#internadvice

[deadastv-blog]

Know the difference between being confident of what you've done and shallow buzzword swagger. Agencies can easily sniff out interview bullshit (cause we sell it all day). #ego #internadvice #millennials #intern #careeradvice #interview #talent #adintern #adlife #advertising #marketing #pr #branding #agencylife #adagency #socialstrategy #strategy #digitalmarketing #madisonave #madmen #agency #instafollow #l4l #tagforlikes #followback

[intern-blog]

Motivational Monday: Don't think that something is just "one big thing"--it's actually a bunch of little things that come together! Make sure to slowly but steadily work toward your goals and you'll have a much higher chance of achieving them.

[intern-blog]

Picasso was right-- work hard and inspiration will come to you

[intern-blog]

Top 5 Skills Employers Look For

Imagine this: You're scrolling through internship ads, looking to fill up your schedule during the summer, until you stumble on something that really catches your eye. You think you have what it takes to really wow the employer, but you want to spice up your resume. So you ask yourself, "What can I add to really stand out from other applicants?" You might be surprised to know that you already have some of the top skills that employers look for!

Check out the following list (in no particular order) to see which skills are in demand, and how you can enhance them--

Languages Did you know fluency in another language is the hottest job skill? [1] In fact, knowing more than one language gives you a much better chance of being hired over those who don't know. The best part is, you don't necessarily have to even be fluent in a language-- conversational fluency also counts! According to a CBI study [2], some 74% of employers are looking for people with conversational competence because it helps their business to be able to communicate, even at a basic level, with customers and clients. Even if you plan to intern in another field, language skills are very in-demand: Hospitals need translators to assist patients, schools are interested in teaching diversity and need tutors, and tourism/hospitality is built on customers from around the world. However, that's not all-- Employers are also keen on programming languages as well. For a list of the most popular ones, I would suggest looking at ComputerWorld's Ten In-Demand Programming Languages. How to Improve Your Language Skills:

Probably the most obvious answer, but try learning a new language! One of my favorite apps is DuoLingo, which you can access through the web, on your phone, or on a tablet. There are tons of free resources on the internet as well, such as blogs, PDF files of books, and worksheets.

Likewise, it also helps to try and improve any languages that you studied back in high school (remember Spanish or French? Good times! ). Again, DuoLingo is helpful, and if you're lucky enough to have a friend or family member, I suggest talking with them for practice.

Most In-Demand Languages: While this really depends on the company you want to intern at (and what regions they're working with), here's a basic list:

                +European Languages: German, French, Dutch, and Scandinavian                 +BRIC Languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Hindi and Chinese (Mandarin)                +Asian Languages: Korean, Chinese (Mandarin), and Japanese

On a similar note, it helps to improve your multicultural/diversity skills as well. This can be as simple as reading a variety of international blogs (Tumblr counts!), following the news, watching documentaries, or doing research about a particular country that you're interested in.

     Following Trends / Being up-to-date Companies are constantly looking for the next best thing, so an intern who keeps up to date on the latest trends is a valuable asset. By following the latest news, you'll be able to brainstorm new opportunities for the company you work for (especially if it's a smaller company or a start-up) and show your dedication and interest. For example, during my time as a social media intern, I came up with a few blog posts based off of what popular or what I heard from my friends. Apparently people were interested in learning more about crafts and different holidays around the world (this was a children's company, after all), so I took those ideas and developed them further. How to remain up-to-date:

Again, make sure you're following the latest news-- no matter what industry you're in. Download your favorite news app (Such as CNN, BBC, etc.) and make sure to check it periodically, like on your morning commute or on a short lunch break. I also suggest a Bloglovin account, where you can easily consolidate your favorite blogs and pick what you want to read-- especially if those blogs are centered around the industry you want to work in.

Check out Google Trends for a very general overview of what's popular. It even has a tool that lets you type in specific words and see their popularity over time!

Pay attention to what people around you are talking about-- your parents, friends, siblings, teachers, even random people on the bus! (although I don't condone eavesdropping, hehe) If you read the section above about language skills, you probably noticed that I mentioned the BRIC languages as something that's bound to be popular in the future. I firstly found out about the development of BRIC countries through one of my professors, and then confirmed its popularity through extra research. Always keep your ears and eyes open to new info!

Communication Although it's one of the most important skills (for a number of reasons), college students tend to lack communication skills because of the prevalence of online communication. [3] Communication skills are extremely important in any internship because they allow you to express yourself and get new ideas out there. It also helps with networking, because you can present yourself as someone who is articulate and polished. How to communicate more effectively:

Don't be afraid of putting yourself out there and talking! Although public speaking is easier for some people more than others, this skill will really pay off. Take small steps, such as talking with someone you might not know well, or compliment a stranger in public (really!). I used to be much shyer than I am now, but one way I tried to improve was by helping tourists with directions. Since they were always on the buses I took to my university/internships, one day I just thought "why not?" and gave it a go. The first couple that I helped were really friendly, so I kept on going and improved my skills along the way. I even had a few chances to practice my Spanish skills (see #1) with tourists from Spain and Argentina!

If you're having problems writing, I would also suggest to read more books, magazines, or anything written. This helps because you're exposed to new words, sentence structures, and better ways of writing your thoughts down. It also might be helpful to write short stories, memos, start a blog, or anything that you might think would be fun-- just as long as your practicing writing and rhetoric.

Likewise, maybe you might enjoy speaking, but aren't listening to other people. Take a few moments in a conversation to fully listen to the other person and just be in the moment. Also try looking at his/her body language and gestures to understand the situation better, so you can reply accordingly.

Research and Analytics Remember how you had to carefully find sources, format them in that dreaded MLA/APA format, and then finally turn in your essay? Well, some of those skills will help you at your internship as well! By finding relevant information on your essay topic, you helped build up the overall theme of the essay and supported it with facts and figures. Employers are interested in interns who can take raw data/information, analyze it, and report it to the boss. Let's say you're working at a hospitality/travel company, and your supervisor asks you to look up next month's list of cruise arrivals. Where will you start? Which source will you use-- in fact, what if there are two competing pieces of information? Should you cite the source? These (and other) questions will often come up during your research. The other part is Analysis. While having information is a good start, you might also need to draw conclusions about whatever it is you're researching. Should your division invest more in X, or should they go with Y? Would it be a good idea to tap into a new market or stay within the company's current one? While you're not expected to make any business-altering decisions, it'll impress your boss because you can confidently back up your information with concrete examples. How to Improve Research/Analytics Skills:

Have a variety of sources when researching information! Sometimes you might have to call or email someone in order to get anything, or find it in a book, on a website, through an article, etc.

Likewise, when analyzing the information, don't be afraid of thinking outside the box and asking questions. The more questions and ideas you have, the better!

One particular way to think deeply about a subject is to actually do some creativity exercises. I recommend Michalko's book on creativity (although you can find some exercises on his website) or finding some creativity exercises, such as these.

Organizational / Flexible People often complain that they don't have time for anything, so how you organize your time is critical to making sure you're getting all of your work done. Being organized allows you to budget your time wisely, and being flexible helps you to not stress as much when things don't go as planned. Also, by being flexible, you can help your boss on those extra-busy days with any tasks. How to be more organized/flexible:

There are tons of online blogs that have great advice on staying organized and planning for anything (in fact, there are blogs that are soely dedicated to the subject! Everyone loves some good organization :)). Check out ZenHabit's list of 27 tips to stay organized here. 

One of my favorite ways to plan my activities/work is by keeping a planner with me. Although it really depends on whatever format you're comfortable with, I would suggest a daily planner (Mine is from Bloom ) because you can divide up activities by day and even time. Also take advantage of color-coding or adding sticky notes for extra organization!

Being flexible at your internship might actually mean a few different things: Being able to come to work earlier/later in the day, adjusting to new technology/systems, or even working with people who are different (such as personality, experience, etc.). Flexibility means constantly improving yourself by being confident and believing that you can adapt to anything. Showing initiative, taking interest, and bouncing back from tough situations will improve your flexibility.

There you have it! Add these skills to your resume to stand out and get that dream internship. :)

SOURCES / FURTHER READING [1] http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/30/news/economy/job-skills-foreign-language/ [2] http://www.cbi.org.uk/pdf/20090406-cbi-education-and-skills-survey-2009.pdf [3] http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20130828-the-crucial-skill-new-hires-lack http://www.quintcareers.com/job_skills_values.html

[sanamohammed]

5 Tips to be a SUPERintern

My heart was racing.  My palms were sweaty.  My throat was suddenly dry.  This was not a good sign.

How could I possibly make a good impression if I could barely hold myself together?

I twisted my car keys to the left and turned off my engine.  It was the first day at my internship, and the anxiety was literally making me sick to my stomach.  Even though I had worked at other places in the past and interned before as well, this was different.  This was my future, inshAllah.

Staring at the glossy exterior of the enormous BP building in front of me, I knew I couldn’t avoid it any longer. I braced myself for the sweltering Houston heat, took a deep breath, and said the one thing that always calms me down, “Bismillah ar-rahman ar-rahim.” In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

I’ll never forget the anxiety I felt that day and the first few weeks of my internship.  I learned a great deal over the course of those ten weeks, and while I wouldn’t want to go back and change the learning experience I had, there are five pieces of advice I wish I would have known at the start that summer.

1.  Show your curiosity. Regardless of your school’s vigorous curriculum or the extensive research you devotedly conducted prior to starting your internship, you have very little – if any – applicable knowledge, and that’s okay.  Actually, that’s expected.  College courses only expose you to the tip of the iceberg, if even that, so come be ready to learn. On the job training far surpasses anything you can learn in the classroom.

Act like a sponge and absorb as much knowledge as possible.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Take advantage of any online training classes available for interns/employees. If your company doesn’t offer classes for interns, ask others for their old materials from past trainings.  Reach out to other employees and ask to shadow them for an hour or so to learn about their role and responsibilities.  Don’t just stick to your assigned team either.  If time permits, reach out to employees in other departments and find out what their day is like. People genuinely appreciate it when you show interest in their work, so take tons of notes and value their time.  Just be curious.

2.  Build relationships. Many of us think ‘networking’ is synonymous with schmoozing.  We hear the word and automatically associate it with brown nosing, small talk and fake smiles.  In reality, that’s the opposite of true and effective networking.  That’s disingenuous, and people can see through insincerity.

Networking is about building and maintaining relationships.  Every time you meet someone new, take the time to get to know them, and keep in touch with them, you are networking, but it’s not just limited to formal mixers or corporate events either.

You don’t want to be the no-name intern that everyone saw for a few months, but barely spoke to anyone and no one really noticed when you left.  Meet as many people as possible, and keep a running list of everyone you meet (name/title/email/comments). Reach out to others for lunch or a coffee break if they are short on time.  If he/she is a senior professional or farther along their career path than you, make sure you send a thank you email.  If it is someone closer to your age, follow up with them afterward by sending a quick note in regards to something you connected on.

Your goal should be to cultivate relationships with others so that you have at least three people you feel comfortable keeping in touch with after you leave, which is just as important.  Your relationship with the people you met should not be over just because your internship is over.  Stay in touch!

3.   Make weekly goals. At the start of every week, make a list of tangible, career-related tasks you want to achieve that week that go above and beyond your typical job responsibilities such as the following: 1. Meet one new person. 2. Email one old acquaintance. 3. Post one article as your LinkedIn status. 4. Sign up for one company networking event for that month.

Make sure to also reevaluate your goals from last week.  Did you achieve everything on your list? If not, what did you miss, and why? Do you need to narrow the focus of your goals or redefine them?  It’s easy to fall into the habit of work and become consumed with your day-to-day tasks. Suddenly, your two months will be up, you’ll have barely made contacts at the company, and you’ll be back in school wondering how time flew by so fast.  This constant to-do list keeps you focused on the long term as well as the short term and ensures you’re working towards your larger goals of networking, personal branding, etc.

4.  Appearances matter. The way you dress and carry yourself shapes others opinions of you considerably.  This isn’t about how fashionable or expensive your clothes are.  It’s about looking clean, professional and put-together. Since the acceptable dress code of every industry varies considerably, always play it safe during your first few weeks. Don’t get too creative. Get an idea of what others wear to work first and adjust your wardrobe accordingly. (Plus, shopping feels a lot more rewarding when you’re spending your first paycheck!)

This is not just about your external appearance.  Your body language portrays your confidence to others, and more importantly, it also affects the way you feel. Studies show that the way you stand, walk and sit affects your self-esteem.  When you’re stressed, something as simple as smiling can calm you down.  Simple tricks such as avoiding touching your hair, fixing your hijab, crossing your arms, and slouching in your chair can make you come across as and feel more confident. Whenever you feel nervous or intimidated in your new work environment, breath, stand up straight, and smile. Remind yourself that you’re in control and you got this.  This small act can make all the difference.

5.  Be the best you every minute of every day. While this should just be a general principle of life, it is particularly important as an intern.  You don’t have the luxury to have an ‘off’ day, where you look, feel, and act subpar to your abilities.  Every impression, every interaction, every moment – your first and your last – counts.

Don’t succumb to the pressure of FaceBooking at work, taking a longer lunch break, or arriving progressively late every day.  If you feel yourself becoming complacent, snap out of it because you never know who will remember you by your one ‘off’ day.  Be just as engage and hard-working during your last week as you were during your first.

Ultimately, just go in there, and be proactive. Be professional. Be awesome. The rest is in the hands of Allah (swt).

Photo Source: Image World

This was originally posted by me on Layali Webzine, an online-only lifestyle magazine geared towards young Muslim American women.