Interviewing

     I found this article extremely helpful. Looking forward to graduation, and beginning my career, which is only a month and a half away, I have started applying for jobs. I have managed to get an interview for this coming week, so I found all of the details helpful. I agree that having an internship will give students real world experiences in their field of interest, and help them stand out in a sea of potential employees. As far as the leadership aspect in this article, I believe a huge part of gaining leadership experience at an internship comes from the individual, and how much they are willing to put themselves out there. When at your internship, it is important to ask for leadership opportunities, and stand out to your internship supervisors. In both of my internships, I have tried my hardest to do just that.
     When I prepare for an interview, I start by learning all I can about the company I am interviewing with. That includes, but is not limited to, the founder or founders, the company’s mission, and any other information I can dig up. Next I look online, and try to find practice interview questions. While there is no guarantee that I will be asked those same questions in an interview, I just like to be prepared with possible interview questions. Then I pick out the perfect outfit, something to make an impression, but not the wrong kind of impression. In preparing for an interview, I make sure I know as much as possible, and that I prepare as much as possible, as you can never be too ready!
     No matter who you are, or how many interviews you have been on, you most likely still get nervous for each interview you go on. It is human nature. There are so many unknowns when walking into an interview, and with all of that going through your head, you easily become nervous. However, it is important to be confident in yourself, and keep cool during the interview. Additionally, I hope to make the best impression possible. I have worked very hard over these past four years, and see all that hard work pay off in an interview is the most pleasing thing. While I don’t know how I come off to an interview, I try my hardest to make the best impression possible.
     Trying to find a job can be an exciting time, and as I am currently going through this process now, it is important to do what you can to remain calm and stand out in an interview.

Good luck in any and all interviews!

Hours Worked:

Saturday:      12:45pm-5:00pm (event)

Sunday:          1:45pm-5:30pm (event)

Wednesday:    9:30am-2:00pm (office)

Internship Assessment

     At the halfway mark, my internship with Wired 96.5 and 92.5 XTU is going extremely well!  It is even better than what I had expected.  While it is hard some weekends fitting in the required number of weekend events, other weekends are easy, and I am able to compensate by signing up for more weekend events.  The events are generally fun, and it often does not even feel like work.  I have worked various events, from bars to pet stores, to expos at the Philadelphia Convention Center to handing out fliers at West Chester University.  I did not imagine that these events would be fun to work, while at the same time meeting the requirements for my internship.  Additionally, I have met some incredible people at my events, and often times, on the way to our events many people honk at us while we are in the Wired or XTU vehicles.

     I have received many benefits from this internship.  Aside from meeting numerous people who work for the station, I have learned a lot about my self, and my career that I will be beginning in a few short months.  I have discovered that I do love working in radio, however when looking at it long-term, I do not feel that this lifestyle is for me.  I use the word lifestyle, because for many people working with the stations, it really is more than just a job.  The employees who work full-time, work in the office Monday through Friday 9am-5pm, then they work events with the station on the weekends.  Those who work part-time work weekend events, and go to school full-time.  While I very much enjoy working with the radio stations, the schedule is crazy, and not something I could see myself working for a long period of time, because I prefer a more structured lifestyle.  More than that, the Street Teamers have been amazing to me.  They have taught me numerous things, that I believe will help me excel in the future.  I must attribute much of my successes at the station to the Street Teamers sharing their knowledge with me, and the other interns.

     The only way I believe I could improve my internship would be to work harder at picking up more events.  This proves difficult with the various events and activities I am involved in on campus, however as the semester continues to wind down, more and more free time will be made available, hopefully allowing me to pick up more events.

     I hope I can gain as much as possible from my internship in these last few weeks!

Hours Worked:

Wednesday:    9:30am-2:30pm (event)

                       2:30pm-3:30pm (office) 

"The True Value of an Internship"

     I must agree fully with this article.  Having completed two internships, that follow two different paths of Communications, I have realized as an intern, what I want to do after my May graduation.  While I absolutely love my current internship, I do not see myself working full-time in radio.  Seeing the work schedules, and the crazy hours they are required to work, I feel that I would prefer a more structured schedule.  In my past internship, that is exactly what I had, a set schedule, and free nights and weekends.  This in no way means I am not giving this internship 100%!  I am still extremely dedicated to this internship, and embrace everything it has to offer to me.  I am grateful for the opportunity to be an intern; so slacking off once you realize this job is not for you is not an option.  To me, a foot in the door is a foot in the door, even if it is something you cannot picture yourself doing full time.

     Additionally, my internship has taught me many behavioral and interpersonal skills.  The biggest interpersonal skill I have built upon as an intern is my problem solving abilities.  Often, when we are at our event sites, something will occur, such as us not having our enter-to-win slips.  It is how you react to these types of problems as an intern that will cause you to be noticed above the other interns.  Furthermore, it is these types of skills that you can gain from an internship, that may give you the upper edge in a job interview, or when asking your current internship to be a reference for an upcoming job interview.

     Finally, the interactions at my internship are normally phone based when I am in the office, and face-to-face when I am at an event.  They can range anywhere from a normal day-to-day conversation to someone who is extremely intoxicated, and completely in your face.  While you may want to respond in a harsh way sometimes, we must keep our cool in order not to loose a loyal listener of the station.  This can be a hard feat, but it is one we must conquer everyday.

     It saddens me, that I will not be at my internship for two weeks, because I am participating in the Alternative Spring Break Trip, which leaves Saturday morning for Taos, New Mexico.  However, having this internship, it gives me something exciting to look forward to for when I return!  See you all then!

Hours Worked:

Wednesday:            10:00am-12:00pm (office)

                                12:00pm-2:00pm  (event)

                                 2:00pm-3:30pm   (office)

                                 3:30pm-8:30pm   (event)