Getting Agency Experience: Presented by Ellen Stevens, Search Media Manager and Internship Manager A guide for students looking for internships November 5, 2008

What’s this webinar really about? Some Questions to Ask yourself Cover Letters Resumes Interview Follow Up Now that You’ve Got it, Keep it! 11/05/08

Some Questions to Ask yourself

Cover Letters

Resumes

Interview

Follow Up

Now that You’ve Got it, Keep it!

Some Questions to Ask Yourself What types of industries are you interested in? How much time can you commit to an internship? What type of company do you want to work for? 11/05/08

What types of industries are you interested in?

How much time can you commit to an internship?

What type of company do you want to work for?

The Different Sides 11/05/08 AGENCY Very fast paced environment, Expect to gain a lot of experience in a variety of industries You must have great time management skills More deadline accountable NON-AGENCY Learn a lot about a specific industry Still must have great time management skills Pace will still be fast, but work load will be more consistent There are also many different types of companies: Not for profit vs. for profit Small business vs. large corporation Formal workplace setting vs. informal workplace setting

AGENCY

Very fast paced environment,

Expect to gain a lot of experience in a variety of industries

You must have great time management skills

More deadline accountable

NON-AGENCY

Learn a lot about a specific industry

Still must have great time management skills

Pace will still be fast, but work load will be more consistent

There are also many different types of companies:

Not for profit vs. for profit

Small business vs. large corporation

Formal workplace setting vs. informal workplace setting

Hook us with your Cover Letter Research the Company. ALWAYS send a cover letter. Spell check, grammar check and be concise. Send to the right person. Differentiate your cover letter from your resume. Include all of your contact information. Stay under one page each for your cover letter and resume. If you’re using a form letter, make sure you have all the information correct, and don’t mass email companies. 11/05/08

Research the Company.

ALWAYS send a cover letter.

Spell check, grammar check and be concise.

Send to the right person.

Differentiate your cover letter from your resume.

Include all of your contact information.

Stay under one page each for your cover letter and resume.

If you’re using a form letter, make sure you have all the information correct, and don’t mass email companies.

Remember to check formatting, along with spelling and grammar. Find relevant job experience where you can. Only give blog/online information if it will help you. DO NOT list your hobbies. Do not include leisure pictures. Always send your cover letter and resume from a professional email address. The Power of the Resume 11/05/08

Remember to check formatting, along with spelling and grammar.

Find relevant job experience where you can.

Only give blog/online information if it will help you.

DO NOT list your hobbies.

Do not include leisure pictures.

Always send your cover letter and resume from a professional email address.

11/5/08

You Got the Interview Know where the company is located and arrive on time. Dress professionally and remember you are at an interview, not the mall. Come prepared with an extra resume, writing or creative samples (if applicable), notepad and pen to take notes if needed. Respond to questions with answers that will lead to a conversation. Come prepared with questions to ask the interviewer and show that you did your research. Before you leave, make sure you get the interviewer’s business card and their timeline to make a decision. 11/05/08

Know where the company is located and arrive on time.

Dress professionally and remember you are at an interview, not the mall.

Come prepared with an extra resume, writing or creative samples (if applicable), notepad and pen to take notes if needed.

Respond to questions with answers that will lead to a conversation.

Come prepared with questions to ask the interviewer and show that you did your research.

Before you leave, make sure you get the interviewer’s business card and their timeline to make a decision.

The Follow Up Post Resume Sending Once you send in your resume, you may not hear anything for a couple weeks, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Remember: most internship managers have other responsibilities besides managing interns. Therefore, continually calling or emailing to see if they have read your resume is not the best course of action to attain an interview. Be respectful of their time and don’t waste yours. Post Interview Send a thank you letter to let the employer know that you appreciate them taking time out of their schedule to meet with you. This is also another opportunity to remind the employer of your skills and what sets you apart from other candidates. Remember the timeline the interviewer gave you when you left. If you are not offered the internship, don’t burn a bridge. Instead, ask that the company to keep you in mind for future internships. Most employers keep resumes on file for about six months. 11/05/08

Post Resume Sending

Once you send in your resume, you may not hear anything for a couple weeks, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Remember: most internship managers have other responsibilities besides managing interns. Therefore, continually calling or emailing to see if they have read your resume is not the best course of action to attain an interview. Be respectful of their time and don’t waste yours.

Post Interview

Send a thank you letter to let the employer know that you appreciate them taking time out of their schedule to meet with you. This is also another opportunity to remind the employer of your skills and what sets you apart from other candidates.

Remember the timeline the interviewer gave you when you left.

If you are not offered the internship, don’t burn a bridge. Instead, ask that the company to keep you in mind for future internships. Most employers keep resumes on file for about six months.

Now that You’ve Got it, Keep it! Consider your internship a three month job interview. Like the Boy Scouts, BE PREPARED! Glue a notebook and pen to you at all times to take notes and show that you are ready at a moments notice. Always be on time. Ask your manager for regular meetings to ensure that you are continually progressing. Check your ego at the door. Don’t be afraid to ask. It is a lot easier to ask first, then try to fix it later. Try to get exposure to all aspects of the company, and attend meetings and company outings if possible. Internships are the best opportunity to experience a lot of aspects of the industry and company and is great for networking, so take advantage of it. 11/05/08

Consider your internship a three month job interview.

Like the Boy Scouts, BE PREPARED! Glue a notebook and pen to you at all times to take notes and show that you are ready at a moments notice.

Always be on time.

Ask your manager for regular meetings to ensure that you are continually progressing.

Check your ego at the door.

Don’t be afraid to ask. It is a lot easier to ask first, then try to fix it later.

Try to get exposure to all aspects of the company, and attend meetings and company outings if possible. Internships are the best opportunity to experience a lot of aspects of the industry and company and is great for networking, so take advantage of it.

Internships at Off Madison Ave Check our open internship positions for Spring 2009 at http://www.offmadisonave.com/careers Send your resume to [email_address] Any additional questions regarding anything covered today, please email Ellen at [email_address] 11/05/08

Check our open internship positions for Spring 2009 at http://www.offmadisonave.com/careers

Send your resume to [email_address]

Any additional questions regarding anything covered today, please email Ellen at [email_address]