Top 5 Tips for Managing Your Online Presence

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It occurred to me that many of my readers would have their own individual online presence/image – hence this blog post on how to manage it. Unsurprisingly, prospective employers will check up on your online image/presence, and this will undoubtedly have an effect on your application. With much emphasis on digital media, having your own online presence will certainly boost your application. However, if you don’t manage your online image effectively, then expect the consequences.

1) LinkedIn

Consider LinkedIn your online CV. If you haven’t set up an account yet then set one up. If your still a student or recent graduate, make sure you include all the work experience you have, as well as any relevant involvement in extracurricular activities. Try to complete your online profile as much as possible – LinkedIn has a wizard to help you do this. To boost your profile, try to get a few recommendations from other people.

2) Other social media

Don’t forget about the other sources of social media. This obviously includes little social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Some recruiters are known for checking out your Facebook profile AND the friends you have on there - so be wary of the impressions that you are sending out. To avoid a faux pas, increase your privacy settings to make it harder for people to access your complete profile.

In addition, be cautious with what you’re tweeting on Twitter, if you wouldn’t like a potential employer to read it, then chances are it’s not worth tweeting. Like with Facebook though, there are privacy settings to avoid this issue.

3) Email

I’ve spoke about email signatures before, and I reiterate that they are important when sending out professional emails. Currently, my email signature incorporates a standard closure of ‘many thanks’ including my twitter handle and blog URL.

In addition, some email accounts set up email profiles e.g. Windows Live Mail. This profile is connected to your MSN Live Messenger (if you’ve ever used it), and features your most recent profile picture amongst other things. If you suspect you may have a Windows Live profile, then it is something to check up on as search engines will definitely pick it up.

4) Search Engines

It is healthy to check your name in search engines from time to time. This will ensure that your online presence is professional with no blunders.

5) Personal Websites

If you haven’t already, it may be a nice idea to set up your own blog and to use it as an online portfolio of work. For example, if you’re a creative writer then you can upload your work, and thus create an online portfolio. Everyone likes to browse at other people’s work, and even better if a potential employer spots you.

I hope some of you have the above useful. It is certainly important to maintain and improve your online image. If you have any questions about this post, please feel free to send me an email – I’d love to hear from you.

Are you looking for a publishing placement? (4)

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Intern Opportunities

Go City Girl is looking for a editorial fashion intern to write for its GO Fashion online magazine.

To apply: Send your CV to info@gocitygirl.com

Alberta Ferretti press office is looking for new interns to start next week. These internships are full time for a one-month period.

To apply: Send your CV and cover letter ASAP to Silvia Uslenghi silvia.uslenghi@albertaferretti.co.uk

Do you want a flexible internship?

Gossipdrip is seeking fashion/celeb/beauty writers to contribute to their website.

To apply: Fill out the ‘Contact Us’ form on the website http://www.gossipdrip.com/contact

Are you looking for your first job?

The BBC has two vacancies for an editorial assistant for Match of the Day magazine, and a Picture Hub assistant for teen/pre-teen magazines.

For more information visit: https://careers.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc01.asp?newms=jj&id=36821

Please be aware that applications close on the 30^th of January 2012.

Please remember that all the vacancies above can be found on my Twitter profile page - @steff_lever

Keep yourself up to date with intern opportunities by following me on Twitter.

Top 5 Tips for Networking

I have frequently talked about networking as a valuable tool when searching, applying and gaining work placements. It is obviously not only limited to placements, but it is a tool that will come in handy throughout your working life.
To get you started, as usual, I have listed 5 top tips. Nevertheless, make sure you do some of your own research, once you’ve read up on the basics below.

1) Social Media
As I said in my previous blog post, I cannot emphasise more the importance of utilising social media. Make sure you have set up an account with LinkedIn, and added any friends/co workers that you already know. Make sure you set up a Twitter account too, and at the very least, follow some of the Twitter accounts that I’ve mentioned on here. Additionally, follow people that you know like friends, co-workers, and any professionals in your field (don’t forget me!). As well, keep a lookout for new placement and career opportunities.

2) Email
Don’t forget about the little things like emails. Get use to sending out emails professionally and create your signature. Some placements may like you to use one of their signatures. For example, at CocoKouture I have my own standard signature. However, for other emails that I send (e.g. to lecturers), I’ll incorporate a standard end like ‘Kind Regards’, and just below I’ll include my blog URL and Twitter handle. This is because I’m not employed at a specific company, so I don’t have a compulsory signature.

3) Whilst you’re on placement
Don’t forget that whilst you are on a placement, use your time productively and speak to as many people as possible. Obviously, when you’re at a placement you’re gaining and developing skills and so on, but don’t forget about the other significant aspects - like building up a collection of contacts. You can meet people in the industry through other people, so build your relationships.

4) Keep in touch
Further to my point above, it is a good idea to build relationships with current contacts. This will include some form of communication, and at the very least so, following them on Twitter or having them on your LinkedIn account. In addition, you could send them an email at Christmas or other appropriate times of the year to keep in touch.

5) Optional Additions
Not everyone will have the chance to do this yet, but if you’re enrolled with a company on a placement year for example, then try and get hold of a few business cards. This way when you’re out and about at company events you can help spread the word and advertise yourself. I received some very small stylish business cards last week from CocoKouture. They were colourful and creative saying cute phrases like ‘Will work for shoes’. Of course, I am not suggesting handing cards like this out at corporate business events, but the idea is still there to advertise. Moreover, I don’t have any personal business cards as of yet, but if you have the opportunity within a company to receive personalised ones, then make sure you do. Business cards are important even if you’re self employed – probably more so.
Also, check out any other forms of advertising. This could be on a personal level or on a business level. For example, along with my business cards, I got a t-shirt with the CocoKouture logo, I uploaded this to Twitter (for anyone who’s interested!), and sent it over Twitter to the Editor-in-Chief, who did a ‘retweet’. It may not be much but it’s a little extra advertising! This will probably be more relevant once you’re on a placement, but when you’re not, you need to think outside the box a little e.g. creating an original blog.

Don’t forget to contact me with any blog post suggestions or queries, and I’ll try to answer as best I can. In addition, I’ve been getting a lot of hits recently and plenty of subscribers too, so make sure you subscribe and avoid missing any of my blogs.

As Christmas is approaching, I will not be posting up any of my usual blogs on Saturday (24th) or Tuesday (27th). This is because even the publishing intern needs a few of days off. However, I will be posting up festive replacement blogs on the 24th and the 31st. I’ll resume ‘normal’ posts by Tuesday 3rd.

Merry Christmas.

Twitter - a useful tool for your placement search?

Usually, every couple of Saturday’s of each month, I’ll post a new exciting intern opportunity for students and graduates. However, this week, I’ve come to a little bit of a blank. After numerous attempts at researching on websites for publishing opportunities, i.e. ‘Prospects’ and ‘Rate My Placement’ - I’ve received nothing and simply told that there are ‘No Results Found’. In my despair I even ‘Googled’ the phrase ‘publishing opportunities’, and once again I came to a blank.

Are you finding yourself in a similar situation, when it comes to searching for intern opportunities?

Researching for placements and internships can be very time consuming. However, after reading an article on the Guardian Careers website today, called ‘Job Hunting on Twitter’, it inspired me to write this blog post, along. So instead of the normal ‘intern opportunity’ post, this is what you’re getting instead. Information about how you can search for intern placements on the social networking site Twitter.

I’m still relatively new to Twitter (@steff_lever) so, everyday I’m finding out new things and in essence, I’m trying to become a ‘pro Tweeter’. During this time, I’ve come across quite a lot of profiles - mostly aimed at career s and recruitment. Of course, inevitably I follow these little profiles of ‘intern gold’, and thus I get regular intern opportunities displayed on my Twitter feed every day.

Don’t worry though; you don’t need to join Twitter if it’s not your ‘thing’. Instead, I’ll just paste below a few Twitter profiles, which are useful and worth checking out for opportunities. Remember, you can browse all of these without signing up.

Twitter profiles that are great for intern opportunities/careers help: @4Talent @voxpopPRcareers @Prospects. @GuardianCareers @bbc3tv @futurerising @SYP_UK @internaware @gradvine @Careercake.com and so on.

Of course, there will be many more so get researching.