Before You Go: Ask For a Letter of Recommendation.

So far you had an informational interview, learned about something new at the office, and now it is time to ask for a letter of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are very important when it comes to applying for jobs because on a resume, everyone just lists their previous work experience and then tries to jazz up the wording on what they accomplished. The problem is this only shows the future employer a biased view of what you say you accomplished, but when you have a letter of recommendation, it makes you more credible. 

It's similar to when you are shopping online; let’s say you are looking for a new dress and you're trying to choose between two options. The first option has no customer reviews and the second has reviews stating how great of a dress it is. Now, you’re more likely to choose the second option because you know the store wants to sell, so having the reviews helps you choose.

You're probably wondering who to ask to write your letter, or how to ask them. You should choose someone with whom you have worked closely with or has witnessed the type of work you did, like a supervisor, mentor, or manager. When approaching them, make sure to do it at a time when they aren’t swamped and do so in a respectful manner. You can say something along the lines of “I’ve been enjoying my internship experience so far, and I’ve learned a lot. Since you are

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Before You Go: Learn Something New.

By now, you should be around the halfway point of your internship. Congrats! You made it this far, and now all you have to do is make sure these last few weeks are meaningful. 

One way you can do that is by learning something new or doing something that you have yet to do at the office. Let’s say that you are working in the financial industry, but aren’t sure how the stock market works. Ask someone (when they don’t look too busy) if they can give you a brief overview of how it works, and maybe some tips on investing. Or if you work in the advertising industry but aren’t the greatest at Adobe Creative Suite, ask someone if they can give you some tips. My point is if there is something that you would like to know about the industry that you are interning in, ask someone. Chances are someone may give you advice that you won’t be able to find in any textbook.

On the other hand, if there is something that you like to do, or a skill that you possess that is relevant to what happens in the office, ask your supervisor if you can do more of those tasks. For me, I prefer making PowerPoint presentations and doing more hands on tasks, so I let my mentor and supervisor know, and now I am able to do more of those tasks. As you can tell the theme of this post is about speaking out and making your internship about more than just doing mundane tasks and to treat it as a learning experience. 

Many students complain that they didn’t learn or do anything significant during their internships, and that’s because they didn’t reach out. So now that you know this information, go ahead and make the rest of your internship worthwhile! 

Good luck and, as always, if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or tweet me using the hashtag #workandplay

Tia James is a student at the University of Missouri, studying Strategic Communications. She is passionate about helping others with branding, job search, and career development, which she received training on from her school’s Career Center. In her spare time, Tia loves watching movies and YouTube, and making crafts. One day she hopes to own her own agency that focuses on branding and advertising. For more advice, check out her blog at tiajames.wordpress.com

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Summer Fun: Music Festivals.

Summer has officially started and one event that always seems to scream "it's Summertime!!" is music festivals. For those who are wishing to attend one of these exciting festivals, social media never lets us down as we can always live vicariously through those who are able to attend (again, one of the reason why I love the internets).

Now there are many festivals taking place this summer, but I've narrowed them down to five that, I guess, are my personal favs. If you're favorite festival didn't make the list, please let me know. I'm definitely down to learn about new events! 

Check out my top five summer music festivals after the jump.

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Before You Go: Set Up an Informational Interview.

 On the first day of your internship, you were probably introduced to everyone in the office, but now you realize that you only talk to a small number of the same people everyday. Internships are about expanding your professional network, so before your internship ends take the time to get to know someone new and learn more about their position at the company and how they got there. While it would be nice to interview someone who is in a similar position you would like to be in, it really doesn't matter who it is, because you never know what connection someone may have, or you may discover a new career path.
 

When you've picked the person whom you would like to interview (you can interview more than one person), reintroduce yourself to them and tell them you would like to know more about them and what it is that they do. You can say something along the lines of:

            "Hello, I know that we were introduced on the first day, but since then I haven't had the opportunity to interact with you, so I would like to know if, one day, when you aren't busy I could talk with you to learn more about your position here at the company."

Notice that I didn't add "informational interview" because you don't want the person to feel like this is a formal interview and she or he will be grilled with questions because that is not what it is. This is more of having a conversation with someone, getting to know them, while having a few guiding questions in the back of your mind. Some questions to consider asking are: 

• How did you get started in this industry/ company?
• What are some of the biggest changes that you've noticed in the industry?
• What steps do you recommend I take in order to be successful in this industry? 
• What are some of the things you do on an everyday basis?
• What do you think is unique about your job?

Again, don't treat this like a format interview and have a list of questions that you are reading off of, but do keep those questions in mind, and, if you're like me then maybe bring a pen and paper to write down anything important.
 

At the end of the interview, remember to thank them for their time, and ask for their business card so that you can keep in touch. Also, pick up a thank you card and send a hand written note, trust me they will appreciate it more than an email.
 

If you've done an informational interview or have any questions. Share them with me on Twitter @tiatamjam and be sure to use the hashtag #workandplay 

Tia James is a student at the University of Missouri, studying Strategic Communications. She is passionate about helping others with branding, job search, and career development, which she received training on from her school’s Career Center. In her spare time, Tia loves watching movies and YouTube, and making crafts. One day she hopes to own her own agency that focuses on branding and advertising. For more advice, check out her blog at tiajames.wordpress.com

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#WorkandPlay Blog Collab.

(photo credit Kristine Davidson)

I am so excited to announce that next month Tia (of I am Tia) and I, will be doing a summer series blog collab! Because Tia's blog features all things internships/personal branding, she'll be taking over All She Wrote on Tuesdays and will give tips on how to end your summer internship with a bang. On Thursdays, I'll discuss all the fun things you should get into this summer!
 
We would love for you guys to follow the series by using the hashtag #workandplay! Tweet Tia at @tiatamjam and me at @breajallen and tell us what your plans are this summer!

Check out Tia's blog and get ready for a month of great summer related content :)   

 

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Mini Feature Friday: Danielle and Carly of theSkimm.

Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin are the masterminds behind one of the greatest newsletters I've ever received in my inbox, theSkimm. The daily e-mail newsletter includes current event news, but with an exciting millennial twist.  

In just two years the ladies have grown their subscriptions from a few hundred to more than 100k! I had the opportunity to ask the founders a couple of questions about theSkimm. Check them out below!

• Brea: How did you decide on the name, theSkimm, for your company? 

Danielle & Carly : theSkimm is meant for busy people, on the go. They need information to start their morning, while going about their own routines. Our company's name is meant to reflect that lifestyle.  

• Brea: As an entrepreneur, what has been the biggest lesson you've learned thus far?

Danielle & Carly: The biggest lesson we've learned so far is to trust your instinct. It's very helpful to talk to people and get a feel for their experiences and challenges, but at the end of the day you'll be making the decisions for your business -- and you need to follow what you think is best. 

I'm sure you don't want to be left out of convos around the water cooler, so subscribe to theSkimm today!

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