Confessions Of An Intern

By the time I completed my third internship, I was beginning to feel a little used up, having hopped from editor to editor, being passed along like some sort of editorial hussy (I’d like to think of it as a high-class call girl, but maybe that’s just semantics.) Somewhere along the way, I realized that no matter how much work it was, the network of people I was meeting was much more valuable for my future career in journalism than the classes I was taking at the university. From these connections I got my first freelance work, sent off to other internship opportunities, and earned irreplaceable references in the publishing community.

Here are some tips to aid in the internship hunt, drawn from my own experience, as well as from a few local editors who offer their wisdom.

Finding An Internship: Where to begin?

Search craigslist.org under the writing/editing jobs tab.

Scan mediabistro.com.

Brainstorm a list of publications you are interested in working for and check their websites for internship programs. Often the bigger names don’t bother to advertise on a site like craigslist, but will have their programs outlined on their own websites.

Next Step: Applying

Once you’ve found something you’re interested in, make sure you know what you need to do to apply. Leilani Labong, the research editor and internship coordinator at 7x7 Magazine says that when people contact her by email for an internship, “they need to send an electronic version of a resume, letter of recommendation from a journalism or English professor, and copies of clips (three would suffice). They should then follow-up via snail mail with a hard copy of these things.”

In terms of clips, she says she looks for published work, or “strong excerpts from class papers that might be relevant to pop culture, celebrity, food—any topics to do with a lifestyle magazine.”

It’s also a good idea to follow-up via an email to make sure that the editor received your resume/clips/cover letter and that the attachments went through OK.

A Few Notes On Resumes and Cover Letters

It’s standard to include a cover letter, so write it specifically to the publication you are applying to. Don’t use a generic cover letter, it’s obvious and makes you look like you don’t care. Gina Goff, the city editor for Citysearch.com says to “always include something specific about the company you're applying to, just to show you're not sending out a form letter.”

She also suggests having a professional looking email address with your name in it for correspondence, not something like sexybambi69@hotmail.com, and stresses the importance of proof reading you resume and cover letter. She says spelling errors are common and that they are often “Way too much to overlook for an editorial internship. Maybe you can get away with a little of that in other fields, but for editorial, no way.”

The Interview: Now What?

Do your homework. Know about the publication you are interviewing for. Familiarize yourself with parts of the magazine or website.

“In an interview, I’m looking for someone who knows their way around SF and its various arts/culture/food/music/social scenes (though this is rare), and someone who knows their way around the magazine,” says Labong. “Someone who knows the difference between 7 Things and Hot List, Dine Opener and the E+D Opener. Also, someone who can identify the pages they want to contribute to by their proper names. It is a HUGE pet peeve of mine to have someone apply for this internship and know nothing about the magazine.”

Familiarizing yourself with the publication will help you create a list of questions to bring to the interview, something Goff says is very important. “It shows that you've done some research in the company, and actually have an active interest in what we're doing, and sincerely want to know if the position will be a good match for your career goals and the company's needs,” she says. “A good interview always ends feeling like you had a two-way discussion.”

Always come equipped with a copy of your resume and a list of references, as some of the larger publications may have you fill out a formal employment application on the spot. And when it’s all over, head home and send a follow-up email thanking the interviewer for their time and reiterating your interest in the position.

The Internship: Do Or Die

You got the position, but how do you make the most of it? Goff says that a good attitude is essential, and that she thinks interns should treat their internship like a job audition. “Not just doing the work that's been given to you as a requirement,” she says. “But coming up with ideas for other projects that would be beneficial.”

Make the internship a priority and do not flake out on it. The editorial community is extremely small and your reputation is everything. Don’t get yourself blacklisted as unreliable, or opportunities are not going to come your way. Goff says that in terms of your performance, “You should leave feeling confident that if there were an entry-level position available, you'd be considered.”

Endgame

As the internship is drawing to a close, ask your editors for advice on what your next move should be. They are often in the loop about openings in the field and might have a lead for you. “At the end, always, always ask if you can use your manager as a reference, and make a little effort to stay in touch with a quick email every few months, just to keep the contact fresh,” says Goff.

Happy Hunting!