bit of lag time? Pick up a long-term project to work on or better yet, ask editors you haven’t worked with if they have any assignments. Not only will it introduce you to them and allow you to build a working relationship, but it’ll show you’re not the intern to let time idle by. And in this industry, it’s that embrace of time and productivity that’s winning.

3) Ask for specific assignments. Have an interest in a certain area? Don’t be afraid now to ask your editor to send more assignments of that nature your way — it usually works. During one of my internships, for example, I really grew to love fact-checking pieces. I asked for more fact-checking assignments and ended up fact-checking cover stories! Your editors do want to make this a rewarding experience for you, and by hinting to them what you like working on best, they can customize it better for you.

4) Always volunteer — even for grunt work. Never let an opportunity to help pass you by. If an editor offers up an assignment (even if it’s a coffee-run or copying), volunteer and do it eagerly. Great interns maintain a positive, can-do attitude. Let that mentality shine. Editors do notice it. Case in point: at my first internship, one of the interns I worked with would always volunteer to go out, drive and get my editors’ lunches. She had graduated, and at the end of the summer, she ended up with a job there.

5) Continue to work quickly, efficiently and to prioritize. Stepping up may mean adding more to your plate, but the point is to show your editor you can handle it. Continue doing the more urgent assignments first — making those copies for your ed’s meeting, for example. Always put your best effort in with any assignments tossed your way. That means proofreading something as little as the email you type to your editor with it — the last thing you want your ed to see now is a silly typo. Demonstrate you’re smart: you do know how things run around the office, what your ed wants and what comes first. The result of this effort? Proof to your editor you’ve meshed in and that those bigger assignments are worth sending your way.

So what do you think, Edsters? How do you stand out on the job? And what’s the one thing no intern should ever do when trying to impress?

Until next week,
Women's Mag Intern

7 Things Every Intern Should (And Shouldn't!) Carry In Their Bag

2011-08-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday Edsters!

I’ve come a long way since my first (rainy) day at the Fashion Mag, and have learned tons about the fashion industry and New York City. Since this is my first internship, I came in not knowing what to expect at all. Now ten weeks have passed, and I’ve put together a list of essential items for the on-the-go intern. Many of you are on the search for your fall internship – refer back to this list once it starts!

My first week on the job, I carried enough items in my purse to fill a carry-on suitcase. Seriously, I would lug around my entire make-up case, jewelry, an umbrella, poncho (what was I thinking??), flats, a book, magazines, IPod, cell phone and charger, wallet, allergy and headache medication, contact lens solution, my glasses, band-aids, and tons of snacks, among other odds and ends.

Carrying all that around got old very quickly. Here’s all you need in your purse or messenger bag to survive a 12-hour day of interning:

1) iPod: Whether your commute is an hour on the train or 5 minutes walking, a bit of music in the morning will get you pumped up for your day and mellow you out at night. Also useful for runs to photo shoots and designers on the other side of town. I skip the books and magazines because they take up too much space and I never actually get around to reading them.

2) Wallet: I need to flash my ID every. single. time. I walk into my building. I have literally left and returned 30 seconds later; the doorman still needs to see my driver’s license. Don’t forget this.

3) Cell phone: To stay in contact with your editors all day, and to read the Intern Diaries on your smartphone on your lunch break! Unless your phone has terrible battery life, you can probably skip the charger.

4) Headache meds and bandages: These items are First Aid basics, and will come in handy when your shoes rub you the wrong way or a headache unexpectedly attacks. I stopped carrying my allergy meds because I didn’t really need them, but if you’re on a certain medication than by all means take it with you.

5) Facial blotting papers: I used to carry around my entire makeup bag at first, but after my second week I stopped because at the Fashion Mag, there’s no need to wear any heavy makeup that requires touching up! The editors and assistants here are big on natural beauty. However, facial blotting papers remove mid-day shine, and I always have some in my bag.

6) Snacks: Maybe this is just me, but I am always hungry! Whole grain pretzels, grapes, baby carrots and celery sticks get me through my day.

7) Flats or comfortable shoes: If you’re not wearing flats to begin with, be sure to carry around a comfy pair (many interns wear ballerina flats, but personally these hurt my heels) to slip into in case you need to go on a run – your feet will thank you.

The other stuff I do without because honestly, it’s unnecessary. For example, while its good to be prepared, I’ve never lost a contact lens before, making my glasses a waste of space. Same with the extra jewelry choices. Why I ever felt the need to bring backup rings and bracelets is beyond me. However, my exception is the umbrella. I carry that rain or shine – I still have flashbacks of rainy week 1 of my internship.

What’s in your bag? The bare essentials, or a whole department store?

XOXO,

Fashion Intern

Dealing With PR Reps 101

2011-07-30T08:00:00.002-04:00

Hey there Edsters! Most of you are interested in magazine journalism because you love to write. However, there are many other aspects of putting together a magazine. And depending on where you work, finding cool, new products for your readers is likely to be a large part of your job.

Here at the Fitness Mag, we’re always looking for exercise clothing, accessories, and gear, and this means dealing with a host of public relations representatives. Warning: My first interaction with a PR rep was pretty much a disaster.

However, I realized that it was not the norm, and I’ve become a lot more comfortable dealing with PR reps, in terms of what to tell them about the stories we’re working on, and how to politely say you’re not interested.

During my first week, Miss Editor asked me to contact someone from a NY-based fitness studio, so we could report on a new type of class they’re offering. Pretty basic, right?

Except that the PR rep was extremely difficult to get a hold of, and once she finally emailed me back (I called and emailed her several times), this is what went down: She emailed me on a Wednesday saying she needed “content overview” before she could release any photos or information. So, I emailed her back the gist of the article, looked up the information (pricing, etc.) I needed on my own, and waited for photos.

I emailed and called, and not until Monday, when I sent an email saying Fitness Mag wasn’t interested anymore, did she send photos. Then, I get an email saying…”To be honest, I am new in this position and was over-protective of our assets, I apologize for any and all hassle.”

Although I totally understand a new position can be confusing, I was worried the week-long struggle for photos would reflect poorly on my skills. Luckily, I casually pointed out the PR rep’s email when Miss Editor walked over, and she said it was not a big problem. Phew!

Since then, I’ve gone to two media events, and they went really well. The first was a huge brand that invited me to view their products at a swanky hotel in midtown. Although most of their products didn’t quite work for our demographic, I politely took the gifts and fact-sheets they offered, and said something like “I love what you have here. Our demographic is a little older, but I’ve really enjoyed the whole event” before I stashed some brownies in my purse and left.

The second was for high-end fitness apparel and gear, and I felt a little more prepared. Make sure to ask your editors what types of products they want you to keep an eye out for. Ask what price range they’re looking for, if they have any specific questions they like to ask at events, and what types of special issues and features are planned for the upcoming months.

After those media events and other positive experiences, I’ve learned that PR professionals are usually more than happy to help you find what you’re looking for.

What tools have you found useful in creating relationships with PR reps?

Till Next Saturday,

Fitness Intern

5 Ways To Make A Lasting Impression

2011-07-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday, Edsters!

At The Mag, we have organized intern lunches with some of the higher-up editors once or twice a week. It’s so interesting to hear everyone’s back-story, even if the job market has changed astronomically from when they were job-hunting. (One of our editors just casually established an international version of our magazine while she was living abroad when she was in her twenties. Just for fun. I feel like it doesn’t quite work that way these days.)

All of the editors also have great tips on making the most of your internship. I’ve compiled the best of their advice so far.

1. Editors remember interns who stay late. One of the major editors recommended a former intern for an EA position because the intern had stayed until 7 or 8 o’clock to research contact information for her. That same editor also mentioned how much she appreciated one of our current interns staying until 9:30 p.m. to transcribe a very long and important interview for her – on a Friday night!

2. You can switch from niche writing to general magazines. While hunting for jobs, one editor was told by potential employers that she couldn’t possibly transfer from business writing to entertainment writing. For a good writer, the problem isn’t moving between genres, but talking people into trusting you – because, if you really do have a way with words, of course you can write outside your comfort zone.

3. It’s all about networking and who you know. I’m sick of hearing it, too, but it’s true. An editor landed her gig at our mag because she worked with our Editor in Chief at another magazine previously. Of course, it's important to make an effort to keep in touch after your internship is over. Several editors recommend using the holiday season as an excuse to check in with previous employers.

4. Face-to-face meetings > phone calls > emails. Don't like java? Suck it up. One of my friends recently described the cup of coffee as the new office smoke break, because it's become an invaluable networking tool. My editors have confirmed this – each has said something like, “Give someone a call and ask them if they could take fifteen minutes to talk over a cup of coffee.” Editors remember faces and conversations, and they’re likelier to consider you for a position opening up if you’ve gone out of your way to introduce yourself.

5. Play nicely with the other interns. Your current lunch-buddies are your future colleagues, so stepping all over them to make yourself look better will only hurt you in the long-term. It’s surprising how many editors found positions through friends they made interning at unknown publications.

Have you heard any invaluable tips for making a memorable impression, Edsters?

Unforgettably yours,

Features Intern

How Do You Deal With A Horrible Boss?

2011-07-28T08:00:00.004-04:00

This has been a long week for me, Edsters…the kind when I find myself drinking coffee three times a day, but never quite finding time for dinner. Where I’m constantly running, but I never feel like I completely accomplish anything.

Things have been awesome at the mag. The other Web interns and I have finished building all the new articles/slide shows/etc. for the last issue, but we’re also trying to organize everything for the new slew of interns who are about to replace us. Basically, we’re trying to think of everything we wish we would have known coming in and figuring out the best way to make sure all the future webbies know them. Not to mention, with the September issue fast approaching, things are about to get even busier. But the mag isn’t my source of stress. No, it’s somewhere else.

It’s in my part-time job as counter help in some division of food service. Okay, so it’s not a significant job—just something little to get me through the weeks. Lately, though, I feel like it’s been my New York initiation. My boss is a terrific jerk. While he’s at work, he finds no fault in screaming at us in front of a store full of customers. You’ll have to trust me on this, Edsters, since I can’t tell you the specifics on what he’s yelling about…but they’re always stupid rants. I’ve seen customers walk out of the store because of his behavior. I’ve had customers apologize to me on his behalf because he was so rude. And when he’s not in the store? He’s at home watching the security cameras from his laptop…calling in to the store about every 10 minutes to yell at us. I’m really not exaggerating at all.

I thought about quitting because the way he treats us is so incredibly disrespectful that it’s almost degrading to stand for, but three things are keeping me employed.

1. I get to eat every week (haha).

2. I’m proving to myself that this is a temporary means to get where I want to go—that I’m strong enough to deal with a New York jerk.

3. Apparently he tends to stiff you your last week or two of pay if you quit your job. Ya, I’m not kidding. I guess some people are considering legal action.

So, while it’s not the end of the world, that’s been unnecessarily frustrating as of late. But if that’s the worst of my New York experiences, I’m definitely not going to complain. I’ve been trying to clench my teeth when he yells at me for doing something today he taught me to do yesterday. I don’t think I’ll be able to stay silent all summer, but we’ll see how that one goes.

Have you ever dealt with a terrible boss? I know I’ll have to keep some type of side work for quite a while until I can hope to make it big in the magazine industry—I think it’s the nature of the situation. It’s probably good, though, because it’ll help make connections with unexpected people outside of the magazine world. But back to terrible bosses, how’d you deal with yours, Edsters? I’d love to hear it!

For now,
Ed's Web Intern

How Can You Be Eager Without Being Annoying?

2011-07-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

My internship is officially more than half over! I can’t believe how fast it’s going – feels like I just started.

For the most part, the first half of the summer has been good. A learning experience, for sure, and different than I expected, but I feel like it’s been valuable and I think I’ve learned a lot about the office, like how a story gets from idea to publication, how long the research process takes, and generally which editor is responsible for what.

One thing I haven’t quite figured out, though, is my relationship with my editor. Specifically, I’m struggling to figure out when and how much to check in.

Here’s the thing. At my past internships, the offices have either had cubicles or been totally open. With those set-ups, my bosses would walk by me multiple times per day, and so checking in sort of happened naturally. At the mag, that is not the case. Everyone has their own office, which is awesome, but it doesn’t do much to facilitate conversation.

For the first few weeks, I was checking in with my editor every morning, updating him on my progress and getting the meeting schedule for the day. Those daily check-ins started to feel useless, though, and I felt like I was annoying my extremely busy editor.

So I moved to checking in only when I couldn’t do any more work without guidance. And then slowly I moved to just emailing questions to my editor instead of stopping by. This is well and good, but it means I sometimes go days without talking to my boss, which seems strange.

This past week, I only saw my boss once, and I had to email him to see if there was a time he was free for me to drop by. This seemed a little odd to me, and I worry that he’s going to think I’m not being proactive enough, when really I’m just trying not to be annoying. I still don’t know my editor that well – we never did have that lunch I mentioned earlier – so I’m a little worried about his impression of me.

I think next week I might try to make sure I at least email my editor at least once a day (ideally with a substantial update), so he knows that I’m in the office and I’m working. But I don’t know if that’s an ideal set-up, either.

So, what do you think, Edsters? How often do you check in with your editors, and where’s the line between being eager and being annoying?

Xoxo,
Edit intern

5 Ways to Time Manage Like a Pro

2011-07-26T08:00:00.003-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

Time is flying by, and it’s crazy to think I’m more than halfway through my internship. The finish line is approaching, but the last thing I want to do is cross it. I’ve had so much fun here, and I’ve fallen in love with this city and my position.

I get thrown a lot of things now. You could say my internship is like a guy ready to take the next step in our relationship: since the second half of my internship started, my editors have been giving me much more important tasks and putting more faith in me. It’s a testament to my work, and the last thing I want to do is let them down. That’s why now more than ever I’ve been relying on one key skill: my ability to multitask efficiently.

Never say no to an assignment. It’s something I truly believe in as an intern. It’s your job to help as much as you can. A little nervous about a new task? We’ve all been there, but it’s important to push yourself and set aside your shyness or reservations. Go for it, and know the most rewarding assignments are the ones that push people out of their comfort zone. You can do it (that’s why your editor gave it to you), and you’ll grow from it!

But what happens when things pile up, and you just don’t know where to begin? You’ve got five different assignments on your plate, and five different editors who need your help. Of course you accept them all, but what do you do first? How do you keep your work at its best on each assignment you do? The answer is surprisingly simple: get organized. I’m all about good time management, and I’ve found the best interns and editors I’ve come across share that ability to prioritize.

How to go about it? These are the five tips I’ve seen that have really helped me.

1) Prioritize your assignments. One thing my editors really emphasized at my internship was that different assignments have different urgencies. While it’s easy to feel you need to get everything done ASAP, the eds at the mag really highlighted the importance of weighing assignments. Think about each in terms of its deadline urgency, time commitment and nature. And when you don’t trust your own judgment, be completely sure by asking an editor how urgently they need something done. It’s always better safe than sorry!

2) Make a to-do list. I live by my Post-It note to-do lists — no joke! (I have six hanging over my desk now). Making a to-do list at work (or school) helps me keep a list of what I need to do always in sight. I order my projects and then cross them off. And let me tell you, nothing feels as awesome as a to-do list with all checks. It’s a constant reminder of all you’ve done.

3) Use your computer’s calendar. Whether it’s iCal or the calendar function on Entourage, set reminders for important, time-sensitive tasks. For example, I’ll set reminders for myself to follow-up or email people if they don’t respond to me by the end of the work day. Having that reminder pop up on my screen when I first come in the next day really helps me keep track of what should be done first.

4) Use your downtime productively. Even if you have nothing urgent on your plate, don’t let any day go to waste at your internship. Take time between assignments to research or work on ongoing projects. It’ll show you’re taking initiative, and chances are your editor will love it if you send a completed assignment in before he or she requests it.

5) Build in little breaks. It can be so easy to get swept away and overwhelmed by work, but it’s so important to build in five minutes between assignments to get up and let your mind clear. Take a water break. If it’s around noon, take lunch. Don’t be afraid to take a couple minutes to get away from work so when you jump back in, you’re fresh.

So what do you think, Edsters? How do you manage your time? And what’s the organization technique you live by?

Until next time,
Women’s Mag Intern

When Should You Suck Up To Get Ahead?

2011-07-25T08:00:00.004-04:00

They’re everywhere – sneaky, pushy, annoying and in plain view for everyone to see. No, I’m not talking about the flyaway frizzies my hair gets when it rains, I’m talking about something much more irritating: the office suck-up.

I’ve heard stories about people going out of their way to please their bosses, editors, managers, whomever – but never did I witness anything like that until I started my fashion internship.

Let me tell you about the Fashion Mag’s resident suck-up; let’s call her the Queen of the Interns. Because, due to her shameless hierarchy-climbing tactics, that’s exactly what she is.

The Queen of the Interns started her internship a week or two before I did, but while I took my time slowly getting used to the water, she dove right in with a splash.

The Queen’s actions were small and innocent at first. Coming in a few minutes early, staying a few minutes late. Nothing wrong here – I’ve done the same when I’ve been assigned a large return. But what started off as 10 minutes turned into an hour, sometimes even beating the fashion assistants and editors themselves to the office.

Still, the other interns and I barely noticed. We’re all in the same boat and will do anything to make ourselves stand out. All’s fair in love and war fashion, right? HA.

However, eventually the Queen crossed the line. A simple mid-day run to Starbuck’s revealed the Queen’s true colors.

Grande beverages in hand, she casually paraded over to one of the editor's desk.

“Editor,” the Queen said, “Starbucks made me two drinks by accident, do you want the other one?”

You could hear the jaws of the other interns hitting the floor. Somehow, I have a feeling that the “accident” had a $5 price tag.

Since then, the Queen has been receiving more substantial assignments, while the rest of us spend our time maintaining the fashion closet.

Don’t get me wrong – the Queen is a dedicated and ambitious intern. She’s also intelligent and friendly. But the way she interacts with assistants and editors makes her seem like she’ll do anything to get to the top, even through excessive flattery.

Maybe the Queen has the right idea. Maybe that’s how to get ahead in this industry. But I just can’t see myself as a brown-noser. Then again, fashion is just my summer fling; editorial is where my heart lies. Perhaps if I were carrying out an editorial internship I’d feel differently.

What do you think, Edsters? Should you try and win brownie points with your higher ups through flattery, or is old-fashioned hard work the way to go?

How To Be An Expert on Everything (Or At Least Fake It)

2011-07-23T08:00:00.003-04:00

It was the first week of my fitness internship when I realized I didn’t own a pair of sneakers. I had just settled in to the city, and decided I should go ahead and splurge on a gym membership if my career (for the next few months at least) was going to be about exercise and nutrition.

Now, I’m no Heidi Klum, but I can safely say that I have been blessed with a fast metabolism that has afforded me the luxury of being able to eat what I want and never gain weight. So, besides a few yoga classes every once in a while, I’ve never really had to work out.

Anyhow, I found a gym close to my apartment and was prepared to walk over and sign up for my membership, but it occurred to me that the only sneakers I owned were converse. Yikes! How embarrassing. My roommates got a big kick out of the situation, but I started to wonder how the heck I was going to make it through an internship with the fitness department when I didn’t know much about the subject. But then it dawned on me: Journalists don’t have to practice what they preach.

You may be rolling your eyes, thinking I didn’t deserve this position. But not everyone that writes for magazines exemplifies their readers. Two great examples: The EIC of Inked magazine doesn’t have any tattoos, and the editor of a top foodie magazine once told me she loved McDonald’s fries (and had her wedding catered by a fast food joint!).

My point? Sometimes you need to BS your way through an internship or job. I previously interned for a men’s magazine, and I didn’t exactly have a lot in common with their main demographic. But I was still a kick a** intern.

How, you ask? Every morning I searched through men’s fashion blogs, men’s magazine websites, and cultural websites like urbandaddy.com that would give me an insight into the male readers’ mind--what they want to see, purchase, and read. And for my fitness internship, I’ve done the same but with exercise and nutrition. Follow people on twitter that are experts on your main research area. Ask your editors what their favorite blogs are. Buy your competitor’s magazines to get a feel for the trends they’ve already covered.

Writers do countless hours of research and interview experts for their articles, so you don’t have to know everything about your subject going in to an internship. The reason I love journalism is because I’m able to report about so many different things, and I’m slowly becoming an “expert” on just about anything.

Till Next Saturday,
Fitness Intern

How To Deal With Jerks On The Job

2011-07-22T08:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday, Edsters! Are you humming Katy Perry’s Friday-themed jam, or are you still stuck on Rebecca Black?

A few days ago at work, one of the editors asked me to do her the favor of tracking down a DVD of a documentary that premiered recently on a local channel. That sounded easy enough, and I set to work looking up PR contacts, making phone calls, sending emails, the usual. For some reason, the network didn’t have a copy of the DVD, so they put me in touch with the producer, who wound up taking a real attitude with me. In a condescending voice, he told me, “Well, I would need to know more about why your editor wants that tape. I mean, I produced it. As much as I appreciate good press, I would want to know what it’s for.”

I replied, “Okay, sir, I know you may not understand how internationally-acclaimed magazines work, so let me break it down for you: when an editor says jump, I jump, and if you care at all about your craft, you jump with me, and that aside, this is like a three-inch jump, more of a hop really, and I’m sure that it wouldn’t kill you to slap a postage stamp on a DVD case and ship it right over, so would you please just be compliant so I can tell my editor I’ve gotten this done before my lunch break?”

I’m kidding, obviously. I didn’t say that. However, he wound up speaking to me so rudely that I may as well have (and wish I had).

More on that in a minute. I proceeded to politely promise him that I’d ask my editor why she wanted the tape and get back to him. It turned out that she was just interested in seeing the film (but, if it was showing on any other major networks soon, she added that we would be happy to promote it), which removed the pressure of operating under an ASAP deadline. When I explained all this to the producer, he said that he’d lent a couple of tapes out, but that he’d probably get one back within a week, and that he’d send it over then. I thanked him and told him I’d check in with him on Thursday.

Sounds good, right? But then, Thursday rolled around.

On Thursday, I called him once, left a message on his voicemail, and sent him an email checking in on the status of the tapes. Within the hour, I was sitting meekly at my cubicle with my ear pressed to the phone getting screamed at for doing my job. Here’s the gist of it:

“Listen up. I don’t know who you are. I don’t know who your boss is. I have never heard of The Mag before. I am the producer of this film. It is not my job to distribute copies to people who could get it from other places. I have cancer. I don’t want to send a copy to your office, but I’m going to, but I don’t want to hear from you any more, got it? No more phone calls, no more emails. Just leave me alone!"

Oh. Oh, wow. Okay. I think I stammered something along the lines of, “I understand, goodbye,” and dropped the receiver as though I’d just realized I’d been pressing a giant worm to my ear instead. I wasn’t upset or mad, exactly – I know a lot of people aren’t crazy about journalists, and obviously, this guy was just behaving like a jerk. Mostly, I was worried he would renege on his word and that we wouldn’t receive the tape from him.

With that concern in mind, I explained the situation to my manager, who then had me tell the editor what went down (which was a little embarrassing in and of itself – I didn’t want to walk into her office whining, “THIS SCARY MAN WAS MEAN TO ME!”). This editor is one of my favorites at the paper – she’s so practical and brilliant, and her stories are all so hard-hitting. Anyway, she called the producer a word I wouldn’t use around my grandma, and thus, in a blog post, so I’m just going to substitute the word “puppy” and let you use your imagination.

My editor’s advice for dealing with puppies: “Well, he was a puppy. Some people are just puppies. You’re going to talk to puppies. And now that you’ve talked to a puppy, the next time you pick up the phone and there’s a puppy on the other line, you’re going to be like, ‘Oh, he’s a puppy.’ Don’t worry about it.”

Sounds reasonable to me. I’m lucky to have a pretty stable temper, so people speaking rudely to me almost never incites me to speak rudely back to them; I’m glad I was able to stay calm and professional. I agree with my editor – I think the best thing to do is mentally acknowledge that someone is a jerk and remind yourself that you’re above behaving unprofessionally, even if the man shrieking at you on the other end of the line isn’t.

Have you ever had to deal with a “puppy” while you’re on the clock? What are some of your tips for staying calm?

I recommend yoga. Namaste,
Features Intern

So You Wanna Be A Freelancer

2011-07-21T08:00:00.003-04:00

EDSTERS!
The MOST Beautiful, Lovely, Fantastic, Incredible Week!
I truly cannot believe the experiences that are unfolding before me this summer. As I type, I’m sitting in a 24-hour diner I found three blocks from my building. Greasy? Yes. But there’s an outlet and free refills on coffee, so when I’m in the mood to greet the sunrise, we’re the best of friends.

ANYWAY, why am I in the diner tonight? Lovely Edsters, not only do I have an incredible internship at the men’s magazine while I’m blogging for Ed, but I just became a real, live New York City freelancer! (I filled out the tax forms and everything!) Let’s just say I’ve been able to meet one of the most incredibly busy and driven people I’ve ever known, and, through some stroke of incredible luck, I’ve impressed her. I’m working on a couple projects at the moment, some copy editing, some composing story intros and query letters, others organizing for business expansion, but it’s pretty much the most incredible opportunity I never saw coming this summer!

She’s introduced me to other people she knows in various careers, and I’m trying my hardest to stay professional, yet personable, and interesting, while competent. I’m pushing my networking to the max, and I’m really impressed with how cool people are with texting. That is still something I’m getting used to. I wouldn’t recommend it, Edsters. I view it as unprofessional. I tend to veer toward e-mail in the professional form, but when these contacts text me, I mean, yeah, I text back. I think it’s really cool to be able to know people on multiple platforms—if you are careful and make sure it’s mutually understood, I think you can meet people in both personal and professional environments. I know that’s what’s helping me get ahead.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

-Make sure you’re trustworthy. Obvious, I know. But if you hear some grumblings in the office or your boss for some reason reveals a little tidbit of info to you, try to keep it hushed if it seems it should be. My boss made a point of talking to be about how appreciative she is that she knows she can trust me. It’ll set you apart from the other interns mixing dirt in the break room.

-Pay attention to what people around the office are saying. Working at any magazine is awesome, but regardless of how much it does or doesn’t pay, you can pretty much guarantee everyone is working on some type of solo project. Maybe it’s secret, and they don’t want people to know, or maybe (like in my case) they need some extra help to make sure they meet deadlines and goals. If they mention a project, ASK THEM ABOUT IT. Don’t be pushy, but Do be interested.

-Meet your contacts’ contacts if you can. Ask for business cards/phone numbers (depending on the situation you’re in). Then, follow up. Contact them while they still remember you, and stay in touch every couple weeks or once a month—you need them to remember you. If something comes up that needs a few extra hands, they aren’t going to remember a kid they met that one time last year. They’re going to remember who they talked to yesterday and perhaps recommend that person—make sure it’s you!

-Then, if you get the chance to freelance for something awesome, CELEBRATE, and then give it your all! Now that I have this freelancing gig, I’m working so hard to impress my boss. I want her to know I’m not just some intern who can walk in and out of the building each day. I really feel like this isn’t “working toward our futures” anymore. This isn’t waiting to “grow up,” either. This is real life—we’ve grown up and we’re in the proverbial “future.” I think this is the time when we can choose if we stand idle or fly forward. Me? I’m not going to wait until I graduate college to start thinking about professional projects. Nope, I decided I want the cool parts to start now. If you’re feeling the same, I promise you can do it, too!

Hope your internships are working out and growing incredibly! Any questions? Success stories? Grumbles? Tell me, tell me, tell me!

For now,
Ed’s Web Intern

4 Tips For Pitching Magazine Stories

2011-07-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

On Monday I opened my email to see a note from my editor: “Got an assignment for you if you want it – potential for a byline!”

I didn’t even bother to open the rest of my unread messages. I just grabbed my notebook and my pen and walked as calmly as I could to my editor’s office. We chatted about our weekends, and then I asked, “So you said you had an assignment?”

My editor explained that he had an idea for a new front of the book feature, but before they could go ahead with it they needed a list of six to eight ideas. If my ideas were approved, I could even write some of the features!

So I ran back to my desk and started searching for feature ideas. I had a few other tasks to complete, but I blew through those as fast as I could to have time to get back to my feature pitches.

A few days later, I sent a list of pitches to my editor that I was very happy with. But of my eight pitches, my editor liked two of them.

When I got my editor’s email back telling me to keep working, it felt sort of like a punch in the gut. This was a chance for me to demonstrate my creativity and news judgment, and to get a byline, and I was disappointed that I didn’t blow my editor away.

So I kept researching, despite the blow to my ego, and a day later I sent my boss a new list of ideas. After a few more emails, I had a full set of eight approved pitches that are now waiting to be written. It was a lot more work than I expected, especially considering these are 200-word front of the book features, but I learned a lot about pitching for a magazine along the way. Here are some tips:

1. If your magazine has a really long lead time, you can’t pitch stories based on front page news. At my first internship at a newspaper, the way I had been told to find story ideas was to read The New York Times and other papers and to see if I could find a new angle to one of the stories. I tried this for my mag pitches – took popular news stories and found an angle appropriate to our readership – but my editor pointed out that when the story runs in eight months, it’s going to seem strange.

2. That said, a pitch still needs a news hook. My editor’s favorite pitches were the ones that were based on developing stories that might still be in the news six months from now. This is hard to do, because it sort of requires trying to look into the future. But it does make for some interesting stories.

3. Do your research. The more you know about the topic you’re pitching a story about, the better job you’ll be able to do of selling your pitch and convincing someone else the topic is interesting. I reported some of the pitches – made phone calls and did research – and it really helped, even though it took more time.

4. Sell it. Come up with a creative lede. Give your editor enough information about the topic to intrigue her, and then ask questions that you want to know and that your editor, having been given a little bit of information, will be dying to know, too.

Obviously I’m not an expert, but these are a few things I picked up during my first attempt at pitching. What are your secrets to pitching stories, Edsters?

Until next time,

Edit intern

3 Ways to Rock Informational Interviews

2011-07-19T08:00:00.005-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

I’m getting ready to enter the second half of my internship, and it’s crazy to think I only have a month left in New York. I’ve really grown to love working at my office and can’t imagine (nor really want to) that soon enough I’ll be back at college in classes. New York is such a tease for life after graduation, but I know I’ll be back soon enough, tackling another internship and someday a job (at least I hope!).

With a month to go, what has become really important to me is taking the opportunity to network with people across the industry. Because I’ve been told so many jobs are word-of-mouth, I feel it’s especially important to start building your network early. And the advantage of being in New York to do that? You can have in-person meetings as opposed to phone interviews. The people you meet will put a face to your voice, which sets a great foundation for when you follow up through email, phone and eventually meet again.

But the appeal of informational interviews goes beyond building a network: hearing the stories of how others broke into the industry is so inspiring. Everyone has their own way to New York, but one element unites all their stories: a bit of luck. It’s reassuring to see the different paths everyone has taken because ultimately, mine and yours will be one-of-a-kind too. Same destination, different journey.

So what makes informational interviews difficult when working here? The time limit. Example: the other week, I had an informational interview set during my lunch hour at a different corporation. I factored in 15 minutes for travel when I scheduled a time with the editor, but that still didn’t help me when the trains ran slower than I thought, and I ended up having trouble flagging down the building when I got down there. I was a little late, but the meeting went fine. It was like every other informational interview I had — only set to a ticking clock and the back-thought that I had to get back to work and depending on the train, it would take me 15 minutes or more to do so. Half of my lunch break would be travel; the other half interview.

So how to make the most of the little time you have? I have found three things really helped me:

1) Have questions planned in advance. This is the biggest. Before I went on my interview, I had a sticky note with points I wanted to ask about. That helped me use my time to my advantage and get the most out of my meeting.

2) Have your resume on hand. Instead of having to explain all you’ve done, having a resume to give the person you meet — a visual map — will allow them to just skim your experience quickly as you guide them through the main points (“I interned at X, Y and Z). The less time you talk, the more time they can about their story and advice they have for you.

3) Plan on having a follow-up. Know it’s OK not to talk about everything you’d like during your first informational with this person — in fact, it may be even smart to save some questions for an e-mail or phone follow-up. Relationships shouldn’t end after your informational interview – that first in-person meeting should just be the beginning. I always make a point to send an immediate thank-you email after I leave an interview, for example. Correspondence should never end at good-bye there. So check back on occasion with the people you talk with — send them updates. Though next summer’s far away, it’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s internship and using the people you meet now to help you find and apply for them.

So what do you think, Edsters? How would you approach an interview when time is short? And what tips do you have for writing great follow-ups?

Wishing you the best always! XOXO,
Women’s Mag Intern

Navigating New York City: Small Fish in a Big Pond

2011-07-18T08:00:00.004-04:00

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been telling anyone who would listen that I aspire to work in New York City one day. The ladies of Sex and the City made New York look so glamorous, and I wanted to immerse myself in the city’s culture.

Let’s get real.

I’ve always had big city dreams, but the truth is as a Jersey girl I’ve been to New York more in the past month than I’ve been for the last 10 years. Therefore, I had no actual knowledge of the city. I’ve only been on the subway once before my internship!

So what do I get when I combine my lack of experience navigating the city, my terrible sense of direction, and a fashion internship?

The most rewarding summer of my life.

As I mentioned in a previous post, runs are a common duty of most fashion interns. Often, the editors give us a list of places to pick up samples from. Many of my fellow interns live in New York, so finding a location isn’t a problem. However, for me it’s a HUGE problem.

Fortunately, I discovered an intern’s best friends: Google and HopStop.com. Okay, so you clearly live under a rock if you don’t use Google, but it’s honestly a lifesaver. Instead of asking my editor for the address of places, I look them up myself. (But if you’re confused, definitely ask your editor – it’s better to be certain than to waste time and go to the wrong location!)

The second, HopStop.com, is the only reason how I have managed to get the job done at my internship. The site serves major cities across the U.S. and gives specific directions on how to get from point A to point B. It literally guides you every step of the way – from the office to the subway to the street. The only downsides I’ve encountered are that it doesn’t always direct you to the shortest route possible, and doesn’t factor in delays or construction. However, until I become more comfortable with the subway system, I’ll continue using HopStop.

So have no fear, any fellow non-New Yorkers! If I can find my way around, anyone can. Although my first few times on the subway were nerve-racking, I’m glad that I have the opportunity to learn my way around – a skill I will undoubtedly use for the rest of my life.

How do you find your way around your city? Are you a knowledgeable native, or a newbie like me?

See you on the subway,
Fashion Intern

Southern in the City

2011-07-16T08:00:00.008-04:00

Greetings from my closet-sized bedroom in the world's teeniest apartment! As most of my posts have been strictly business thus far, I’ve decided to get a little more personal this week and let you in on some of the juicy details of my life. As I mentioned in my first post, I love all things southern and was pretty worried about the transition to life in NY. But aside from my Chic-fil-A withdraws (it’s normal to have shaky hands, right?) and inability to master the subway system, I’m absolutely loving the city! In fact, I've decided I'm staying here no matter what.

Going from a big house with a yard to a very small apartment with no living room, washer/dryer or dishwasher was definitely an adjustment. But as a wise professor once said, “With so much to do in New York, why would you spend time in your apartment?” And she was right. Concerts, picnics, museums and late night strolls have dominated my free time, and I can feel myself growing in every way possible. People complain because NY is expensive, and I’ve definitely chimed in at times (Six dollars for cereal…seriously people!?), but I’ve also found that there’s so much free entertainment! People-watching in the East Village is enough to keep me entertained for an entire Saturday. Two highlights of my time in NY have been Rainbow City, a crazy art installation in Chelsea (pictured above), and the Gay Pride Parade.

NYC Pride was particularly moving because the state passed a law legalizing gay marriage the day before the parade. Especially coming from the south, where homosexuals aren’t (for the most part) as accepted in our culture, it was a really amazing experience to witness all of the love, support and celebration of individuality that embodies NYC Pride. Couples marched down the streets carrying signs reading “31 Years”, and preachers followed behind in support. I love Tennessee, but let's be honest, that would never happen there.

Rainbow City is an art installation at the lot on 30th street in Chelsea. It’s one of the neat cultural attractions that makes me so happy that I’m able to be here, experiencing everything the world has to offer.

What have been your favorite experiences in NY so far, edsters? Would you move here after college?

XOXO,
Fitness Intern

How to Avoid Running in Heels: My Tips For Surviving The Most Menial Intern Duties

2011-07-15T08:00:00.005-04:00

Every morning when I dash from the subway into work, often stumbling as I change from flip-flops to stilettos, I have a little “oh, my God, do I really get to work here?” moment. The gleaming, idyllic lobby; the perfectly groomed, coiffed, and outfitted women (occasionally, I’ll see a man or two. Occasionally.) towering over me in pair upon pair of fantastic heels… It’s all very glamorous.

And some days, the work I do even feels glamorous. Other days, I’m stuck filing papers, or sent traipsing around the city in the rain or in 90-degree heat on missions I can best describe as menial. It’s not that I mind changing the toner in the printer or heading out for a Starbucks run – I know I’m making myself useful and helping The Mag run, in my own little way.

But sometimes, when I’m calling to see why an editor’s magazine subscription didn’t arrive the previous month, or moving a bookshelf in aforementioned stilettos with two other interns, or delivering packages well after my work day allegedly ends in unfamiliar parts of the city, I can’t help but think, is this really in my job description?

At any rate, it doesn’t bother me to pay my dues – well, except for the one day I was stuck making phone calls and one of the other interns was writing a story for the website. Then I was feeling kind of cranky. I don’t usually mind scurrying around as long as the weather’s nice. Why should I complain about not having to sit in a cubicle all day?

Besides, doing what I’m told with a good attitude has paid off, from what I can see. Now that I’ve been here for a few weeks, my bosses not only trust me, but they give me a lot more work that I’m interested in doing, like research and transcribing interviews. (They also haven’t asked me to pick up cupcakes again, I’ve noticed. Hm.)

My best tips regarding the less-than-glamorous work an intern can get slammed with on a daily basis? Be cheerful, ask your boss for directions if you’re not sure where you’re going, never forget a receipt, and keep a pair of flip-flops or flats under your desk. No one likes to run in heels.

What’s the most annoying task-work you’ve ever been landed with at your internship? Mine involves standing in line for three-and-a-half hours at the crack of dawn... All right, 9 a.m...

Sometimes menially yours,
Features Intern

The Best Part About Working For A National Mag (Hint: Inside Celeb Scoop)

2011-07-14T08:00:00.004-04:00

Ohhhh, Edsters. Does the Men’s Magazine have some dirt?! And boy is it good. And boy are we sworn to secrecy about it until the story goes live. But boyyy is it good.

So, seeing as I can’t tell you lovelies who I am or what magazine to peruse the SECOND the story gets published, I’m sorry for the teaser. But being in the know for any publication is one of the most exciting little adventures the office can hold. It’s very much like a flashback to high school—you hear a murmur…you look around…wait, what was that they said?...strain your ears a little…and in a minute, the whole office is talking. Yaaa…so maybe some celebs had a fling and tried to keep it quiet—until one of them spilled it all. I mean, let’s just open THAT can.

That’s what I’ve been loving a lot this week. The other interns and I have been invited to some of the meetings going on around the office. Sometimes that means really boring ones with just updates and sometimes that means really interesting ones, like when we get briefed on the upcoming issue. Since my last blog, I’ve been keeping true to my hopes, and I’ve been trying to network at these meetings. I’ve been able to meet people from the fashion department, people who take chare of all our PR inquiries, and the associated editor. Very awesome. I mean, I know we all know it, but contacts are completely indispensible. It also helps for future conversations, too.

For example, I’m waiting by the printer. Associate editor walks up. Maybe there’s a second of silence, but then I remember an interview he was really jazzed to have today. He had mentioned it at the last meeting. So, YES, I asked him about it. Not only was he double excited to get to talk about it again, but I got more inside scoop on our next issue. I’m building a relationship and learning about the magazine at the same time. Just make sure you take advantage of every single opportunity. This summer is going by way too fast, already. Everything counts.

I hear a lot of people admit this, and it’s true: Magazines are incestuous. If people haven’t worked at a magazine, they know someone who has or does. And as uptight as I imagined New York to be, everyone I’ve met around the office and the building has been incredibly nice and willing to help. Everyone is someone you can turn back to (hopefully) and ask for advice next summer or after graduation.

So for now, I’m still soaking up the excitement that’s always around the office. I found a part-time job (yay!) and I am pretty much a pro at the subway system. Every magazine has its little secrets and stories—and sometimes they’re soooo hard to keep! How about it, Edsters? Keep it anonymous and void of too many details, but what have YOU been dying to spill? Make it juicy!

For now,
Ed’s Web Intern

How Do You Find Ways to Stay Motivated in an Unhappy Internship?

2011-07-13T08:00:00.013-04:00

I think the biggest issue for me is that no one cares about the work I’m doing. It’s been hard to find intrinsic motivation because the work isn’t inherently interesting or challenging, but as an intern I kind of expected that. What makes it difficult, for me at least, is that the work I do doesn't seem crucial to the operation of the mag. Mostly, I'm working on small blog posts that are nice but unnecessary.

Often, I feel like my editor has to search for things for me to do. I almost feel annoying asking for work sometimes, because I think he spends more time searching for tasks for me than he saves by having me do them. Even when I am given a task, it rarely comes with a deadline or any sense of urgency, and occasionally I think my editor just makes things up to get me to stop asking (like when he tells me to research something for a potential front of the book story for the February issue).

The worst feeling, though, at least for me, is that because my work isn’t urgent or crucial, I sometimes feel like more of an annoyance than a necessary addition to the office. And I know I’m an intern, and interns don’t usually have critical roles. But the way this mag runs, I can leave for hours and no one will notice. (I didn’t just leave work, of course, but I did go to a day-long presentation I had cleared with my ed first. When I came back, I had no new emails, no missed calls, and my ed hadn’t even noticed I wasn’t there.)

I've talked to the assistant editor about this (she's the one who I had lunch with early on and who is also new to the mag), and she sympathizes, but doesn't have much for me to do, either. I'm trying to find a way to get more involved, but it's hard because I'm still learning how the mag operates, and no one has taken me up on my lunch offers yet!

I don’t want to be negative, but I need help, Edsters! How do you stay motivated? I want to do a good job and I want to learn everything I can, but without deadlines, a challenge or at least the sense the mag needs me in some small way, I’m having a hard time enjoying this internship as much as I want to. Advice on making the most of it?

Until next Wednesday,
Edit Intern

New to New York? 5 Ways to Adjust Easily

2011-07-12T08:00:00.005-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

Next week marks the halfway point for my internship, and it’s amazing how fast time has gone. It’s hard to believe just a month ago I was sitting on my front porch, looking out at my suburban neighborhood and just trying to imagine what New York and my internship would be like. It’s been such a journey, and there’s so much more to go.

When I look back, however, I see this experience as more than just conquering the work day. I’ve learned so much at work, but I’ve learned even more about myself as a person and my ability to adapt in new environments from living on my own in New York.

I won’t sugarcoat it and say adjustment is easy, especially when you’re living in a new place is as big, exciting and intimidating as New York. I’ve grown to love the city, but it wasn’t always like that. There were tears over bad directions, frustration over the complicated subway and heartbreak over leaving behind all my friends, family and the familiar.

I had an advantage from the start: I had gotten to know a big city before — D.C. — and I had visited New York a couple times. Settling into urban life versus suburban or rural wasn’t an issue for me. And for directions? I had my iPhone, whose map application has been a lifesaver when it comes to the subway and what line to take. Seriously, since being here, the greatest nightmare I can imagine would be losing my phone while traveling; I’ve become that reliant.

Perhaps the hardest thing for me, however, was finding a group of people to be with. While there were some people from my college up here, scattered around the city, there was really no cohesive group of people I was close to. I’m a little younger than most people from my college here so I didn’t know them that well, and my friends at home were all, well, home or working in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. I was essentially on my own.

But I wasn’t the only one. After talking to other interns at Ed’s intern party (a great way to meet people and set the foundation for summer friendships), I was surprised to find we were all kind of lost and lonely. We spent our weekends on our own, exploring the city and doing things by ourselves. Some people were lucky to have big groups here; but just as many were working on building circles of friends. We were all a little desperate for company.

It definitely takes time to really find a group and comfortable groove (I’m still working on it and suspect I will continue until the end of the summer). It’s important to remember though, that at the end of the day it’s OK to feel a little lonely. It’s OK not to be a fish in water here in New York because many people aren’t. With time, everything gets better. Just have a good attitude and keep your spirits up — it’ll help you get through the rough patch.

Working here has really shown me interning in a new place is more than just getting used to working a new job — it’s about getting to know the place too, and both are equal adjustments. The following are five tips that have really hit home for me this summer — hopefully they will help you, too:

1. Use your resources. It’s OK to have the subway map out. It’s OK to rely on your phone. Don’t fear looking like a tourist when you really don’t get it. Don’t feel stupid turning around because you walked up the wrong avenue (it has happened to me so many times!). And most importantly, do not be afraid to ask for directions from the natives around you. People are always happy to help. Your sense of navigation will get better. But it doesn’t start perfect, and people understand that.

2. Reach out to everyone. Despite its population, New York can be a lonely city. Make a point to introduce yourself to the other interns you work with. Know someone from your school up here that you’re not really close to? Ask them if they want to get dinner with you. Ask alumni from your college working up here if they want to get a lunch or coffee with you for an informational interview. Essentially, use every link you’ve got to develop friendships and companionship. When you’re around people who have lived in New York longer too, don’t be afraid to ask for their recommendations or picks on things to do. As residents, they know the city best.

3. Explore. Get to know your neighborhood and those around it. Don’t be afraid to take an afternoon just to walk around by yourself. Exploring is the best way to settle in: once you know the area around you better, you’ll feel much more comfortable hanging around it (and can show other people and friends around when they come to see you). New York has so much character. Don’t waste your time off — your precious weekends — indoors when you can be out discovering it. And keep your eyes open while exploring. It might just give you inspiration for work and article ideas, too.

4. Keep busy. The best way to combat homesickness is by staying distracted, especially the first couple weeks. On days you’re alone (and there will be those days), plan a date with yourself and go to a museum or somewhere else you’d like to see. Read in the park. Call family or friends at home. Keep yourself occupied and know it’s just as important to take some time to unwind and recharge for the next work week as it is to connect with the people around you.

5. Feeling alone is natural, and it’s perfectly OK. You’re not the only person who’s on your own: interns are everywhere, and we’re just trying to build a group and to get to know New York. So don’t hesitate to reach out. Invite other people to join you when you go out. Research restaurants and plan a dinner or special outing for your fellow interns weekly — chances are they’ll appreciate the invitation and company just as much as you will. And the best part about these outings? Not only will you develop amazing friendships and memories that will last you for years to come, but you’ll also get to know the industry’s future: you know, someday when your fellow interns are editors here, too!

So how’s your adjustment been, Edsters? What tips do you have for thriving in a new city? And what are some of your favorite New York finds?

XOXO,
Women’s Mag Intern

4 Ways to Be a Superstar Intern: Easier Said Than Done

2011-07-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hey fabulous fashionistas! I have a crucial piece of information for you: the fashion magazine industry is difficult to break into, and a rough world for an intern.

Wait, you knew that already? Ha.

So maybe it’s no surprise. In a way, I knew that the fashion world is difficult to break into. Flashback to me about four months ago during the spring semester – after sending out dozens of resumes with no response, I was majorly discouraged and convinced that I would never even get a taste of the tempting industry. (Of course, after I accepted the position with the Fashion Mag, a few other publications contacted me.)

Anyway, while I was applying for internships, I also did a lot of reading about ways to impress your editors and being the best intern you can be. However, these past few weeks at my internship have taught me that while some of these things are common sense, they’re sometimes easier said than done. Here are four examples:

1) Being on Time
Duh. Punctuality is always important. I’m a commuter – I wake up at an unreasonably early time every morning to hop on a bus that takes me from quiet Suburbia, NJ to the city. Still, I’m on time. However, a few interns at my office have been sneaking 15 minutes late every day. Sure, there are about 20 of us, but remember this: the editors notice. Waking up early every day during your summer vacation may be a drag, but you signed up for this. Don't be late.

2) Not Using Your Cellphone
For my first two weeks at the Fashion Mag, I kept my phone hidden in my purse and didn’t go anywhere near it. Slowly, I started checking it during the day, and lately have been keeping it in my pocket or near me. It wasn’t until one of my editors asked another intern to “Do something productive” when she was caught texting that I learned to quickly put my phone away after that. Yes, the hours are long (12 hours days at the Fashion Mag, sometimes even longer!) but you’re here to learn. There is ALWAYS something else you can do in the fashion closet, like straightening up shoes or organizing paperwork.

3) Not Surfing the Web
This goes hand-in-hand with not using your phone. In the fashion closet, we have three computers that the interns use for uploading pictures, cataloging inventory, and research. 20 interns divided by 3 computers = about 6 interns to a computer. Last week, I was waiting to get to the computer to do some inventory, and the girl who was using the computer was taking awfully long (Four minutes is a long time in the fashion closet, time is of the essence!). I asked her how much longer she would be on. Her response? “Oh sorry, I don’t even need the computer! I was just looking at some study abroad programs.” Even if it’s tempting to surf the web for a few minutes, do it on your own time. And just a friendly reminder: absolutely no Facebook at work!

4) Taking Short Lunch Breaks
Personally, this is the one I struggle the most with. When I don’t eat, bad things happen. I get cranky. I get tired. My first two days, I didn’t eat lunch. I repeat: I went 12 hours without a break for food, surviving only off of granola bars and baby carrots that I packed with me. I quickly learned that it’s acceptable to tell your editors, “Hey, I’m stepping out for lunch.” Since there are a lot of interns at the Fashion Mag, I usually take about 45 minutes to an hour for a lunch break. However, one of my editors recently asked us to cut back to half-hour lunch breaks. I’m not sure if all mags are like this, but your best bet is to follow what’s asked of you.

In writing, these things seem simple. But I’ve learned that it takes a lot of willpower to do these things day in and day out – and I only intern three days a week. Then again, I put in more hours in three days than some people do in a paid week.

Here’s to hoping it will all pay off in the end! Tell me, fashion interns, is your internship as intense? This is my first internship – does it get any easier, or is this a preview of life in the fashion world?

XOXO,
Fashion Intern

3 Tips for Not Crossing The Line With Your Editor

2011-07-09T08:00:00.004-04:00

In just three weeks at The Fitness Mag I’ve learned a lot about the do’s and dont’s of intern life. For example, do take a moment to chit-chat with your editors when you come in to work (as long as they don’t seem super busy). This way, you can establish a friendly relationship, even if they don’t have time to have lunch with you…which is usually the case.

However, I’ve found that becoming too friendly with your superiors is definitely a don’t. This happened with an intern that I worked with last summer, and I notice some of the interns I work with here trying too hard to be buddy-buddy with the staffers. If you happen to hit it off with one of your superiors, that’s awesome, and you should use that relationship to your advantage--but it’s easy to tell when someone is kissing your you-know-what just because they want a job. There’s a big difference between a likable intern and someone who arrogantly acts like they’re already on staff. So here are a few foolproof tips I came up with so that you know you’ll leave a good impression.

1.Keep your editors in the know. They don’t want to feel like you’re sitting in your cubicle on Facebook all day, so if a project is taking you a lot longer than expected, send them emails or stop by their desks to let them know that you’re making progress. Last week, I went on a wild goose chase for a certain fitness statistic, and it took me days to find research that seemed like it would be readily available. Ms. Editor acted frustrated at first, but when I started updating her on the leads and letting her know that I had contacted several experts on the subject, she knew that I was doing my best to find the info she needed. The situation actually became a joke between us because we couldn’t believe how hard the information was to find. And when I finally helped her out, she was even more thankful because she knew all the work I put in to the task.

2.SMILE. Smile. And smile. I’ve been told this 100 times by professionals, professors and former interns, but I can’t tell you how important it is to do everything with a good attitude, and how often I see my fellow interns making mistakes in this area. Even if you’re having the crappiest day ever (and believe me, you will), you put on a smile and act excited about every opportunity you’re given to show off your mad skills.

3.Use your time wisely. I’ve only been here three weeks, and there have already been slow days where Ms. Editor doesn’t have me working on specific projects. During your down time take the opportunity to browse through past issues and brainstorm ideas to pitch for print or the website. If you find a story idea or product your editors want to use, you’re saving them time and they will definitely appreciate that.

6 Brilliant Ways To Be The Best Intern Researcher

2011-07-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

Ciao, fellow Edsters!

It wasn’t long before I tired of explaining to my non-Edster friends that the majority of what I do at work is research (as opposed to fetching coffee), so I crafted a little ditty to spice up my unchanging, uninteresting response: “Researching, researching, yeah! Dossiers, dossiers, yeah! Fun, fun, fun, fun.”

Okay, so that wasn’t a fully original composition.

Anyway, everyone seems to take pity on me for spending a big chunk of my internship on Lexis Nexis and Google.

Look, I’ll level with you. I secretly love doing research. I know that makes me a huge geek, but putting together profiles on celebrities we’re interviewing and filling binders with articles by our competitors on a certain subject – well, it just feels like I’m doing something useful, and I can’t say that I feel useful all the time at the office. On Monday, for example, most of my day consisted of reading the July issue and making some phone calls. Not exactly the kind of work that begets satisfying results.

But research binders, man. I’m a messy girl, but even I cannot resist the organization of a nice, neat dossier. I love the dividers, the pages and pages of highlighted and Post-It-noted articles in plastic divider sheets and labeled folders. I enjoy lining everything up in chronological order. Most of all, though, I love seeing my work alluded to in an actual article. I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing the impact of my research in print just yet (since we’re working on issues for the Fall right now), but I’ve helped my editors with the background for a few online articles, and it’s so gratifying to see how my efforts contributed to the final project.

Anyway, I put together this beautiful, hefty specimen of a binder a couple of weeks ago that, according to Manager 1, impressed a bunch of the editors (she said one of them joked about hiring me. Pretty please?!). Shortly after, Manager 2 let me assemble one for our utterly glamtastic EIC, which was, of course, completely nerve-wracking as I worked on it, and thrilling when I actually saw her reading it during an interview with the subject of said binder later that week.

The bottom line is, research matters! I thought I’d share a few tips on what makes a beautiful binder.

1. Show it off.
It’s all in the details, so I like to kick off each dossier with a title, a color photo, and a table of contents on the front cover of the binder. Also, I always hoard an extra binder at my desk, because they seem to fly off the supply closet shelf like hotcakes. Anyway, I like to insert a slip of paper bearing the title into the plastic pocket on the binding, as well. Labels all around!

2. Be the best source.
If I’m profiling a celebrity and I have the time, I’ll usually go through a lot of bios and, if available, timelines (People.com has really good ones), and write up my own timeline. If there’s a lot of information, I’ll divide it into sections – early life, career, personal life, fun facts, etc.

3. No glove, no love.
If I don’t have too many articles, I like to place the papers in plastic protector sheets. Yes, it takes forever. It’s also what got that one editor joking (or, hopefully, not joking) about hiring me, so I’d say it’s worth it. Plus, it just makes everything so nice and uniform looking.

4. Embrace the season’s color-blocking trend.
It’s helpful to highlight the most pertinent information, especially in an article that covers more than just the subject of your research. Post-Its on the front of articles that briefly summarize their content are also useful.

5. Get crafty.
We tend to have a shortage of my favorite translucent, hole-punched plastic folders in the office, so I’ve had to get crafty in terms of how I organize my articles. When you’re dealing with a huge pile of articles, it’s not ideal to have to place each individual sheet of paper in a protector sheet, nor is it ideal to just hole punch the pages and slam them between dividers, because sometimes the hole punches right through the text. It’s kind of problematic. Lately, I’ve been hole-punching tabbed folders and taping the bottoms so I can jam my papers in. Hey, it gets the job done.

6. Show ’em how hip you are.
One of our Spring interns impressed one of our harder-to-impress editors by including a celeb’s most recent Tweets. Kind of brilliant, no?

Of course, the quality of your research is the most important part of your dossier. Otherwise, you’re stuck with the Karen Smith (from “Mean Girls,” of “I’m a mouse, duh!” fame) of binders – pretty but so, so disappointing substantially. To that, all I can advise you to do is to fully utilize all your resources. Lexis Nexis. Google. Email. Twitter. Text your high-school acquaintance who makes you sincerely nauseous but who knows someone you need to know.

Pick up your phone and call people. It’s amazing how far, “Hi, my name is Features Intern, and I work for The Mag” can get you in a conversation (actually, not mentioning that you’re an intern gets you further). Since I started working here, I’ve spoken to the FBI, the CDC, and the Department of Justice… And, by the way, all of those were in one day.

Of course, if you’re a big, honking research dork like I am, you already knew all that.

So are the rest of you Edsters as much of a nerd as I am, or are you a little too cool for research? Do you have your own tips on how to put together a slammin’ dossier? I’d love to hear from you!

Yours in organizational geekdom,
Features Intern

5 Common Intern Mistakes You Should Avoid

2011-07-07T08:00:00.001-04:00

Hey Edsters!

This has been a very weird—yet fulfilling—week for me. We’re between issues at the magazine, so the other interns and I have been working on smaller tasks than usual.

Normally, we’re actually doing the damn thing—much more than I was expecting before coming to the city. We build Web articles, we build Web slideshows, we code text with HTML and we research photos and contact companies to purchase them. We’re basically doing the preliminary Web builds of everything, and then the edits to them once they go through the editors.

This week, though, we’ve just about built it all. New stories for the next issue haven’t made it through to us, yet, so we’ve been cleaning our little room and deleting spam from the website and tweaking little things here and there that got lost in the shuffle of a couple busy, busy weeks.

What that DOES mean, though, is we’ve gotten the chance to really talk to our boss. We’ve been able to talk about what magazine’s look for in their interns (or at least what our boss does!), what’s fun to do in the city and how to volunteer for some extra responsibilities at the magazine. Here’s what I’ve picked up:

1. Don't limit yourself to befriending only the interns in your department.
Hopefully soon, the other Web interns and I will be having lunch with the editorial interns. If that happens, I promise, I’ll fish around a little to see how they were chosen for the coveted position. (Editorial is my first love!)

2. Don't send in a resume with any sort of careless mistakes.
Although it seems really obvious, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR APPLICATIONS. Make sure you don’t do anything careless, like send a resume with another magazine listed in its career objective. I mean, that’s just bad news all around.

3. Don't forget to list all your technical skills.
Make sure when you’re applying that your resume not only has your experience on it, but also your skills. My boss said sometimes a candidate is not at all right for the position that needs filled (whether that’s an intern or staffer), but if the candidate has skills that fit another area of the magazine, my boss passes them along to the right person. I don’t think every person is that kind, but it’s ALWAYS a good idea to make yourself as marketable as possible.

4. Don't be scared to ask for more responsibility.
Pay attention to the other honchos in your office. Do they seem unusually busy (but still approachable)? Have you heard them blabbering about finding an intern or dropping a few projects? While my Web friends and I have had some down time, the same isn’t true for everyone. And that’s the great chance for us to pick up some extra responsibilities. We’ve started writing some of the blogs for the magazine when there are just too many blurbs and not enough freelancers.

5. Don't narrow the networking to your day job.
Go to office events. And I don’t mean wallow in your room when there’s a big launch party the interns didn’t get invited to. But when there’s lunch provided in the conference room, or when there’s a presentation from some outside company hoping to be featured—GO. If it’s anything that could help out the magazine, chances are there will be editors from departments you might never get to see. It’s one of the best chances for networking you might have in a typical “day at the office.”

Another fun lesson I've learned? There are places in New York City were you can get a VERY respectable lunch for $2. They’re saving my life—and bank account.

For now, I’m off to see if I can find a part-time job. This is way too exciting of a city to not afford at least some of the fun things there are to do. I’m falling pretty in love with this place, and getting a little jealous of the other interns who live here and can stay through the fall. I still have months to go, though, and I’m loving every second.

Until next Thursday,
Ed’s Web Intern

My Trick To Getting To Know Everyone in the Office

2011-07-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

So I have decided to be proactive about getting to know the office by asking everyone and anyone to lunch.

The idea was sparked when the magazine’s assistant editor, who hasn’t worked there very long, asked me to lunch. (This lunch, two weeks into my internship, was also the first time I realized we had a cafeteria.) During the hour we talked, she explained that she was feeling the same way I did: that it was hard to get to know people and it was easy to go a whole day without talking to anyone. It was great to hear that I wasn’t alone in feeling a little lost, but it was scary that she had been there for months and still felt that way – was I going to let my entire internship fly by without ever getting to know these people?

I decided the writers and editors at the magazine are just too amazing for me not to try to learn everything I can from them. We have people who have been foreign correspondents and people who have been editors at some of the biggest magazines in the world. I want to talk to these people and hear their stories. And I realized after that lunch with my assistant editor that most people are more than happy to talk about themselves for an hour.

So, I started with my editor. He was explaining the production process to me a bit, but then had to go to a meeting. So I asked – I’d like to think casually, but truth is I was blushing and nervous – if he’d like to get lunch. “I’d love to learn more about the process and the magazine,” I told him. I think it caught him a bit off-guard, but he said yes!

Thrilled by my success, I tried again later that afternoon, when a different editor stopped by my office to ask how I liked the mag so far. We chatted a bit, and then I said, “Do you want to get lunch sometime and talk more?” And he said yes!

The lunches are both scheduled for this week, and I’m so excited to get to know these editors and to learn more about the mag. (Also, it will be another chance to eat at the cafeteria, which I never go to on my own because I still get lost trying to find it.)

Have you ever tried this trick? How did it go? Do you have other networking tips that work?

See you next Wednesday,
Edit Intern

Have An Editor From Hell? 5 Ways To Cope

2011-07-05T08:00:00.003-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

June quickly came to a close, and it’s hard to believe that I’m approaching the one-month mark at my internship. I’ve really settled into my position and routine now, and it’s been smooth sailing!

I’ve also started to get to know some of the other interns too, which has been wonderful. What’s really cool about NYC internships versus those in D.C. or other cities is that your colleagues are from all over the country rather than primarily based locally. It’s great to hear their different perspectives, from the West Coast to East and everywhere in between. Everyone has a unique story.

But perhaps what’s most interesting is hearing about others’ past internships. And while there are definite highs, there are some pretty big lows too, which quickly turn into internship horror stories.

I’ve been lucky — through all my internships, I’ve worked with wonderful, relaxed editors. I’ve worked in offices where there is a supportive environment that promotes asking questions. But that’s not the case for everyone, and one area that can get really tense is working hours.

As interns, the last thing we want to do is step on our editors’ toes or cause problems — and while this mentality is the right one to have, some editors may use it a little too much to their advantage, even going so far as to break office policy.

For example, imagine your office is intense. Your hours may formally be listed as x time to y time, but you end up staying in the office until z time and beyond. Everyone else does, and your editor expects it. So when something comes up one evening, can you expect to leave on time or even early if no one else does? You’re afraid protesting it — that’ll hurt your already fragile relationship with your editor. What’s an intern to do?

When your relationship with your editor is a little frosty, it’s all about taking a careful, measured approach. You may not often question your supervisor, but it’s important to have a strategy and not be afraid during the times you should.

So what should you do? The following is my strategy.

Know your internship coordinators. These people are in charge of making sure the office is a good environment for you. Let them know when you’re troubled — they should be discreet if you specifically reach out to them. They’re your go-to sources, and it’s their job to make things better. You should feel comfortable going to them and should know who they are.

Choose your battles carefully. Because your relationship with your editor is particularly tense, it’s important to choose the times you’re going to rock the boat carefully. If it’s to contest a small assignment that seems a little absurd, hold back. But if it’s a greater issue — your leaving consistently late, for example, when it’s against company policy or if it seems like your editor is harassing you or targeting you purposely — don’t be afraid to take it up.

Seek the advice of others when things are particularly tense. Parents, mentors, your fellow interns... Be sure to get a couple of opinions on approaches to take when things are less than great. Often, they can help you filter out when something is or isn’t professional and give you the best idea on what to do and how to act.

Approach your editor carefully with inquiries. Don’t be snippy and stay professional at all times. Try your best to keep a polite, measured tone and justify the reason for your request. And above all, stay composed. It can be extremely hard at times, but it’s important to detach yourself and know that it’s not personal. Always keep yourself emotionally uninvolved.

Know not every office is like this. For every horror story, there are three times as many good stories of amazing internships and wonderful people. So when the going gets tough, keep the end goal in sight. This summer, you may not have been so lucky, but don’t give up. Stick this through. If you can deal with the worst, you’ll flourish in the best. Good luck!

So what do you think, Edsters? How would you deal with a not-so pretty situation? And what’s the worst horror story you’ve heard and how did the person get through it?

Made a Mistake? Why You Should 'Fess Up and Fix It

2011-07-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

It’s going to happen eventually; as an intern, you will most likely make a mistake at some point during your internship. And I’m not talking about the minor fashion faux paus I made on my first day - I’m referring to actual poor decisions that may reflect negatively in your employer’s eyes.

The fashion closet was absolutely crazy this week. Tons of trunks filled with clothes and accessories were coming back from photo shoots around the world. My job, along with the other 20 or so interns, was to unpack these trunks and return items to the designers or showrooms. Ever try sorting through 400 pairs of designer socks to find a matching pair? It gets frustrating very quickly.

Here’s where the poor decisions come in. One day, at around 8 p.m. (12 hour days are the norm), the fashion assistant who works with the interns asked me to work on an especially large return – about 70 items – that needed to be completed that night.

The closet was an absolute disaster, and I was having trouble finding things. About an hour later I had only found 10 items, so I asked some of the other interns to help me. I figured the sooner we found the clothes, the sooner we could leave!

Bad move. With so many people working on one project, things became sloppy. Long story short, another intern filed some paperwork incorrectly, but it ended up looking like my fault. In fact, the fashion assistant gathered us all together and gave us a looong speech about “not naming names” but some people are not taking this job seriously. Yup, she was talking to me. I tried not to cry.

I pride myself on my work ethic, and I’m not one to make excuses so I didn’t try to shift the blame on the other interns. However, for some stupid reason I didn’t fix the paperwork that night, or the next day! It wasn’t until 2 days after the fiasco when it hit me that I should make an effort to correct myself. So I sent the assistant an apologetic e-mail, promised it wouldn’t happen again, and came in on my day off to correct it. All is well, and she thanked me for coming in on my day off.

Take away two things from this, Edsters. First, don’t delegate and cut corners. Do things right, even if you have to stay later. Second, if you do mess up – fix it immediately. Trust me, your efforts will be noticed, even if they’re not publicly acknowledged. I wish I had fixed my mistake sooner, but what’s done is done.

Did you ever screw something up at your internships? How did you redeem yourself?

XOXO,
Fashion Intern

How To Deal With Intern Grunt Work

2011-07-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

Greetings Edsters!

Last week marked my first month as an intern for the fitness mag, and overall I can say that I enjoy the staff members and think this summer will be a great experience. With that said, I’d like to explain my first day. Things we’re going great - I settled in to my desk area, met my editors, took an office tour - until one of the editors asked me to “lend a hand” while she was moving a few crates. Lending a hand turned into unpacking 12 huge crates worth of fitness equipment (think dumbells, weighted exercise balls, etc.) and arranging them by color. I believe “hope you have good organizational skills” were her last words before she left me to face the mounds of fitness products. But hey, no pressure.

If I sound ungrateful, let me give you a little bit of background information: This is not my first rodeo. I spent last summer interning for a national publication (with an hourly salary), was managing editor of my school newspaper, and have other internships and writing experience under my belt. So, doing grunt work all day had me a little depressed. Believe me, it’s not that I think I’m “too good” for intern work, but I couldn’t help but think that all of my hard work in college had only gotten me back to square one.

The other interns are all in between their junior and senior years, but I am a college graduate with no classes to go back to. That means this summer is show time. There’s a lot of pressure for me to land an EA job, and I’m worried I may have to give up my dreams of working for a magazine and settle for something like—gasp—corporate communications.

It seems like there are so many interns out there, and so few jobs available. I don’t even know where to start! Magazine jobs are all about networking, but it’s easy to get discouraged when people never return your phone calls or emails. When it’s all about who you know, how is a girl from Tennessee (with absolutely no connections) supposed to make it in this harsh industry?

I want to stay positive for you, Edsters, I really do. But I keep looking around, wondering what exactly it is that I’m fighting for. Is it going to be worth it to waitress at night and come to my internship exhausted? Why did I leave everything I know, everything that’s comfortable, for a job that isn’t even paying me?

Well, I’m a firm believer that the most difficult experiences are the most rewarding. Hopefully this won’t prove me wrong. Stay tuned!

Till Next Saturday,
Fitness Intern

How To Make An Awesome Second Impression

2011-07-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hey fellow Edsters!

So, thankfully, my forgiving and fantastic managers seem to have put the Cupcake Incident of Summer 2011 behind them, and my ensuing time at The Mag has gone fairly smoothly since. I feel like I’ve tackled a million projects since I last wrote, and walked twice as many steps in stilettos. (How many weeks did it take me to actually start packing a pair of flip-flops in my purse? Three?)

Since I’m not quite sure where to start, I thought I’d shed some light on the dynamic at my office by outlining my experience interacting with my fellow interns, my managers and the higher-up editors. Spoiler: my review is generally glowing.

And, you know, then I can bore you next week with a detailed description of everything that goes into making the ginormous – and impeccably organized, if I do say so myself – research binders I’ve been putting together for editors. Or maybe I’ll blog-talk your ears off about the blog post I got to write today for The Mag, and what it was like to write a piece in the office under deadline pressure for a website that people actually read. (This greatly contrasts with the writing experience for my widely-unread school newspaper, which generally takes place during the witching hours, on my bed, usually with a Snickers bar in hand and the knowledge that my friends won’t hate me too much if I submit my article an hour or two late. Yeah. My manager at The Mag, not so much.)

But consider that my riveting cliff-hanger. First things first.

Friends, Romans, and Countrymen: My Fellow Interns
I got tremendously lucky to be working with such a brilliant and, frankly, chill group of girls this summer. I’ve been working a few weeks longer than the other summer interns, so I’m in the semi-lofty position of showing them the ropes – and, of course, I still feel that I have only a meager grasp of what I’m talking about.

Back to the girls themselves: all of them hearken from top-tier liberal arts and journalism schools, and they are exactly as intelligent and well-dressed as you would expect, although nowhere near as cutthroat as I had feared. Even so, I try to keep from collaborating with them on projects without checking with one of my managers. Though many of the editors have no idea what our names are, some pick favorites (annoying, but not unexpected), and I’d rather know that credit – or partiality – is being given where it’s due.

But I do trust and like my fellow interns so much, and I don’t draw a harsh professional line with any of them – I’ve hung out with a few outside of work (once at the Ed2010 happy hour meet-up!), and we had a great time getting to know each other and hunting down an elusive subway station (okay, that wasn’t the greatest). I’m looking forward to calling them good friends, and maybe someday, legitimate colleagues.

Please Report To: My Managers
Though I’m sure they were skeptical of me at first, I think I’m beginning to develop good relationships with both of my managers. One of them just added me on LinkedIn, anyway, so that seems indicative of positive, professional feelings! After the end of my second week, during which I worked my butt off for five days straight trying to prove that I did, in fact, belong there (I empathized strongly with Anne Hathaway’s character in The Devil Wears Prada when she’s trying to hunt down the last Harry Potter book. I kind of feel that way every day here, at least for a few hours), Manager 1 sent me an email applauding my effort, which for all the world felt like a five-hour Swedish massage in Tahiti. (Editorial Assistants – if your intern is doing something right, tell them! They’ll be beaming for days.)

It’s always been a struggle for me to strike the right amount of personal information to share and withhold in the workplace, but because my managers are only a few years older than me, I feel comfortable enough to tell them, say, my weekend plans, although I’ll never approach any personal subjects if either of them look frazzled. I’m always more than happy to hear them rant about anything – although happier if it has absolutely nothing to do with me – because it helps me understand what makes them tick, and since my job is to make their jobs easier by anticipating their needs, that’s useful to me.

I’m looking forward to getting to know Manager 1 and Manager 2 better over the next few months. Basically, I just want to know how to be them when I graduate.

They Won’t Bite: The Higher-Ups on the Foodchain
I studied the masthead before I got here. Like, I studied it. Like, show me a flash card with a position and I’ll most likely be able to rattle off the correct name. So to me, our Executive Editor, our Deputy Editor, our Editor-at-Large – these women are all sort of celebrities to me. They’re immeasurably cool.

And don’t get me started on the Editor-in-Chief.

I’ve had varied experiences with the big players at The Mag. One of them has me working on a long-term research project for her on what is possibly the most interesting and difficult-to-research story ever, and she’s got this enviably efficient, no-nonsense way of thumbing through my research which makes me want to stick my head in the sand when I fail to impress her. It also motivates me to present her with the most fascinating, mind-blowing source she’s ever seen in her life.

Another sent me on an early morning, way-uptown, and crucial errand that involved standing in the sun for three-and-a-half hours, and then decided to thank me by taking me out to a “fabulous” lunch next week. Well, okay, if you insist! (Who says task work is always unsatisfying?) She’s so much fun, and such an incredible writer, and I’m looking forward to talking to her outside of my cubicle.

The best stories, of course, are my hilariously awkward and fan-girly attempts to speak with my EIC, who is possibly the most glamorous and charismatic person with whom I have ever crossed paths. I took the elevator down to the lobby with her last week, and stammered a compliment about her studded bracelet. I then proceeded to tell her that I loved studs (not specifying whether my preference was for metal or men. It’s both), and that I had a Bedazzler in the third grade. And she didn’t even laugh at me. She also allowed me to talk her into trying the sunflower seed snacks someone keeps sending us, which look vaguely like dog food but taste deliciously like salsa. I’ll be swinging by Icing to pick up a BFF necklace for her any day now.

What can I say? My dream job is actually a dream job. That’s not to say that people don’t get snappy when they get stressed – we’re in the middle of closing week right now, and I’ve seen more furrowed brows than not. I’ve had some stresses unloaded on me that have had nothing to do with me, and I’ve seen a few passive-aggressive exchanges as crunch time really draws near. But I don’t see any of the other women taking it seriously, and neither do I. Creating a magazine isn’t a low-drama affair, and if you’re interested in getting into this business, chances are, you thrive off the stress, anyway.

On that note, I’d better get to bed. The challenges I enjoy overcoming do not include beating the two o’clock slump.

Love and many shots of espresso,
Features Intern

3 Success Secrets Every Web Intern Should Know

2011-06-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hey Edsters!

So I’ve been at my internship four a couple weeks now, and I have yet to get yelled at, get coffee or get lost. What I did get, though, was a smile and a 50-page manual on my first day. That was my intern training.

There was no sitting down for an orientation of new Web programs. There really wasn’t even a conversation. My bosses seemed more apt to iChat instead of talk…while they sat right beside one another. I knew I wasn’t going to get anywhere like that, so I took my boss up on her “don’t be afraid to ask questions” policy. Thank goodness I did.

After I broke my own awkward silence, my boss and the other Web interns jumped in to answer my myriad of questions. Yeah, I felt a little helpless and slow compared to the other interns who had started working weeks before me, and I continued to be hard on myself for not knowing everything immediately, but I had to rationalize when things just weren’t my fault. Like when my computer broke—twice. Or when the tech guy only loaded half the programs I needed to do my job. Or when HR forgot to put my paperwork through processing, so I had to convince security, every day, that I actually worked there.

But here I am, two weeks later, with an official badge, the Adobe suite and a very competent computer. I’ve learned everything pretty much, and my work environment seems much more relaxed.

It’s probably just me who’s more relaxed.

And that’s one of the most important things I’ve picked up so far—to stay relaxed. I was a little intimidated to move half way across the country to a city I’d only visited a few times before. But if you take your chances to ask questions without getting worked up or too nervous, you can learn everything you need to and more.

Here are some tips I’ve picked up so far, and how I learned them (from most practical to most fun). Hopefully they can be somewhat useful to you, too:

1. Showing interest = a job
One day last week, a previous intern came into the office, and we ended up going to lunch together. Between bites of sandwich and each other’s lives, I asked what she was doing now, freshly graduated with the same degree I am pursuing. I wasn’t surprised to hear “freelancing,” but I was surprised to know it was for the magazine I’m interning with. She’s a blogger for the men’s magazine, a position she got from simply showing an interest.

I guess our blog wasn't as good as it is now. The magazine hired a man to juice it up, and the girl I was eating with asked him what his plans were. While he explained it, she said she had a few suggestions of her own that seemed to impress him (and that she noticed were on the site now!). When her internship ended, she re-contacted him, and he “hired” her as a freelance writer.

The art of networking has been preached to me a million times, but now it’s real time. It could make or break my future, and that’s my goal for this week: To get better at it. I’ll have to e-mail this girl and ask for some of her tips. I’ll get back to you Edsters on that one!!

2. Illo = to cut an image out from its background on Photoshop
Thank goodness for Google. I’m all about asking for clarification when my boss’s instructions get lost in her head and I only hear half of them. But when she fires off words that I feel like is should know and just don’t, that’s when Google.com is my lifeline. I try to figure things out as much as I can on my own unless there is an obvious need for questions.

3. Magazines = free things (for the magazine)
One of my favorite projects is contacting companies for images or products we need for the magazine. It’s great to refine phone and e-mail skills, but it’s also just incredibly awesome to see the enormity of free things people will send us if we tell them we want to feature them in book or online! We have a whole cubicle dedicated to items that people have sent to us.

For now, it’s getting late, and I have work in the morning followed by a job interview so I can afford to still eat every day. It’s an expensive city, but I couldn’t be more excited to be here!

Have any questions? ASK ME! We can figure out all the answers and even network with each other!

See you next Thursday,
Web Intern

My First Day at a National Magazine Didn't Go Quite As Planned...

2011-06-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

My first day on the job was a strange combination of chaos and boredom.

I arrived 20 minutes early, following the route I had practiced the day before. Everything was going according to plan, until I realized the building was actually a complex comprised of multiple buildings – and I had no idea which one was mine. I tried to spot people who looked like journalists to see which door they used, but eventually I had to just pick an entrance. I chose wrong, and ended up being a few minutes late, despite my meticulous planning.

Luckily, my editor didn’t notice I was late, mostly because he hadn’t realized I was slated to start that day. My editor is really nice, in a way that reminds me of the best teachers I had in high school. He’s patient, always seems happy to see me and puts up with my endless questions, but I get the sense that when I’m not standing right in front of him, he forgets I exist.

In any case, it was my first day and they had forgotten I was coming. My computer hadn’t even been set up yet, so I spent the first few hours sitting alone in an empty office (yes, I have my own office, complete with walls and a door) reading back issues of the magazine. Most of them were issues I had already read in the days leading up to my internship, but I read them again, anyway, studying the masthead and the bylines in case I met any of the editors or writers.

But I didn’t meet anyone — at least not officially. I tagged along to most of my editor’s morning meetings, but they all moved so quickly I never had the chance to introduce myself or to be introduced to anyone else. Without knowing who people were or what department they worked for, I struggled to keep up with what was happening. I tried to jot down names as I heard people address each other, and after each meeting I ran back to my office and tried to match names on the masthead to names in my notes.

By noon I had a computer, but no work. I ate lunch alone in my office, not realizing there was a cafeteria, and used the time to look up the editors and writers on the online directory, which thankfully includes pictures.

At the end of the first day I was exhausted, and I hadn’t even done any work. With past internships I felt like I was able to jump right in, but at the magazine it seems to be taking a lot of energy just to find my place and get into the flow of the office. Still, I know this is a great opportunity, so I’m determined to do everything I can to get the most out of it — even if that means spending hours studying the online directory.

What were your first days like? Did you get a feel for your boss and the place? Or were you as overwhelmed as I was?

Till Next Wednesday,
Edit Intern

5 Ways To Impress The Hell Out Of Your Editor

2011-06-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

I hope your summers are going well! I’m about to start week three of my internship, and everything has been going pretty smoothly. I’ve adjusted to the office layout and my tasks. I’ve met the other interns, and I’m getting to know my editors. I love it where I am and couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity.

However, I do know in the course of the workday, there can sometimes be tasks that aren’t as exciting. Whether it’s boxing old material in the office to give away, sorting through press releases or making that infamous lunch or coffee run (at an old internship, my boss liked to choose an intern randomly to pick up her order, which left us all on the edge during lunch hour), these tasks are small but important. You won’t see the fruits of those efforts in the magazine or publication you’re working for, at least not directly. But most of those tasks revolve around one word — organization — and through them, you have the power to make the office a better place to work in.

I recently had lunch with an editor who emphasized the importance of having a good attitude when it came to the small tasks. Sure, organizing the fashion closet may not be the most intellectually engaging task compared to something like research or interviewing, but it’s just as important in its own right. It’s important she said — and I fully agree — to approach each task as a learning opportunity. It’s all about perspective.

But it isn’t always easy finding that right angle. That’s why I’ve compiled the tips I’ve gotten from others or have learned myself over my internships to help cut the trip. I may be a neat freak at heart who loves organizing, but I know too that getting to where I am now – able to turn any task into a learning opportunity and just plainly something fun — took a bit of time and practice. Hopefully these can help you do the same, whether or not you love categorizing.

1. Never grunt over it. Don’t ever complain about a task you’ve been given. It may seem like at the beginning of an internship all the things you’ve been asked to do are little. That isn’t because your editor doesn’t think highly of you but rather that she’s testing the waters — true story: one told me! She wants to make sure you master the little things first before she gives you the bigger ones.

2. Do it with spirit. Making copies may not be the most exciting, but take a positive attitude toward it. Whether you see it as a stepping stone to bigger things or just a fun chance to get out of your seat and do something different, keep a smile on or at least not a scowl. Editors do watch!

3. Do what you can to absorb what’s in front of you. Whether it’s learning how to interview off of your ed’s questions when transcribing or how to (or how not) write an press release when sorting papers (some have some pretty awful typos), there are plenty of chances to learn more about the craft. Always dig deeper for them. Search for those opportunities and take as much as you can from them once they’re found.

4. Always put 110 percent in. The task may not call for it, but your editor will notice the difference between a half-hearted effort and a full one. Always, always, no matter what the task is, do your best and do the work efficiently. Your ed expects it.

5. Live to help. What sets apart a great intern from a good intern is his or her eagerness to help whenever possible. Someday, Edsters, you’ll be in your boss’s place (hey, nothing wrong with dreaming!). So for now, follow the modified cardinal rule — treat others the way you’d like to be treated or better yet, be the intern you’d want to have. It makes all the difference!

So Edsters, how do you embrace the small tasks? What’s the most offbeat thing you’ve been asked to do? And what’s your favorite small thing? I’m personally a big fan of transcribing.

Best of luck and talk to you soon!
Women's Mag Intern

What To Wear As as Fashion Intern (Hint: No Heels)

2011-06-27T10:30:00.003-04:00

Whenever I tell someone that I’m a fashion intern, the response I get is usually something like this: “Cool! So do you dress up and wear heels every day?”

Trying to keep my eye from twitching at the very mention of the h-word, I force a fake smile and say, “Nah, not really.”

So why does the very thought of a high heel make me cringe? Why does the mention of what was once my favorite kind of shoe practically bring me to tears? Let me explain.

On the day of my interview, I was dressed to impress in a chic, simple dress and a pair of classic black pumps. I wanted to keep up my image on my first day, so I chose an outfit that was sure to fit in with the atmosphere of the fashion closet, or so I thought. I went for a classic look with a high-waisted black pencil skirt, a ruffled top and a pair of strappy heels. I looked professional. I looked stylish. I looked confident.

I looked like the clueless new girl.

The moment I walked into the fashion closet I knew I was overdressed. The only high heels were the ones waiting to be worn by a model on a photo shoot. Not a single intern was as dressed up as I was! And I quickly found out why: runs.

Runs are the quickest way to ruin an intern’s day. And if you’re wearing sky-high shoes, they’re the quickest way to ruin your feet as well. A run involves walking many blocks to pick up a sample clothing item or accessory in a heavy garment bag from a designer’s headquarters or from a PR showroom. Wearing heels? Forget it.

However, every fashionista knows it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed, so I kept my head and my heels high and called it a learning experience. For day 2, I chose a simpler outfit – dark bootcut jeans, a nice top, a cardigan, and most importantly, flats.

So what should you wear? Interning at a fashion magazine is not a game of dress-up.

Ladies, aim for polished comfort. At the mag I intern for, jeans are okay – just no holes in the knees please! Trendy tops and dresses are a definite must, but remember, you’re still a professional. No cleavage or exposed stomachs, this isn’t a day at the beach. And most importantly, comfortable shoes.

Gentlemen, jeans work for you as well. Cuff them at the bottom and pair them with a pair of nice loafers or boat shoes, you can’t go wrong. Add a collared shirt with a few buttons undone and you’ll perfect your look.

Time to get dressed for another day! Tell me, what do you wear to your magazine internship? Stuffy business attire or trends right off the runway?

Till Next Monday,
Fashion Intern

The Trick To Landing Your Dream Internship

2011-06-25T08:00:00.002-04:00

Hey Edsters!

This summer I will do my best to share advice from my internship at a fitness publication. As a graduate in journalism and electronic media from the good ole University of Tennessee, I will be navigating New York City for the first time on my own, and networking like crazy to try to land a job in the fall.

First off, let me tell you a little about myself. I am originally from Atlanta, Georgia and I absolutely love all things southern (read: this might be a difficult adjustment for me). I am obsessed with all animals, but mainly my German shepherd, Bernie. My greatest passion is traveling, and my favorite places I’ve visited are Egypt, Germany, Cyprus and Vietnam. My dream job would be an editor at a travel magazine.

I spent last summer as an editorial intern at Playboy magazine, which is based in Chicago. Although boobies played a large roll in the office, my position was surprisingly normal and I spent most of my time in a cubicle transcribing interviews, copy editing and researching. I had an amazing experience at Playboy and really wanted to land a job as part of the research team, but they simply aren’t hiring. So, after that blow to my dreams of bunnydom, I set out to find another “in” to the industry.

Since Playboy was in Chicago, I was at a disadvantage because there wasn’t as much opportunity for networking as there would have been in New York. However, a trip to New York through Tennessee’s journalism department allowed me to meet all kinds of journalists and magazine industry pros. After a visit to a fitness magazine, I emailed the assistant managing editor and sent a hand written “thank you” card. I didn’t hear back and felt really discouraged, but I finally followed-up about two weeks later. She later told me that my second email had made all the difference and showed that I was really serious about landing an internship.

So, here I am, a few days away from moving to New York for the summer. My internship is only three days a week, so I’m looking for part-time positions to help pay the rent. My main concern is landing a position (preferably as an EA) after my internship, so networking is going to play a huge role in my life this summer. I am excited for this adventure, but don’t know what to expect. Wish me luck!

See you next Saturday,
Fitness Intern

What NOT To Do On Your First Day

2011-06-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hey fellow Edsters!

This entry marks the closure of one of the most exciting and overwhelming weeks of my life. I am speaking, of course, of my first week interning for The Mag. Cue the Hallelujahs.

I wish my first week hadn’t gotten off to such a rocky start, but at least now I can share my humiliating mishaps with you smarter, savvier Edsters, so you can learn from them. (I know I have already!)

After a night of tossing, turning, painting my nails twice, and changing my mind about my outfit more times than I’m willing to admit, I wound up getting almost no sleep. That wound up being a huge problem: I proceeded to oversleep and miss my alarm, and was woken up by my well-meaning but clueless mother about ten minutes before I had to catch the train that takes me from my New Jersey hometown to the city. I wound up showing up half an hour late.

Don’t do what I did. Ever. It probably would have been better had I showed up in my scrubbiest sweatpants than it was when I burst into the office after sprinting half a mile in heels. I certainly wouldn’t have spent the majority of my day fighting a sense of burning shame when I finally made it to the office, sweaty and panting. Drink some hot milk, take deep breaths, whatever – just get some sleep.

I made it until Friday without any other horrifying hitches, but I compensated for a week of sufficiency by ruining three entire boxes of cupcakes for an office birthday bash (and I’m still not sure how. I suspect it happened at the subway turnstile. I guess I’m still getting my city legs). The other features intern and I picked up replacement cupcakes on time, but obviously I wasn’t too proud. I never knew cupcakes could make me feel so badly!

The worst part is, I had no idea the cupcakes were ruined until I got back to the office. That brings me to the second big lesson I learned this week: pay attention to detail. Every detail. It’s mind-blowing how much attention goes into every component of making the magazine. I’ve overheard some of the women in the office debate heatedly over whether to use the term “complementary” or “on the house” in a piece they were working on. I’m not writing – yet – but 36 smooshed cupcakes indicate that maintaining an attention to detail is just a good rule to go by as an intern.

If you’re wondering if I was scolded, I will say yes, and gently. Tip number three: if you’re working at a magazine, you must be able to handle criticism. Though I wish I’d shown my more exemplary side this week, this is only pushing me to work harder – no way am I going to let the stress scare me away from my dream job!

Anyway, I didn’t get it all wrong. On my first day, I shipped out all the June issues to our international offices – successfully, so far as I know! I helped one of my bosses organize an editor’s office. I contributed hard-to-find research for an online slideshow, and it was so cool to actually see my bleary-eyed hours spent on Lexis Nexis materialize into an actual article on the website. I transcribed a buoyant interview with a reality TV star. I even compiled a rather gorgeous (if I do say so myself) dossier on our September cover girl. I’ll be sure to say more about the process of creating a celebrity profile soon – I really did have way too much fun putting it together.

Let’s hope I continue to sail smoothly from this point onwards! I'll update you next Friday.

Cross your fingers for me,
Features Intern

4 Secrets To Rocking a Skype Interview

2011-06-23T08:35:00.002-04:00

As I type, I’m sitting on my bed with mounds of clothes covering the floor. I’m trying to compress my entire life into one suitcase so I can move 500 miles for an internship — my summer internship in New York City. I couldn’t be more excited, and my parents couldn’t be more terrified, but it’s coming quickly, so we’re both adjusting.

Here are the fast facts about me:

-I’m working as a Web production intern and blogger for a men’s fashion magazine this summer.
-I’m from the mid-U.S., a town no more than about 10,000 people.
-I’ve finished two years of a magazine journalism major and just picked up a PR minor.
-I’m devastatingly in love with magazines, shoes and, most recently, DJs. (Steve Aoki, anyone?)
-I’m allergic to cats.

This will, indeed, be my first internship, and I’m so excited!! I’ve already learned a lot. Mostly, it’s that big magazines will keep you waiting. Don’t get discouraged! After sending out 67 applications (resume, cover letter and clips if requested) and a slew of follow-up e-mails, I finally heard back from a few magazines. When I saw the Men’s Magazine in my inbox, though, I almost fell off my library chair! I had found the posting for it here on Ed2010, and I’m so glad my professor had suggested it to me.

The Men’s Magazine worked at a different pace than any local publications, though. While they were interviewing me, MM was e-mailing for more information. While I was waiting to hear a verdict from the locals, the MM pushed our scheduled interview back a week, then another week and then another half week.

I was starting to get nervous I wound never get to interview. The editor from MM had wanted me to come to New York for the meeting, but between work and school, I just couldn’t, so we scheduled a Skype date. I paced my dorm for hours waiting for the call. She had said we’d talk “early afternoon.” One goes by, so does two, three and four o’clock. By six, I was starting to think this just wasn’t happening, but at seven, the editor texts me—yes, texts me—to ask if I’m free. From there, she called me on the phone, and we ended up interviewing that way instead of Skype.

As if that wasn’t unexpected enough, she explained the position for about 10 minutes, asked about my familiarity with a few Web programs, and was finished. The interview had lasted 14 minutes. It was really relaxed and conversational. Some publications will take much longer; I’ve been in interviews for more than an hour and a half! No matter how long they last, you HAVE to ask questions. It’s how you prove your interest in the publication. So I followed her questions with a bunch of my own about the positions and what I would be doing.

She offered me the position on the spot!!

I'm so excited to share my success tips with you. Besides asking questions, here are three more things you need to know about interviewing that I've learned through the years:

1) Bring extra resumes, for sure, if the interview is in person. Sometimes, you’ll get to meet editors of other departments, and it’s a great way to network for other positions or future contacts.

2) Read the magazine you’re applying to. I know that sounds silly and obvious, but if you’re nervous in an interview, it might be hard to remember which writer wrote which article. From feedback, editors like if you’re comfortable enough to have an opinion on the publication and can give details.

3)Read around! I found lots of forum postings online for the magazine I’m interning at. People post what types of questions they were asked, how they responded and even what to wear.

I’ve been dying to start ever since, and as my first day keeps getting closer, I’m getting more and more nervous! Fingers crossed I dress well enough for the fashion world, and good luck on your internships or paths toward them!

Have you ever had a Skype interview? What are your tips to looking and sounding professional?

Until Next Thursday,
Web Intern

My Dream Internship Starts Now

2011-06-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

I never pack ahead of time. Just two weeks ago, only 24 hours before I was supposed to leave for the airport to fly home, my room at school was decorated by sweaters and t-shirts strewn randomly over chairs and doors, books dumped on the bed, desk, dresser and floor, and copies of the school newspaper buried among piles of blankets, while my two suitcases sat empty in the middle of the floor.

But now I’m sitting at home, a full four days before I leave, and my suitcases are packed. I’ve read through my packing list five times. All the items on my “things to do before I leave” list are checked off. The airline won’t let me check in and print my boarding pass yet, but other than that, I’m ready to leave. Seriously – right now.

In four days – four long days – I will be on my way to one of my favorite cities to work at one of my favorite magazines. I will be an editorial intern at the major national mag that is the reason I got into journalism in the first place. I could ramble about how excited I am for ages, but in short, this is basically my dream internship.

I haven’t received many details from the mag, other than that I am to arrive at 9:30 a.m. on my first day. The job description said the position consists mostly of research and writing, though, so it sounds like there could be some substantial work. Of course, I’m up for anything. My past internships have been with newspapers, so I’m excited to see how a monthly magazine works (especially the magazine that has been my favorite for the past 10 years).

I still have more than a week to wait, though, and the butterflies are already starting to nest in my stomach. Luckily, I’m all done packing, so I can spend the next four days reading back issues of the magazine.

See you next Wed!
Ed's Edit Intern

3 Ways To Kick Ass On Your First Day

2011-06-21T08:00:00.003-04:00

Hey there, fellow Edsters!

Summer’s just beginning, and I’m a week away from the start of my big internship in New York. It’s an exciting leap forward after interning at magazines and newspapers in the D.C. area because I’ll be working at one of the country’s biggest magazines and away from home.

A quick introduction: I’m a journalism major from Maryland. The story of how I’ve snagged each of my internships is a very different tale, but the one common thread between them is my persistence and patient. I entered each of my internships a little nervous and clueless. I’ve exited each more confident and ready to tackle what’s next.

And a great deal of that confidence is built — believe it or not! — in the first couple weeks when I’m getting oriented to the office. Imagine: you’re on your first day, and your editor is going over your jobs with you. He’s showing you the office, introducing you to so many faces all while going over where to file this, what copier to use, what password to use here, where NOT to put that paper, etc.

It’s overwhelming, definitely, but you know in a few weeks’ time those tasks will be second nature. So how do you get to that point without letting your nerves get the best of you? A few tips I’ve learned (and plan to use this year!):

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. At this point, we’re all trying to impress our editor, but those first few weeks are the best time to ask questions, even if the questions seem silly. Editors are always so happy to help you and understand that you’re not going to know everything your first few days. So before you hesitant to speak up about something you don’t get, keep in mind that by letting them help you, you can better help them!

Stay positive! When you’re learning your way around the office, it’s OK to feel a little nervous, but don’t let your temporary lack of knowledge lead to a lack of confidence and smiles. Pretend you’ve got whatever task thrown at you even if you’re not so certain inside — you’ll find you’ll be fine most of the time (and for the times you aren’t? Your editor is happy to help lead you in the right direction)! Stay optimistic and patient. Everyone goes through this learning period when they start a new position, and everyone moves past it too.

Take notes and absorb as much as you can. When your editor is going through instructions, take notes. Watch the newsroom, and stay alert. You’ll quickly pick up where things are and how things work, but it’s important that now especially you’re at your most attentive. Know your classroom, and you’ll quickly become the star intern your editor has been looking for.

So what tips do you have for the first few days, Edsters? How did you approach your first day? And what’s the best advice you’ve been given for getting oriented to a job?

Till Next Tuesday,
Women's Mag Intern

A Fashion Rookie's First Magazine Interview

2011-06-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

“You’re in for it today,” a stranger laughingly commented as I passed him on the sidewalk.

And he was right. There I was, trudging along the streets of the city in heels and a dress in a torrential downpour. My umbrella kept my outfit semi-dry, but the humidity defeated my hair, turning it into a frizzy mess – not exactly the look I was going for on the day of my interview with one of the chicest fashion magazines.

I made sure to arrive early to ease my anxious nerves. I parked myself at a nearby café and dried myself off and tamed my hair as best as I could (which isn’t saying much). Finally, interview time rolled around and I did my best to walk into the building’s lobby without shaking. My interviewer came down to meet me and led me to the magazine’s office, where I played it cool while I was actually bursting from excitement on the inside!

It was my first interview with a magazine. Over the past 5 months I’ve sent my resume out to about 30 different publications. This mag was the first to respond – a huge surprise, considering its reputation and my lack of prior internship experience. I was offered an internship on the spot and immediately accepted. While it is a fashion internship and not an editorial one, which I would have preferred, I know an opportunity when I see one!

Check back every Monday to read about my experiences (and learn from my mistakes) as I spend my summer interning at a fashion magazine!

XOXO,
Fashion Intern

Get Ready For Intern Diaries 3.0

2011-06-17T21:13:00.006-04:00

Ed's excited to announce that on Monday, June 20th, you will be hearing from a whopping six new intern diarists - our biggest cohort yet - who are ready to expose the highs and lows of working in the magazine industry. From networking tips to cupcake run mishaps, these whippersnappers are sharing it all.

Follow Ed's Edit, Web, Fashion, Features, Fitness, and Women's Magazine Interns as they divulge their stories of success (and yes, sometimes humiliation) all summer. Something tells us this will be as informative as it is entertaining.

Get psyched,
Ed

Intern 101: If you don’t like something, keep your mouth shut??

2010-11-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hey Edsters!

An interesting situation presented itself this week. But before I explain, I should first mention that I blog outside of the magazine world — nothing serious, just a personal blog on issues that interest or infuriate me.

So this week, a pretty controversial article hit newsstands — one that (despite the magazine’s usual credentials) begs for criticism or at least an outline of how it fell short in its reporting and subject portrayal. And so while all would be perfect for an exciting and honest critique, there’s a catch: I interned with this magazine last year.

And so the dilemma: Is it job-hunting suicide to openly criticize a magazine you know you’ll one day approach for a job?

I think an obvious answer is — don’t talk about it. Don’t blog about it. And certainly don’t criticize it. When you’re looking to break into the industry, you can’t risk shooting yourself in the foot by upsetting past editors.

But many of my friends and blog followers who know my background with the magazine have asked what I think of the situation. And I guess, blogging aside, I wonder — is it ever okay for someone looking to break into an industry to point out its faults? Must we pretend all is perfect with each magazine we apply to work or intern for? Just because we’re looking for jobs — does that mean we can’t voice opinions about things we’d like to see changed or improved within the publication? Will a potential employer instantly dismiss you for having publically disapproved of one article they wrote?

And then, what if in the coming years an article I disagree with is published by my employer? When the job-hunt equation is taken away, can you openly share concerns or criticisms that you have with the magazine’s content?

Basically, I’m curious about what you think. Do we as interns or employees have to unconditionally support everything the mag we work for, have worked for, or aspire to work for publishes? Is there any way to be new but still offer new ways of thinking, without shooting yourself in the foot?

Until next time,
Your (ethically-stumped) Features Intern

An Unofficial Q&A with my EAs — How Do I Land Your Job?!

2010-11-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hey Edsters!

So the two EA’s (Editorial Assistants) in my office are super cool, really young and totally friendly, and a few weeks back, they suggested we set aside a day where they could take the interns out for lunch (read: to the downstairs cafeteria, on The Mag’s tab). Today was the day, and so the two EAs, my co-intern and I all headed downstairs together for an hour-long lunch. (Which I guess is rare in itself, as interns in our office get 35 minutes and the EAs pretty much have to eat at their desks!).

Once we’d ordered our food and the corporate card was swiped, we found a table and settled into some casual conversation. It was really nice to see the relaxed side of my editors as everything from boyfriends to embarrassing high school stories was discussed. (Yes, my co-intern and EA share a history of marching band/orchestra!)

But after 40 or so minutes of chitchat, they opened the floor for questions. What concerns did we have about the industry that maybe their experiences could help answer? And while gossip distracted us a bit longer, I figured it would be smart to take advantage of the offer, so I asked something like this:

“We’re both graduating in the coming months. What advice would you offer for new or to-be grads looking for entry-level jobs? Where do you look for listings? How and when do you contact past editors? And is Human Resources ever helpful? Basically — how did you guys do land your jobs?”

First off, both said that they had gotten their jobs through personal references and that contacts were the best way to land jobs. They suggested using college career centers to find alumni in the industry, and, of course, reaching out to editors from past internships.

As far as contacting past editors, they advised sending a friendly email about six weeks before graduation, letting them know that you’ll be graduating in a few weeks and asking if they’ve heard of any positions (in their offices or elsewhere). They also advised you suggest meeting for coffee sometime (whether or not the editor has a job reference) because it will 1. give you a chance to reconnect with a past editor, 2. give you a chance to talk about your interests in more depth so she’ll know what you’re looking for, and most importantly, 3. ensure that your editor keeps you in mind whenever she hears of anything new. (One EA noted that while she may have had an amazing intern 5 years ago, if she hasn’t heard from him in a while, he just won’t be the first one the EA thinks of whenever she hears of a job opportunity).

My EAs also suggested that upon finishing an internship, you try to arrange a meeting with Human Resources (if nothing else, to put a face to your resume). They have seen offers stem from Human Resources, so they don’t believe that making that contact is completely defunct.
As far as websites with job listings go, the EAs suggested:

• MediaBistro.com
• JournalismJobs.com
• MPA (magazine.org)
• and of course, ED2010.com

With the Celeb Binder, Tabloids and Gossip are Just the Beginning

2010-11-15T08:00:00.002-05:00

Hey Edsters!

It’s been another busy day in the office, but what’s great about these days is 1. they fly by, and 2. I have another fun project to report back to you! Basically today I compiled two humongo binders with all the info, gossip and interviews you could ever want on Celeb A and Celeb B — aka The Mag’s January and February Cover Girls.

These binders, also referred to as professional bios or packets, are used at tons of magazines for all kinds of interviews, not just cover stories. They’re compiled (often by interns), for a freelancer, staff writer, or even an award-winning contributor who will review the binder before going into the interview. Mine started off with a color photo on the cover, as well as a list of what would be found inside the binder: Previous Profiles and Magazine Features; Q&As; News Coverage; Tabloids and Gossip; Performance Reviews and Critiques; and any fun tidbits or taboo topics the author should know to reference politely, casually, or avoid altogether.

Fun, fun, fun. At least for the first few hours. The information you can find online is endless. Wikipedia and IMDB alone offer tons of info and links to articles. But when compiling everything, I really tried to keep in mind the human being who’ll have to read through this info later — aka, quality vs. quantity, because no one wants to flip through 800 pages of celeb reviews. (I mean, maybe some people do, but I’m assuming not a reporter with deadlines). But nonetheless, it still had to be thorough and informative.

Usually, this starts out with a quick bio/timeline, including the subject’s childhood, rise to fame, impressive accomplishments and upcoming projects. This is basically an overview of everything the reporter will find in the binder. Also, for the fun stuff, People.com offers quick celeb timelines, which my editors requested be included in the binder as well. A list of all the awards the subject had won followed.

I had actually worked on similar project at a past internship at a magazine that focuses even more heavily on profiles of dignitaries, cultural figures and celebrities. And surprisingly, these long and tedious tasks actually became first-rate reporting lessons. Because after compiling everything under the sun, the binder was sent to the reporter (who in this case, was a contributing editor at The Mag, not to mention an award-winning author and theater critic, known for his interviews with numerous cultural figures). He then, after reading it through, went off to interview the subject. After, he sent the audio recording back to the office, which of course, landed back on my desk. But transcribing offered a front row seat to the interview, and most importantly, an insider look at what info from the binder he had found interesting, what he didn’t, and mostly, how he approached each topic (because, yes, he absolutely touched on all those taboos with the utmost of class!). And once the transcription was back in his hands, the article was written and sent back to my editors, ready for review and edits, and in my lucky case, an intern sneak peak. And obviously, getting to see the final article in print just topped off the whole process — which all started with the tedious professional bio hunt.

I guess my point is that even the seemingly lame projects, if looked at from a positive angle — or as any editor or journalism professor would say, “approached with the right spin” — can lead to an exciting learning experience, and if nothing else, insight into the daily workings of the glorious magazine and reporting industry.

So what about you? How have you guys spun mundane projects into interesting mag lessons? Any suggestions for ways to approach the more tedious assignments?  

Until next time,
Your Features Intern

Firsthand Tips from a Friendly Features Editor

2010-11-08T08:00:00.003-05:00

Hey Edsters!

So just after I arrived at work this morning, the Features Editor rushed by and handed me a 16-page article. She apologized for the tedious project, but quickly explained that she couldn’t find the story’s original digital copy on her computer and she needed a transcription, pronto.

So I sat down with the article and started typing it out word for word. But I soon realized that as great as the topic was, the story wasn’t written in the typical Mag voice and it definitely included some odd sentence structure and a few grammatical mistakes. Obviously, it wasn’t my job to edit or alter the article in any way, but when I returned it to my editor, I did ask if she’d mind me asking a question or two about the piece.

She honestly surprised me by being super friendly and happy to talk about it, so I asked if the article was a freelance piece. When she confirmed that it was, I happily explained that I really enjoy editing and that it was pretty cool to see the raw copy that would eventually turn into a final print article.

But so here’s the best part. I must have caught her at a great time, because she literally responded to my interest in editing by handing me another article she’d written herself!! She explained that the Executive Editor had already read it through, but hadn’t been too thrilled with it, feeling that it needed a bit more heart and emotional connection to the subject. So she suggested I read it through and later that afternoon, swing by to brief her on my thoughts.
No joke, this may have been the most excited I’ve been working at The Mag (possibly second to my rocking iPad assignment).

So I read the article (twice), and took some notes so I’d be ready to talk it out. And as promised, at the end of the day, Features Editor called me in to her office, and (although slightly distracted by the insane view out her window!) I offered my feedback and ideas.

We chatted and brainstormed a bit (and she even took notes!!) but what was most interesting was that she admitted to making a few mistakes herself with this project. She explained that with all the craziness of the office, she had conducted the interview over the phone, but hadn’t read through her notes until a few days later, by which point, she’d forgotten some of the intimate details that bring most stories to life.

So here are some quick writing, interviewing and general tips hot from the Features Editor at The Mag.

• 1. Never get off the phone without really understanding what makes your interviewee tick. In other words, make sure that you really get why they do what they do, or why they have the relationships that they have.  
• 2. Read over your notes right away. That way, if something is missing, you can easily call back. Otherwise, “it gets cold,” and you forget the details and you lose the character of the story and personality of your subject.  
• 3. To emphasize, you should always follow up if you have any doubts or hesitations about anything.  
• 4. Features Editor personally thinks that the best personal stories, (“As Told To” as we call them at The Mag), are the ones told as if you were at a bar, pulled up a stool, and struck up a conversation with a stranger. It should be told chronologically with a background story, but including nothing more than what’s needed to understand, again, how this person ticks and why their story is interesting or important.  
• 5. Also, she advised that even if you love editing and aspire to be an editor, you still have to write. Write, write, write! And accept reviews, edits and criticisms of others (especially those with more experience) with an open mind.  

Pretty solid advice. Plus, it’s comforting to know that even the pros mess up every once in a while. I guess it’s all about accepting what you did wrong, fixing it, and never making the mistake again. Do you have any such stories? Share in comments!

Until next time,
Your Features Intern  

Spending $1,100: It's All in a Day’s Work

2010-11-01T08:00:00.002-04:00

Hey fellow Edsters!

So every month, when the newest issue of The Mag comes out, bookstores, newsstands and subscribers aren’t the only ones anxious for their spanking new copies. In fact, when it comes to national magazines, among the first to get the new issues are all the other international editions of the publication. Yup — I’m talking The Mag in India, The Mag in Czech Republic, and The Mag editions in Japan and South Africa. They all get copies of the US edition shipped to their offices with love by the features interns in the New York Editorial Office.

The work is tedious and it’s the same every month. Basically, UPS forms are filled out online, specifying what’s being sent, how much it weighs, its declared value and how it needs to be delivered. And after filling this out for 25+ international editions, plus printing the labels, stuffing the envelopes and shipping off all the packages, you’ve definitely fulfilled your interning duties for the day.

But so today, as I was clicking and licking away, I found it super interesting that to send ONE COPY of the magazine, a one-pound shipment can cost anywhere from $60 to 130 USD! And that’s not even over-nighting it! Granted, our mag has special accounts set up with UPS that dramatically drop these costs (to $20 to $55 each), but still, that sounded like a ton!! So interested, I did some quick math and found that EVERY MONTH my mag spends $1,100 to send the new edition to its sister publications. (Without the special discounts, that number would skyrocket up to $2,500 USD!!!). Of course, this doesn’t even factor in the costs of the envelopes or the mailings to international authors and such. Plus some editions, like The UK Version, receive 8 copies, which hikes their UPS shipment price way up!

So while this isn’t the most fascinating of posts, (kind of like it’s not the most fascinating of tasks), it does offer perspective into the tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes details, expenses and efforts that go into each issue of The Mag. And I guess in the end, it’s a reciprocated practice, because one of our upcoming US issues will include an American spin-off of a feature just published in The Australian Edition of The Mag. Sounds like this process keeps the magazine brands consistent and the magazine readers worldly.

What do you think, Edsters? Is this an example of why print is getting so costly that web will soon take over?

Until next time,
Features Intern

Does Taking a Paycheck Come at a Price?

2010-10-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

Hey fellow Edsters!

So I have another dilemma that I’d love your feedback on — an “intern code of ethics dilemma,” if you will. Basically, a friend of mine graduated two years ago with a spiffy undergrad journalism degree from a big-time university. And so, for the last 16 months, she’s been on the hunt for a magazine job — in her ideal case, with a fashion publication. But with the difficulties of the current job market, she didn’t have much luck and ended up working at a couple New York magazines as an unpaid editorial intern. Most recently, she accepted a 4-month fall internship at a really awesome mag — one she’s always wanted to work for full-time in the future.

But here’s the catch, while interning, she continued her job hunt, and just a few weeks into her internship, she was offered a full-time EA position at a competing magazine. And of course, she took the job.

Now, I fully understand that we intern with the ultimate goal of landing a paid full-time position. So why then should she continue working an unpaid internship, when she’d already been offered a “dream” job?

As devil’s advocate, I’d say that beyond the immediate gratifications of a paycheck and a fancy job title, the repercussions of leaving an internship midsession may be pretty serious a few years down the road. So how do you handle this situation?

We know that in the mag industry, any open position isn’t available for long, and no matter how much a managing editor likes you, he probably won’t hold a position for you for a couple months. But on the other hand, when you’re offered an internship and you accept the position, haven’t you entered into an agreement that you will work until the session is completed? Editors need interns in the office, and they trust that you will complete the internship. If not, you risk pissing off your editors because, 1) you’ve essentially screwed them by leaving them high and dry, 2) now they have to go through the “hiring process” all over again, because they really do need someone to do your job, 3) you’ve left them with a bad taste in their mouths, and you probably won’t be able to turn to them for any future recommendations or job offers. So essentially, won’t you be screwing yourself? Because in this tight-knit industry, everybody really does knows everybody. Plus, the mag may hesitate to hire you in again if you ever do apply for a job with them in the future.

But then again, why continue working toward the dream job, when someone else is offering it to you right now? I’m not an idiot. I know we all have bills, rent and bar tabs to pay, so do (or can) ethics outweigh the realities of daily life? Is upsetting a few editors insignificant in the grand scheme of things?

And so I approached my favorite EA at The Mag and honestly asked what she thought of the situation, (this way, I’m offering you guys more than just my one-sided, personal opinion). So basically she explained that while it’s not the ideal situation, every editor, and everyone in the industry, has been there before. Everyone has interned, everyone is looking to move up, and everyone wants a better job (and bigger pay check). And in reality, she explained that “it’s just the nature of the industry.” Which is true. In fact, she pointed out that one day we (the interns) will get our first jobs, and a bit later, we’ll be offered a second, better job (possibly elsewhere), at which time, we’ll have to leave the first job that according to my logic, will also be a commitment made to an editor expecting you in the office every day.

And so my EA advised that if ever in that situation, we should try to be as gracious about it as possible, and try to uphold the standard two-weeks notice period, making sure to wrap everything up with the same effort and dedication we started the job with. But she did note that when it comes to an internship, not all editors are necessarily as understanding and many will in fact be super pissed that you’ve left them high and dry.

So what do you guys think? Did my friend make the right move? And if you were (or have been) in this situation, how would you handle it?  

Until next time,
Your Features Intern

An Intern's Survival Guide

2010-10-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

Hey fellow Edsters!

So here’s the scenario: an editor swings by your desk or shoots you a quick email, needing contact information for a specific person ASAP!! Any means of communication will do, but he needs it pronto! So what do you do? Let’s try to tackle this one head-on.

Use Your Office Resources. While you won’t often be looking for a celebrity or dignitary, if it’s ever someone you know the magazine has some sort of contact with, check in with the appropriate editors to see if they have the info on-hand. This may mean “crossing department boundaries” into the Special Projects, PR or Fashion departments, but hey, it’s worth a shot.

For someone less notable, Google is (surprise, surprise) always a good place to start. While you probably won’t find all the direct contact info here, it’s a great place for background info on your subject, hopefully offering their profession, employer or agent, location and any past coverage that they’ve received. If you’re super lucky, this could also lead you to a direct professional website that should have a phone number, email link and physical address all listed for you. Score! But who are we kidding? It’s rarely that easy.

LinkedIn is also a pretty excellent resource. A quick name search will help you narrow the pool, and of course should help specify your person by their professional field and geographic location. If you’ve lucked out and found your person here, most editors are usually content with this, as LinkedIn offers direct emailing options. But if not, try to head back to Google to hunt down a company website or phone number to call for the direct contact info.

Lame as it sounds, I think Calling a Company Directly in search of a contact is pretty cool and efficient, as you get to name drop by saying you’re calling from Your Big-Deal Magazine. Often people are pretty impressed and try to help you out as best (and quickly) as they can.

So let’s assume you’re looking for an everyday citizen who’s been in the news or has enjoyed some marginal publicity lately. Of course she doesn’t have a big deal company or website, so what do you do? How do you find such personal info?! Well here’s where you Use Your Magazine Connections. I’ve found that calling other magazines or newspapers that have previously interviewed the subject is a good way to go. You can find the office (or newsroom) phone number online, and just ask to speak to the editor or reporter of the article, and ask if they can provide that contact information. Just be prepared with all the info before you call (author, date published, section of mag, etc.). Sometimes they’ll give you the info directly, sometimes they’ll put you in touch with a publicity agent of some sort, but either way, you’ll be another step closer to your end goal.

Finally, if none of these work, you may need to hit up the Phone Book. Ugh. But no worries, many have free online versions that can help you hunt down addresses and phone numbers. (www.phonenumber.com has worked pretty well for me in the past). It’s beyond creepy to see what information is readily available online, but hey, we’re journalists — we need to take advantage of every resource that we can.

Also, while not the most reliable sources, as new privacy settings are more and more in tact, Facebook and MySpace are always worth a shot. While you’ll probably have to sift through a bunch of people with the same name, you may be able to find the person and send them a message. Probably not the most professional option, but who are we kidding — it’s probably the best way to get someone’s attention!

So what do you think Edsters? Have you tried any other ways of hunting down an impossible phone number or email? What about my fellow journalism majors? What’s your best bet for hunting someone down? Has anyone ever called a government office for the info? In our era of Facebook-stalking and what not, you’d think this would be a piece of cake, right?!

Until next time,
Features Intern

5 Tips on Pitching Magazine Stories

2010-10-18T09:19:00.002-04:00

Hey fellow Edsters!

Another day at the magazine, another few lessons in pitching story ideas! Basically today, one of the EAs asked us to help her pitch story ideas for the “news-y” section of the January Issue. While she prefaced that it was rare for interns to write for the print edition of The Mag so early on, she did say that if our ideas impressed the Editor-At-Large, we’d have a shot. Too cool, right!?

And so the heat was on, and for the entire day I sifted through almost every newspaper website (both American and international) on the hunt for the best ideas ever. Ha. Wayyyy easier said than done. Especially when pitching for print, which (unlike a quick web story) would need to be relevant, interesting and totally new — 3 months from now!! Ugh.

So I started up a list of ideas that I thought were interesting and after four or five hours of researching, I met with my editor, enthusiastic about what I’d found and hoping for the best.

So here’s some advice for pitching story ideas that I gathered today:

1. Pitching takes practice, so don’t get discouraged
My EA admitted that every month she pitches TONS of story ideas for this particular section, and each time, only one (maybe two) will make it into print! She also assured me that it really does take time and practice to figure out exactly what the top editors are looking for. Eventually we should be able to sift through our suggestions all on our own!

2. Make sure your ideas are tailored to this specific section
If an editor requests stories for a particular section, make sure your pitches are relevant and viable options for that part of the mag. Otherwise, you just look unprepared and unfamiliar with the magazine. You’ll have a chance to pitch your other ideas elsewhere. Also make sure your suggestions match the existing writing style of the mag — aka don’t pitch a story type that isn’t typically used in the magazine and make sure your pitches match your mag’s “voice.”

3. Don’t just pitch new studies or facts, pitch with an angle
Finding an interesting new study is great, and so often stories take off from these new stats, but when pitching ideas, a new fact isn’t enough. Make sure you find an interesting approach that is both timely and relevant to the readers of your magazine.

4. Don’t pitch with hyperlinks. Instead, submit a short write-up.
Editors have no interest in clicking through links to past articles and finding the story and facts themselves — that’s your job. This doesn’t mean go all out with interviews and elaborate writing, but present about 150 words outlining all the key information your article will include and propose a fun angle for your story.

5. Make sure your idea hasn’t been done before! Especially not by your magazine!
This may sound totally obvious, but articles aren’t limited to what you read in the print edition of the magazine — there are tons of smaller pieces published daily online and on your mag’s social media tools. Also, the mag has probably been around a bit longer than you’ve been reading it, so do a quick Google search of your magazine name and keywords from your story idea, just to double or triple check.

Hopefully I won’t lose any of my street cred by admitting I made a couple of these mistakes myself — but hey, now none of us will ever make them again!!

Until next time,
Your (always learning and improving) Features Intern

P.S. If you have any pitching tips or tricks, hope you’ll share them in comments!

Feeling the Competition

2010-10-11T10:13:00.002-04:00

Hey fellow Edsters!

So last time I blogged to you from cloud nine, totally enthusiastic about the future of magazines and their digital platforms. But reality checked back in today when I found that my fellow intern was working on her second web clip! Just three weeks into the internship! And worst of all, they were both ideas she had pitched herself! (Okay, fine, that’s actually fantastic news, but I just realized that I need to step up my game and start pitching my own ideas!)

I want to preface that I really like my co-intern. I think we work super well together and have taught each other a lot over the course of the last few weeks, plus she’s a hysterical — we actually laugh all day. But sometimes, she absolutely baffles me. She sits at her desk doing homework or checking Facebook, and yet somehow she’s racking up all these clips! I just didn’t get it!

Until she explained that she’d been pitching a couple story ideas to our editor every day, with hopes of getting to write one up for The Mag (most likely for the website). I, on the other hand, had been keeping a list, thinking I’d be prepared should an editor ever ask me if I had a story idea. So I was seriously impressed that she was proactive about it (and pretty jealous of her awesome story idea!).

But that brings me to my main point. My co-intern is a hard-working and enthusiastic intern — when a task interests her! If not she’ll pout a bit and try to put it off. So to avoid the duller tasks, she pitches light-hearted fun content she’d enjoy researching — fun stuff that would catch a reader’s attention on Twitter or while browsing The Mag’s website. I’m not sure that’s the best approach to an internship, but it’s definitely the best way to leave with clips!

So on that note Edsters, how do you think up story ideas? Do you get them from your daily life or other newspaper/magazine articles? My co-intern gets them from her favorite TV shows and celeb fashion trends! (Her advice: anything that leaves you with a strong opinion, either positive or negative, is a story idea!) But better yet, what are your favorite web stories to read?

Until next time,
Features Intern

Best. Assignment. Ever

2010-10-08T10:00:00.001-04:00

Hi fellow Edsters!

Damn it feels good to be an intern! Especially right now. With technology becoming ever more entwined in print, many people are predicting the death of magazines — but I couldn’t disagree more! I really believe the magazine industry is one that benefits from cross-platform branding (how else do you explain all those reality TV shows with magazine staffers? The Hills? Project Runway?) Plus, magazines want people to be thinking positively about their brand and advertisers as often as possible (again, think Vogue’s recent Fashion Night Out and Seventeen’s spin-off Seventeen on 34th). Because at the end of the day, all the positive branding reminds people how much they love the magazine and want to be one of the awesome readers themselves (you know deep-down you’re a Cosmo Girl, too!).

All this to say that magazines are embracing their websites and Twitter accounts because they reel in millions of viewers each year, many of which fill out print issue subscriptions! And as for the iPad and tablet versions of the magazines? They’re helping branding too. In fact representatives of the power-house publishers have recently established that the iPad is not so much a white knight for the magazine industry as it is a digital enabler, offering new platforms for magazine content, branding and interactive uses that the print models never could.

So now, you may ask, why am I so thrilled to be an intern at this exact moment? It’s because we’re literally in the midst of this technological revolution!! Today my editor swung by my desk with the coolest project ever — “Dream up an interactive quiz for our December iPad issue!” Seriously?? I died. Because by “dream up” she meant, we’ve never done this before, so go ahead and give it a shot! Literally, when it comes to the tablet and digital uses, we’re all exploring unchartered waters, and as interns, that means becoming better and more-qualified applicants for jobs!

So on that happy note, what new technology assignments have you worked on? Have you seen any really brilliant work put out by your favorite magazine apps or websites? I’m excited to hear what’s up and coming!

Until next time,
Your (very optimistic) Features Intern

Intern Dilemma - To Snitch or Not to Snitch?

2010-10-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hey there fellow Edsters!

So last time I discussed how important it was to try to get along with your fellow interns and hopefully work together to get work done ASAP. And I absolutely still believe this to be the best method — you’ll leave the editors with a good sense that you’re a team player, efficient with your time, and an enthusiastic, friendly face to have in the office.

But just because you befriend the other interns, doesn’t mean the competition isn’t still on: we all know it’s a tough industry we’re trying to break into, and that every contact is super valuable — so no matter what, we’re all still trying to impress the boss.

As for me, I’ve quickly become friends with my fellow intern. We help each other out (having to figure out a pressing toner issue on the copy machine is so much more stressful than you’d think!) and grab lunch together on our breaks. We also have plans to go see Easy A next week after work, but I guess that’s neither here nor there.

So here’s where things get tricky:

My friend had been given a really cool task by one of the senior editors — basically to look up upcoming city events, museum exhibitions and food festivals that could possibly be featured either online or in future issues of The Mag. But she wasn’t too stoked about the project, admitting to me that had it been research on film openings or fashion events she would have been way more enthusiastic about the project. At that point, I didn’t have any pressing work to do, (plus I thought the project sounded like fun) so I volunteered to help her get it done. And so we split up the research and began emailing events back and forth to compile one master list for the editor.

But as I was rattling it off, I began to wonder if my fellow intern would acknowledge my help. I know at past internships, I had always submitted group efforts with a note indicating some variation of “compiled by the editorial interns” or whoever had helped me out — 95% because it was true and 5% out of guilt should I have been discovered taking all the credit myself! But I’ve never seen a problem with giving credit where credit is due. Again, the editor just wants the best possible work (so he/she doesn’t have to go back and do it again) turned in as quickly and efficiently as possible. And unless he/she explicitly says “this is a top-secret project,” or something of that nature, then why not split it up if another intern is looking for work?

And so, as I emailed off my research, I didn’t have the heart to straight up ask: “So, are you going to let Senior Editor know I helped you out?” And still now, I have no idea whether she did or didn’t.

So what would you have done fellow Edsters? Is this a Karma thing, where what goes around comes around? Will editors slowly realize that the other intern is getting solid work done unusually quickly? Will the other intern be as willing to help me out with my heavy loads? Or was it silly that I didn’t say anything before she turned it in? Maybe some of you would argue it was silly I helped her out at all — but isn’t every experience, no matter how trivial, beneficial to my education here at The Mag? And maybe I’m not giving my friend enough credit, maybe she acknowledged me without a second thought, but I guess we’ll never know, right?

I’d love your feedback on this, so please send me your thoughts in comments!

Until next time,
Features Intern

Why You Should Befriend Your Fellow Interns

2010-10-04T10:07:00.001-04:00

Hey fellow Edsters!

Week two at The Mag was really great (and super busy)! With projects coming in left and right, I was thrilled to have another editorial intern in the office with me (even if it’s only one day a week), but she’s great! We’re definitely in the same boat — a few internships under our belts, graduation quickly approaching, a serious love for traveling and sushi, and high hopes for our internships at The Mag.

But too often I’ve heard of people that rarely speak with their fellow interns. They approach an internship like a competition: everyone is super-competitive and out for themselves, hoping to best impress the boss and get the most exciting tasks or clips. And it’s a solid mentality, right? Every man for himself and may the best man win.

But that’s really not my style and I truly don’t think it’s the best way to approach any situation. (Honestly, when does that girl on reality TV— you know, the one who says, “I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to win?”—ever win?!).

Obviously interns opt to work so many hours for free to learn how magazines run, rack up an impressive resume, and leave with some solid references (and possibly clips!). But I believe that magazines bring in interns to help the office run smoothly, make the editors’ lives just a little bit easier and teach potential future employees how things are done. So I think that with that purpose in mind, why not work together, become friends and enjoy the experience of being an intern together? Besides, don’t forget that your fellow interns are going to be working in the industry too, and wouldn’t it be great to have a handful of contacts at a handful of different publications when you start working yourself? I also just think that working 9 to 5 (or in my case 9 to 6:30!) is tough enough — why not make some friends along the way to soften the load?

And I’m not naïve. I’ve absolutely encountered the super-awful really snooty intern who is absolutely not interested in making friends, and after a few failed attempts at conversation, I felt sorry for her. Because I’ve met really amazing (and intelligent) friends through my internships — friends I still meet for lunch, drinks, or even Fashion’s Night Out. And more importantly, I know that our editors saw how well we worked as a team and how happy we were to be at work every day. I really think they enjoyed having us in the office and I believe that an intern who is friendly, knows how to work well in teams, and knows how to get the job done is the one they’ll want to call back when an EA position opens up.

All this to say, keep a smile on your face from day one and be open to making friends with your fellow interns. In the long run, I think it’s more beneficial to you and the magazine that’s employed you, and it will make your internship so much more enjoyable!

Until next time,
Your (friendly and open-minded!) Features Intern

Day One Went Off Without a Hitch

2010-10-01T10:17:00.002-04:00

Hey there fellow Edsters!

So I made it out of day one alive! Whew! And better than that, now I get to spill all the deets!

I will admit that I tried on four (okay fine, seven) different outfits before heading out the door and that I splurged on a $15 cab ride, for fear of being gross and sweaty had I taken the subway (which honestly inflicted more stress than it saved because NYC traffic at 8:30 am SUCKS!) but nonetheless, I arrived on time — hair and eyeliner still in place — and walked confidently through the rotating front doors, huge smile on my face, and ready to go!

Boy is it exciting to arrive and be welcomed into a new office! And all the usual bases were covered. I was given the office tour (umm, hellooo fashion closet!), introduced to most of the editorial staff (including the fabulous EIC!!), shown to my own (pretty spiffy) desk, introduced to my fellow interns, and walked through a list of basic tasks, expectations and ways to be a rock-star intern.

So, I figured I’d share some of these pearls of wisdom with you.

1. Always be on time.
In fact, always be early. Or at least plan to be early. Nothing screams “irresponsible” more loudly than being late. Also, when it comes to your lunch break, don’t take an extra 20 minutes if you’re already given an hour. It can’t possibly take you that long to eat.

2. If an editor calls you to his/her office, always bring a pen and paper.
We’ve all seen The Devil Wears Prada. Sometimes editors really do spew out tasks and information that quickly. But in the real world, if you’re listening attentively and taking notes, an editor won’t mind you asking him/her to repeat or clarify. In the long run, it would be more embarrassing for you to slink back into the office later to ask again.

3. If you need to be out of the office, let your boss know as far in advance as possible.
Common courtesy. It also doesn’t hurt to suggest a day or time that you could come in to make it up. Editors won’t always require this of an intern, but it can only win you points if you offer.

4. If an editor asks you to run an errand, make sure to get a receipt. Always.
Editors expense most things, so they need the receipts as proof. No one wants to pay for anything they don’t have to!

5. Try to figure things out on your own before asking a question.
Editors definitely appreciate you taking initiative to solve problems. If the copy machine is out of paper, don’t ask where to find it, just search around yourself. Of course, if you have an assignment that you’re unsure of, ask for clarification. It will save you time in the long run and ensure that you get it right the first time.

6. Checking Facebook, listening to music, taking/making personal phone calls.
Don’t do it. Period.

7. Double-check your grammar.
Yes, I know we text and email very casually, and even some school assignments are relaxed when it comes to grammar, but you’re working for a magazine for crying out loud! Treat everything you turn in (emails and memos, too) like a final draft. Spell-check, fact-check and proofread. Maybe twice.

8. Asking editors if they need help is great — in moderation.
While editors love eager, ready-to-work interns, popping into an editor’s office several times during the day to see if they need help can be more disruptive than helpful. Stop by once, with a smile, and leave it at that.

9. Don’t let a mistake go unreported.
If you mess up, fess up. Immediately. It’s the only way a mistake can be fixed quickly. And don’t take it personally — no one gets everything right 100 percent of the time!

10. Be prepared with ideas!!
While interns don’t regularly attend staff meetings, there’s always a chance that you could be invited to one. To be prepared, have at least one of two solid story ideas brewing at any given time, just in case! You never know when an editor will ask you on the spot for a story idea! Plus, interns who show initiative and stay plugged in to possible story ideas are the ones most likely to get a byline!

So there you go, some insider advice from the features editors at The Mag. Although I bet we can think of some others, so please send me any tips your editors have given you, or any successful tactics you’ve come up with on your own!

Until next time,
Features Intern