Keeping you updated...

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With the lack of intern opportunities on social media and company websites, I decided that it would be a good time to post ‘keeping you updated’. Although, if I’m honest, not a lot has changed for me since the previous post last month.

A lot of people have been asking me about the job market and the inevitable question ‘have you started applying yet?’ in short, I have and I haven’t. I’ve applied to three PA/Editorial positions at magazine companies, but it appears I’m still too early. My classic enthusiasm bug never seems to go away - I know some of you feel the same..

I received an email from a reader the other week asking ‘how do you do it? How do you write so much outside of University and still keep up with it all?’, and I simply told them (like other final year’s I’m sure) that I have no social life whatsoever. However sad it may be, it’s still one hundred percent true. Even when I take that into consideration, it remains no understatement that as my dissertation deadline approaches, I’m definitely feeling it and quite frankly I’m struggling. So on that positive note, much to my dismay, I will not be posting my regular Saturday posts up until the 31^st of March, which is when they will resume. Some of you may feel heartbroken others relief. Any which way, to my joy, I will still be posting up regularly on Tuesdays.

As usual, feel free to send me a quick email if you have a query, statement or just want to chat – I’m a big fan of social interaction. Also, don’t forget that I’m still looking for any bloggers that want to contribute to this blog and to write about their positive intern experiences.

Here’s a snippet from an older blog post -

Over the next coming months, I would really like to expand my blog to include other student/graduate experiences of any publishing placements undertaken. I would like to do this as I think this would help other reader’s gain a bit more of an insight into work experience, in terms of what is involved and what they can expect from different companies.

If anyone would like to contribute to this blog then please email me. The written piece will be in a similar style to my own snapshot diaries, and will be entitled ‘Guest Snapshot Diary – [Name]’. There is no minimum word count as long as the piece is insightful.

For more information email: steff.lever@gmail.com

Hope you all have a lovely weekend :-)

Have you had a positive intern experience?

Over the next coming months, I would really like to expand my blog to include other student/graduate experiences of any publishing placements undertaken. I would like to do this as I think this would help other reader’s gain a bit more of an insight into work experience, in terms of what is involved and what they can expect from different companies.

If anyone would like to contribute to this blog then please email me. The written piece will be in a similar style to my own snapshot diaries, and will be entitled ‘Guest Snapshot Diary – [Name]’. There is no minimum word count as long as the piece is insightful.

For more information email: steff.lever@gmail.com

Snapshot Diary - Hachette August 2011

For those getting slightly confused – yes I have already written a snapshot diary about Hachette. However, that was for my first placement there, I actually have been lucky enough to complete two placements there – one in April and one in August of this year. This time I was in the publicity department for two weeks.

After my numerous placements in publicity, I decided that it was one of my favourite departments to do work at, and after my initial good impression of Hachette, I definitely wanted to go back there. For those that have forgotten, when I was on my first placement with Hachette, I made sure that I spoke with the Editorial and Publicity team. It was particularly important for me to do this as I was then able to network and gain more contacts in different departments. I always encourage interns to network. Anyway, this opportunity of a second placement would probably have never happened had I of not networked previously.

Anyway, the tasks that I was involved in were:

· Researching

· Mail outs

· Inputting data into spreadsheets

· Composing press releases

· Creating showcards

Overall, this placement was one of the most enjoyable placements that I have been on. This is mainly because the group of employees as they were very friendly, helpful and always there to give advice. Above anything else, I felt comfortable and valued by the team. I highly rate this company and if you get the opportunity to do a placement there, grab it!

Snapshot Diary - OldCastle Books June 2011

I was really lucky to find this placement as OldCastle Books is probably one of the smallest book publishers in the UK, and it was great because it was walking distance from my parent’s house.

After being at 2 smaller book publishers (Little Tiger Press and John Blake), I wanted to once again sample working life in a smaller place. I spent a few months there, so it was also one of the longest placements I have been on. The greatest part of this placement was being able to do a lot of varied tasks. I was able to spend time with the MD, and mix with a team of people who are close and tight-knit.

At OldCastle Books, I spent time out of the office as well as in. For example, I was delighted to be able to work at the book launch for Lyndsay Russell and to publicise Clem Chamber’s books in London – this even got coverage in the local magazine Harpendia. (http://www.harpendia.com/Books.html)

These are the other tasks I was involved in:

• General admin duties (of course)
• Database work
• Using spreadsheets for data input
• Producing files as part of E-book production
• Digital marketing
• Mail outs
• Checking Amazon Rankings and Author Pages

Overall, this is probably the number one book placement I’ve had in terms of the variation of tasks given. In my opinion it was definitely worth the experience and I developed my skills a great deal.