Get Started: How to Use this Blog Effectively

Since I first created this blog, I have had a steady increase in the amount of queries that people have sent to me, which is great. Mostly the queries I receive are all about applying for work placements. This is why I have decided to write a blog post that is focussed on giving you the most important posts that I have written, especially if you haven’t been following my blog since the beginning. Therefore, below I have compiled a list that could be used as a systematic guide for reading and gaining the most advice I have in my blog so far.

1) Where do I start?

Don’t forget that I have a page on this site that is focussed on where to start when you’re beginning your work placement search. This will probably be the first place you’ll want to go, and within that page, I have listed a few key blog posts that you may want to draw your attention to.

2) Older blog posts

If you haven’t been following my blog since the beginning, then you’ll find that there are a lot of significant blog posts that date back to July last year. Instead of searching for them yourself, here is a good list to get you started.

Blog posts:

Top 5 Tips for getting Work Experience http://diaryofapublishingintern.blogspot.com/2011/07/5-top-tips-for-getting-work-experience.html

Top 5 Tips for getting Employer Responses http://diaryofapublishingintern.blogspot.com/2011/07/top-5-tips-for-getting-employer.html

Why Am I Not Getting Employer Responses and What Should I Do? http://diaryofapublishingintern.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-am-i-not-getting-employer-responses.html

3) Guardian Careers

The Guardian Careers website is definitely worth going on regularly. It holds a wealth of information and advice for students/graduates that are looking for work placements or careers. To start with, if you haven’t already listened, you may find the Work Experience Podcast that I’m featured in helpful.

http://careers.guardian.co.uk/audio/work-experience-careers-talk-podcast

4) Covering the basics

Also, some of you may not know that I have written a series of CV Workshop blog posts that gives advice about how to format and style your CV. Please find the link below.

CV work shop http://diaryofapublishingintern.blogspot.com/2011/08/cv-workshop-top-5-headings-for-your-cv.html

Additionally, I have written these following blog posts to cover the other application basics.

http://diaryofapublishingintern.blogspot.com/2011/11/top-5-tips-for-creating-impressive.html

http://diaryofapublishingintern.blogspot.com/2011/07/top-5-tips-for-preparing-for-intern.html

http://diaryofapublishingintern.blogspot.com/2011/11/contributing-to-blog-to-enhance-your.html

5) Continue Researching

Remember that should use my blog as a starting point for your own research. I'm currently in the process of finishing my next Guardian article, which is all about the specific research I embarked on when I searched for placements.

Additionally, I know that some of my readers are seeking work placements in alternative industries to publishing but rest assured, the skills and techniques I write about can certainly be transferable.

Above, I have supplied some of the ‘Best of’ blog posts, which will help you to make the best use of my blog. All of the above, is my initial advice to finding and applying to work placements.

Don’t forget that I’m always happy to hear from you if you have any comments, queries or suggestions.

Keeping you updated...

I hope everyone has had a really good week, and taken advantage of all the opportunities that I have blogged so far.

Some of you may already know what I have been up to since my last ‘Keeping you updated...’, but for those unaware, I will paste some links below, which you can take a look at. Namely, this is my debut Guardian article and the debut of ‘Steff’s Love Column’, which went live on Cocokouture on the 11^th October 2011.

• http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/publishing-internships-sandwich-year
• http://www.cocokouture.com/category/luxe-life/steffs-love-column

I also want to take this opportunity to express my delight in the feedback I have received from people. It’s great to know that my blog has helped you, and I’m always happy to hear this. As usual, feel free to email me at steff.lever@gmail.com if you’d like some personal advice.

Looking at the feedback I have received the past few weeks, I’ve gained more inspiration about future upcoming blogs. These include:

• Top 5 Tips to creating an impressive cover letter
• Why am I not getting employer responses and what should I do?

Of course, I will be continuing to provide my snapshot diaries; there are still about 4 more to be posted up. Additionally, I’m working hard on Twitter to try and get well-known Editors to provide us with their number 1 top tip for interns. I have a few so far, but ideally I would like a couple more before I publish the page.

Lastly, don’t forget that to avoid constantly checking my blog for new posts, you can easily subscribe to it via email. This way you’ll get new blog posts straight to your inbox, once you do, make sure you activate the subscription by following the link in the initial email.

It’s great to already see a steady increase in email subscriptions and followers. Thanks for all your support.