Surviving Internship Pressure

I'm at the halfway point of my time at TeenMag.com! Though I'm positive I'll be staying on as a Contributing Writer while I'm at college, I know it's not going to be the same as being in the office every day. This time around, there's no guarantee that I'll have the opportunity to go back to TeenMag.com. Eek! 

Unfortunately, it seems like EVERYONE—from the competitive intern I work with to my friends and parents—are under the impression that I'll definitely be offered a position at TeenMag.com when I graduate next year. I would absolutely love to work at TeenMag.com, but as we in the magazine industry know, there's no guarantee there will be a spot on staff for me next summer. 

I've been meeting with alumni from my school in the magazine industry, attending Ed2010 events (maybe I met some of you there!), asking editors from other departments to coffee, and pitching stories to TeenMag.com as often as I can. I feel like I've been taking all of the opportunities I can while at Teen Mag, and have complete faith that when it's time for me to apply for a job, something will fall into place. I know that my family and friends want the best for me, but it's making me crazy that every family dinner conversation somehow revolves around earning a position at Teen Mag.

Running In Heels

Hello fellow Edsters!

This past week at the magazine one of the editors gave some of the interns a presentation on being professional and kicking a** over the course of this summer and wherever we go in our careers. There have been so many discussions recently on women in the workforce and how important it is for women to aspire to be in the top of their fields. The presentation touched on everything to know from how to dress to how to deal with a crisis. I was surprised by a lot of what the editor said but also extremely interested in the tips on how to be professional in a magazine setting. A few tid-bits of information stuck out that aren’t just relevant to working in publishing.

Don’t be the one with the highest heels. Nearly every college student knows the importance of presentation when going over documents with their boss or in a meeting. However the standards are different in certain offices, especially when working at a magazine with half of its pages devoted to fashion. There is undoubtedly pressure to wear 4 inch heels every day at work and flaut this season's collections but the editor was telling us what is really important to remember. Clothes that fit well, are the approximate length (short skirts, obviously a no-no), and not too much make-up she said is key. I was surprised by the length a manicure could go according to the editor, which made me feel less guilty for changing my polish weekly. She concluded the appearance discussion on that fact women and men are judged differently in the office so it is important to remember to present yourself well, despite the unfairness.

Web Must-Have: 3 Ways To Master Any CMS

Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Hey Edsters!

I'm super excited to have finally gotten then hang of things at my internship. It's always such a relief to get past the yes-I'm-totally-new-here phase out of the way! This week I wanted to share a few tips on writing for the web with you.

6 Ways to Make the Most of a Slow Day

It’s late afternoon. Your eyes are drooping, but you’ve already made three trips to the coffeemaker. There are many other places you would rather be. But here you are in the office, trying to stay focused on your work—if you have any. It’s a slow day at work, and it can happen even at the most fast-paced magazines.

Have no fear, Edsters! There are still some things you can do to continue being that useful intern you are.

An Intern Veteran's 4 Key Lessons To Success

Well, Edsters, I did it! 

Week one has come and gone and although I spent the majority of the week transcribing interviews, I still left with the impression that this is going to be a fantastic experience. 

I spent a bulk of my time mentally noting differences between internships. It was hard for me not to since it had been a mere three days between the two of them, and I honestly feel like a little bit of time off between them would have done me some good. As difficult as it was to mentally arrive in new internship mode, I think I'm finally there. Taking a step back, here are a few guidelines that I think could be helpful for you all as you transition between jobs.

1. Take the opportunity to ask questions. At the beginning of internship #1, I was nervous to ask questions because I didn't want my editors thinking they'd made a mistake hiring an airhead.