University of Dreams

I know that I've talked about my summer with University of Dreams a lot, and I swear this is the last time I'm going to, it'll be hard not to, but I'll try my hardest, I just might break a promise, sorry. But since I had such a fantastic summer with this internship program and the deadline to apply is getting close, I thought that I'd spend this blog promoting the program for those of you who are looking for an internship during the summer to help with gaining experience in the field that you're intereseted in.

University of Dreams is an all-inclusive summer internship program for college students. You spend two months in one of the following cities: Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, and Barcelona. You are able to choose your own internship and meet many different people from not only the United States, but throughout the world. Within the program, you get a professionally revised resume and interview coaching with the help of a placement agent, housing, your meals provided, academic course credit, transportation to and from work, weekly seminars from inspirational speakers, weekend activities, and a summer of a lifetime.

University of Dreams offers internships in many industries, including: Advertising, Fashion, Marketing, Finance, Theatre/Arts, Hospitality & Tourism, Non-Profit, Real Estate, Legal, Photography, Publishing, Technology, Event Planning, Public RelationsTelevision and Broadcasting, and Music Radio.

This is a guaranteed internship program, which means, you are guaranteed an internship in the city of your choice, and if not, you are given your money back. But the chances of not being placed are extremely unlikely. According to the program's website, in the six years that they have been running their summer internship programs, they have successfully placed over 99% of enrolled participants. Not a bad deal right. To be eligible for the progam, you must be a full-time college student at a four-year university or have graduated with a Bachelor's or Master's Degree, but you must be within the age of 18-26. Your GPA should be 2.5 or higher and all majors are welcome.

The cost of the program differs according to which city you choose to live in.

New York: $7,499

Chicago: $6,499

San Francisco: $6,499

Los Angeles: $7,499

London: $8,999

Barcelona: $7,999

The dates of the program also differs according to which city you live in:

New York Session 1: 5/27 - 7/21

New York Session 2: 6/10 - 8/4

Chicago: 6/17 - 8/11

San Francisco: 6/10 - 8/4

Los Angeles: 6/24 - 8/18

London: 6/11 - 8/4

Barcelona: 6/24 - 8/18

The application deadline for San Francisco, Chicago, Barcelona, Los Angeles, and London is May 1, and the deadline for both sessions of New York is April 1.

My experience in New York City was the best experience I have ever had. Throughout the summer, I interned at BlackBook Magazine in NoHo, (BlackBook's office on Broadway seen below) in the advertising section. I loved every second of it. I took the subway to work everyday, ate lunch in little cafes on cobblestone sidewalks, delivered packages throughout the whole city, attended parties at VIP clubs in which the magazine hosted, and was able to sell ads for the magazine's 10th Anniversary Issue.

I lived in one of NYU's dorms, located in Union Square, was provided with dinner everynight and a little extra money on my I.D. card for groceries in the dining hall and the Dunkin Donut's next door. I lived in an apartment style dorm with three other roommates from different schools, who I am still in contact with now. I attended weekly seminars every Wednesday night, with guest speakers such as Patrick Combs, who inspired us to break a 1-inch board in half with our hand, Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a Ghanaian who overcame a disability to achieve his dreams, and Eric Lochtefeld, the company's founder.

Throughout the summer I was able to go on a double-decker bus tour through Manhattan and into Brooklyn, see the Broadway play "Rent," attend a Yankee's game against the Chicago White Sox, travel to Atlantic City for the fourth of July weekend, hop aboard a sunset cruise around NYC's harbor, and party at a VIP club the progam rented out just for the dreamers.

On my day's off, I found myself shopping at Bloomingdale's, constantly visiting the Today Show until I finally was able to meet Matt Lauer (seen below signing his autograph for me), walking through museums, sitting on the beach at Coney Island, and walking around Greenwich Village.

I have nothing but great things to say about University of Dreams. The program and the staff were so organized and for me, it was probably the biggest and scariest thing I had ever gotten myself into, and each member of the staff was so helpful and made it so easy for me to make the transition from a small town to a big city. It really was the summer of a lifetime. I met so many great new friends and made so many memories that will last forever.

If you would like to hear former dreamer's speak about the program and their experience, you can watch this video. Apply now and have the summer of dreams!

The Job Hunt

The Job Hunt...probably the most crucial part of getting settled into the Real World. And you wouldn't have a job without the hunting part of the process. This past weekend I spent a lot of time job hunting. With both my resume and cover letter perfected, I filled out applications for a summer staff position with University of Dreams and an associate editor position at Conde Nast. As stressful as it may be, I still find when I push the "APPLY" button so exhilerating.

So as I was searching the web for job hunting advice, I found tips, like I posted last week about Interviews, that make you aware of who to take tips from and to "Steer Clear of Bad Job-Hunting Advice."

Penelope Trunk, a former pro-volleyball player and now an advisor with careers and businesses, gives these eight tips for Job Hunting and who to take advice from, as the job world, in which I like to refer to as the real world, is changing:

Bad Rule 1: Draw a clear picture of yourself:
Trunk says that "a resume is not an autobiography, it's a marketing document." So instead of telling everyone everything about yourself, use this as your key in getting interviews. Your resume should make the employer want to know more about you, almost making it like a "tease," as Trunk states.

Bad Rule 2: Don't be too narrow:
"If you want to stand out, you have to stand for something." You want to appear unique to employers, almost like a specialist. Like Trunk says, "it's the specialists, not the generalists, who get what they want. That's because the specialists are the hardest to replace."

Bad Rule 3: Don't job-hop:
Trunk actually disagrees with the saying, "don't job-hop" because she says that job-hoppers are the happiest. She says, "Who cares about loyalty." Apparently, a person who changes jobs has a less boring lifestyle compared with the one who does, because their everyday work may get a little consistent. Unless you like consistency that is.

Bad Rule 4: Don't have gaps in your resume:
Gaps are sometimes seen as a place to grow with your resume and branch out with other activities and other employment opportunities. Unless your job is your only thing in your life, then gaps may be fine and they may work out for you. Gaps are sometimes an interesting point to talk about in your interviews, like other things that you may try out.

Bad Rule 5: Don't have typos in your resume:
Trunk's advice on this one may be a little wierd, but she says that she's not telling you to misspell words on purpose, but rather to not fret over a small typo in a resume. Not everything is perfect. Trunk states, "Look, if proofreading were such an easy job then publishing companies wouldn't have to hire proofreaders. So don't make yourself crazy about the typos, because while 10 typos is a sign of incompetence, one typo might be a sign that you have a moderate and healthy standard of perfectionism."

Bad Rule 6: Clean up your online identity:
Trunk says not to fret over pictures of yourself online when you were drunk that one time. She says that it's out of your control. Instead she says, is to build up your online identity with one that may pop up first when an employer googles your name or looks you up somewhere like a blog. Trunk feels that a blog is a place that may take the place of the drunk pictures and show employers what you want them to see.

Bad Rule 7: Treat a job hunt like a project and be a project manager:
Trunk says that that is great advice if you're looking for a job four times in your life. By building up your networks, you don't have time to take a break because Trunk compares being a good networker to being a good friend. She says to "treat your job hunt like a personal development project."

Those are some of Trunk's bad rules for job-hunting and either agree or disagree, whether you do or not, good luck with the job hunt!

For more of Trunk's advice: http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/careerist/19128

What Not To Do In An Interview

I've never really had an interview experience, other than on the phone that lasted all of 15 minutes. All I know is that I was extremely nervous and made sure beforehand that my phone was fully charged, there was no outside noise, and to make a point of speaking as clearly as possible.

When reading tips for interview techniques, usually they are how to make the best of an interview and techniques on what to do right. So I came upon 10 tips on what not to do on an interview, by Joe Turner and I thought it was appropriate to clue people in on what to avoid when in on a job interview.

Turner compares a job interview to a date. He says, "When you're on a romantic dinner date, you try to avoid 'mood killers' - talking with a mouth full of food, cursing an ex-lover, or complaining about a foot ailment. During a job interview, you have to avoid similar spoilers if you want to make a good impression."

Here are Turner's "most common 'advantage killers:'"

1. Not Knowing Your Aim: Many people think that what they need to do in a job interview is to ask for a job. That seems obvious...But what you're really there is to explain to your possible future employer how fit you are for the specific job.

2. Being Too Needy: "Neediness is probably the No. 1 advantage-killer in an interview. Remind yourself before walking in the door: you do not need this job. You do need food, you do need air, and you do need water. Keep things in perspective."

3. Lousy Nonverbal Communication: First impressions are very important and you need to demonstrate that you have confidence. When walking into the interview, you need to make direct eye contact, stand up tall, and give a strong handshake.

4. Compromising Your Position: Always conduct yourself as an equal during the interview, not a subordinate to your interviewer.

5. Falling Into the Answers-Only Rut: An interview isn't just about you answering the questions that they ask. You should treat it as a conversation between the two of you. It is helpful to prepare what Turner calls "prepared stories" when highlighting your accomplishments and to also have a follow-up question of your own after answering their questions.

6. Rambling: "Telling your interviewer more than they need to know could be fatal. Your stories should be 60 to 90 seconds long and they should have a relevant point." Don't utilize unnecessary talk with silences. Your prepared stories and research should be your main focus when answering questions.

7. Being Overly Familiar: Just because an interviewer will make you feel comfortable after a little while doesn't mean that they have become your new best friend. You should keep treating it as a professional business meeting, with never letting your guard down.

8. Making Incorrect Assumptions: You know what they say when you assume something...Always make sure you are understanding what the interviewer is asking you or talking about, there are no stupid questions. Always ask for clarification if you don't understand something and make sure to take notes on what you're being told.

9. Getting Emotional: "At times the interviewer may hit a nerve or consciously try to provoke you into an "outburst." Don't fall for it. Clear your mind of any fears or expectations, so you can maintain a calm, open-minded perspective at all times. When emotions enter into an interview, failure follows."

10. Not Asking Specific Questions: It is always a good idea to go to the interview with a list of prepared questions having to do with the company, the position you are applying for, and the other employees that work there. Avoid questions that will just have a yes or no answer, but rather ask questions that begin with "what," "how," and "why."

If you'd like to read more in depth answers to Joe Turner's Interview techniques, visit: The 10 Biggest Interview Killers

Good Luck!

Networking

Networking...what does this word mean? Well, about 8 months ago, I had no idea what networking was and how it could have such a great impact on making the adjustment into the "Real World" so much easier. I know that I have mentioned my summer in NYC a lot in my past few blogs, but last summer is my whole reason that I'm excited about getting a job and I did really learn a lot, I mean that is why my parents sent me there in the first place...(I just have to post one more picture of the best city, this time of the Manhattan skyline taken from a sunset cruise around the city's harbor). So back to networking, about 8 months ago, in a seminar held by Andrew Hewitt and Luc d'Abadie, the authors of The Power of Focus for College Students, I learned that not only who you know but who knows you is a large factor in where and how far you can go in the working world. It is an especially good way to get started.

According to Cheryl Ferguson, Networking in the 21st Century "is more than just a buzzword. It's probably the best opportunity you will ever have to make connections, build relationships and help yourself and others in the networking group succeed." It "is also a great way to explore new career options, learn more about a specific industry, gather insights from peers on critical business issues and grow professionally.

She first says that you need to begin networking with a goal in mind. By thinking about what you want to accomplish, whether it's looking for a job, trying to develop new business or becoming like the go-to person in your industry or the industry you would like to become a part of, is what should be going through your mind as you begin to find contacts to network with.

The way to obtain networking contacts is easy. If you see a keynote speaker, get their email address, ask if you can contact them and discuss future job plans or if they are able to give you advice, search for contacts on the internet and send them an email, ask advisors and teachers in your major for different people that you may be able to contact, and even ask friends, you never who they might know.

Cheryl says to make sure that when making a new networking contact, just to listen and see what they have to say. By using this technique, she says that it "helps you gain insight as to how that contact can help you, making the connection stronger. It's not about collecting the most business cards; it's about collecting the right ones."

She also adds, that "if you're networking correctly, you'll find you have more visibility, greater knowledge, and a wider circle of reliable contacts; and that you can leverage those assets to further your career."

People that I began my networking with was my boss at BlackBook Magazine, a former dreamer, turned staff member, now starting her own editing firm in Manhattan, and my placement agent through the program. See, very easy.

If you would like to read more about Cheryl Ferguson and her networking techniques, visit: Cheryl's Tips.

Where I Hope To Be In 3 Months

After graduation is over in May, I hope to be...working for a magazine in...Manhattan! Or at least just working for a magazine at this point. As I said before I spent last summer living and working in Manhattan. The first time I visited was Spring Break of last year, and when I left, I still felt scared to death. But by the end of July, after living in the Big Apple for two months, there was no doubt in my mind that I'd be coming back a year later, this time on my own.

My ideal job after graduating with my degree in Journalism from UA, would be to work for a magazine that deals with fashion and celebrities. How perfect would a job be, to get up in the morning, walk to work with a coffee in hand, have an office on say the 50th floor overlooking the skyline of Manhattan, and write or work with clothes and celebrities all day...sounds great to me!

My top three choices of magazines would be: People Magazine...I've been reading this publication for at least eight years now, and it's one of my bookmarked websites that I must read everyday to hear about the latest celebrity gossip and see my favorite "star tracks."

Cosmpolitan Magazine...The latest fashions, the do's and dont's of today's society, and the latest celebrity gossip is a major guilty pleasure of mine, especially while sitting in the bookstore during the long gaps in between classes.

Nylon Magazine...As one of the top competitors of the magazine, BlackBook that I worked for this summer, I still enjoy reading this magazine for its ads and the fashion that isn't always found in my small hometown of Cottonwood. Reading this magazine, makes me feel like I'm a city girl again.

By posting my top three dream jobs, it's a way for me to get started with sending out resumes and figuring out where I really want to be after graduation. I hope that it makes everyone out there think of where they ideally would like to work. The "Real World" can be as good or bad as you make it, and I say by starting here, it could be a dream come true.

(Pictures used from Yahoo Images)

The First Steps...Resume building

This past summer, I participated in an internship program called University of Dreams. I lived in Manhattan for 2 months. I was housed at one of NYU's dorms, Palladium Hall, right in the middle of Union Square. To the right of the dorm was a Trader Joe's grocery store and to the left of the building was a Trader Joe's Wine Shop and a few steps outside of the dorm's doors was the Union Square subway stop. With different celeb sightings from an America's Next Top Model winner to the Olsen twins, the location of my summer housing was perfect. Throughout the summer I went to a Broadway show, went on a cruise around NYC's harbor and traveled to Atlantic City for the 4th of July. But my main reason for being in the Big Apple for the summer was to intern at Blackbook Magazine, a progressive culture publication located in Noho, North of Houston Street. I worked in the advertising department and was able to sell ads for the magazine, attend parties the magazine threw at exclusive clubs, (as seen in the picture above) as well as making many trips to Starbucks, faxing, and sorting through mail. The experience was one that I'll never forget. I developed contacts, people to network with, new friends, and many new experiences. But the one thing that this summer of dreams did for me was to build my resume. The resume I am now using to determine my future in the real world.

Before University of Dreams, my resume was nothing to be excited about. I had a few volunteer events written down and a job at a grocery store, in which I found out later that I shouldn't really be putting on my resume anyway, my GPA, and my semester when I recieved the award of Dean's List. That was all I had, and it wasn't much at all. When first being accepted into University of Dreams, you are given a placement agent. Lindsey Kane, a former "dreamer" and now an employee with the program, contacted me right away and started the building of my resume. The resume tutorial the program uses was designed by the world-renowned resume guru, But Nadler. With years of experience as a career center director and with career guidance, University of Dreams has worked with him for several years. Here are tips from the program's website on how to correctly build a resume:

On top of your resume, centered, is your contact information. First you put your name, then below your name, your address. Below your address is your email address and a phone number you can be reached at. You should only put one address, one email address, and one phone number because en employer may be confused if there is too much information.

The first section of your resume is one that is titled "Qualifications." Nadler says on the website that this section is "a way to cut through the standard clutter of generic resumes...Employers instantly note - by reading the header alone - that you are both interested in and qualified for their industry." For this section you want to be industry specific, but not too specific. According to the website, "Entertainment and Media Qualifications" and "General Management and Marketing Qualifications" are good, but "Independent Film Studio Qualifications" is too specific. You then would list 3-5 bulleted items identifying key skills, abilities or qualifications that you have underneath this header.

The next section is Education, but like before, don't just write Education, write a header that describes your education like, Journalism Education. You will need to include your current university, major, dates, and degree progress. You should include your GPA if it is higher than 3.0. Or if your major GPA is higher than your cumulative, then just write Major GPA and the figure. Special awards like Dean's List should be included as well.

The next section is Experience, which is optional. It is optional because employers are really only interested in work experience that is relevant to what you are applying to. So you wouldn't put that you worked at McDonald's for five years in high school if you were applying to work at a record company or a magazine. If you do choose to add this section, then like before, you describe your work experience with a not too specific header and then add 2-3 bulleted items describing what you achieved at your job.

The section that follows is Courses. This section is also optional. If you have taken courses at your university that are relevant to the job or field that you are applying to, then add each one, followed by 2-3 bulleted items of the most impressive tasks you performed in these courses.

The next section is Leadership/Community. This is also optional. You may not have enough information to put here. This isn't the place to list all the clubs you may be involved in and as a rule, don't include a Fraternity or Sorority unless you had a leadership position within your organization. You should include leadership positions that may have to do with the job you are applying to.

The last section is Awards. Like the others above, it is optional because there may not be a lot to put here. Impressive awards can be helpful and add to your resume's content.

After completing the last section, you are FINISHED! Thanks to the help of the University of Dreams' Resume building website, I hope all of you find this as helpful as I did and I hope that it gets you many places in life!

Entering into the Real World...The First Steps

Hi, I'm Erin and a senior studying journalism at the University of Arizona and my entering into the "Real World" is rapidly approaching. Graduating college and entering into the "Real World" makes me extremely nervous and anxious, and I'm sure there are many like me, feeling like this, out there.

When I was home during winter break, my dad gave me two projects that needed to be completed before I returned back to school. The first was to clean out my room and the second was to start sending out as many resumes as I could. Of course cleaning out my room was something that I was not looking forward to, especially since all I was really looking forward to was sleeping as much as I possibly could. As I finally worked up enough energy to fulfill my dad's requests, I began cleaning and cleaning and found many interesting things that I had saved throughout the years. One of the last things that I found was the four-year calendar that I had received at freshman orientation at UA. The calendar began with the year 2003 and ended in 2007. Remembering back to that day when I had first looked at the calendar, I couldn't believe that May 2007, where a star marking the day of graduation stood out SCREAMING at me on the page, was only 5 months away.

Thus, the second project began, sending out resumes.

As much motivation it took me to begin cleaning my room, just imagine that time times a million. That's how long it took my motivation to reach the level of actually doing something when it came to sending out my resumes. I think it was the fact that I couldn't believe I'd actually be out on my own and working at a real job in a matter of 5 months. I then began to realize that I just needed to do it and May would come if I sent them out or didn't, and I thought to myself that I'd be much happier that I'd sent them out then not sending them out.
My dream is to work at a magazine in New York City or Chicago and that's where I started. I began googling and looking in the Yellow Pages in those cities, for contact information of different magazines and publishing companies. My first resume and cover letter that I sent out was to Time Warner, which houses publications like People. After feeling a rush of excitement and accomplishment after sending out just one resume, I knew that this was what I needed to do and I began to accept that the future was coming and there was no way to avoid it. And in order to make this process go smoothly and not as stressful, I needed to begin to enjoy looking for a job and to begin looking forward to life after college.

I'm hoping that this blog will not only help and answer questions for myself in my search for jobs and with keeping my motivation high, but for others as well. By posting tips on sending out resumes, how to dress for interviews, where to search for jobs, and many others, I hope this blog will be useful.
In the meantime...here are a few links to job search websites that I started with:
http://www.monster.com/
http://www.craigslist.org/
And from the words of Monster.com..."Today's the Day," so get started! I know I will.