x Merry Christmas x

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

To those who are facing assessments and exams in January, I wish you good luck and make sure you give yourself a well-earned rest over Christmas. If you haven't already, and you want to utilise your time off effectively then see my previous blog post - 'Top 5 Tips for Occupying your Spare Time'.

Now, before I sign off, for those that may have missed it, I've recently published a small piece on the Guardian - Graduate View: all I want for Christmas. http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/christmas-careers-wishes I do have a longer and funnier version too, if anyone is interested!

Anyway, enjoy the festivities of today and tomorrow, and don't forget, normal posts will resume on the 3rd of January.

Happy Christmas :-)

Love from,
The Publishing Intern

Opportunities at Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Vauxhall Fashion Scout is looking for passionate fashion bloggers and social media experts to contribute to their blogs. This is a great opportunity if you are a writer and looking to build up your portfolio of writing, or if you want to explore the realms of digital marketing.

I found this opportunity via @fashionscout on Twitter and so, I cannot emphasise more the importance of social media when you’re seeking a work placement. Don't forget to check out @ukfashionintern who also advertise regular fashion opportunities.

To apply, send your CV to: vauxhallfashionscout.com

The Anticipation of Graduation

This is definitely a change from the usual Tuesday blog post.

I must admit, I have run out of snapshot diaries, which (joy to the world) shall be returning in 2012, and will be entitled the ‘Career Search Diary’. I hope you enjoy them.

Therefore, instead of the usual professional blog post about handy tips and hints that would be useful for a publishing intern, you are getting this instead.

If you’ve already read up to here then well done, I don’t expect to keep you for long mind.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about all these changes with my blog posts, and of course, my inevitable graduation from the University of Surrey July 2012 and so, I have decided to write this blog post, which to be honest will probably end up being a short monologue more than anything else.

Careers this week have definitely been on my mind, to say the least. I am not sure if it’s because last week was the first week of December, and finally the end of the year is approaching. Or that the ‘Official Santa’ on my Twitter page is getting me way too excited about Christmas, and the evitable New Year. For example, I found out today that its only 19 sleeps till Christmas – you learn something new every day. It could be because of a multitude of reasons but alas, I’m already thinking about that daunting prospect of becoming a graduate.

I have to be honest with you; I have no idea what I’m going to do next year. In fact, part of me was considering doing an MA, but that is just down to enjoying the student lifestyle a bit too much. Other parts of me were just hoping that I could stay writing my blog forever – fun for me but boring for you. Nevertheless, they are all a no.

Unfortunately, I’m going to have to take that dreaded plunge and become a full fledged graduate, and if you trust everything you hear in the media, then nearly all of us are UNEMPLOYED. I must confess, if I’m unemployed this time next year I shall probably go mad. Can’t stand not having things to do.

In the meantime, I’m trying to make myself feel better by looking at the graduate schemes. Most of them are still open but some have already closed. I’m really shocked that these schemes have closed so early – give us a chance please.

I don’t know about you, but I keep seeing all these sales schemes. Newsflash, I may be into publishing but I’m definitely not a salesman. However, saying that, I will be applying to the ‘non sale’ graduate schemes, because I like the idea of stability. Turns out, so do the other 300 plus graduates, that will be applying.

Looks like its stiff competition and tough times ahead for the publishing intern. It’s certainly no understatement that I need to WORK HARD.

Website Pick of the Week

This week I was introduced to an online blog called TheEmployable. I really like the idea of TheEmployable, as it’s meant to suggest that you are not unemployed but rather employable; I think this is a positive approach that we should all take when finding work placements, or careers. In addition, it is rich of content with handy tips and hints, aimed at helping recent graduates and of course, the employable. Furthermore, I’ve been told that they are always on the lookout for contributors to write for the blog. Those of you may have remembered my previous blog post about enhancing your online portfolio; this would be a great opportunity to do so.

Visit TheEmployable at: http://theemployable.com/