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  • Brittany Horowitz 2:37 am on April 26, 2012 Permalink
    Tags: , , , , SOC   

    Farewell! 

    It has been a great year of blogging for the Career Center. I have enjoyed it so much. Writing all of these posts made me reflect on the internship experiences I have had this year and even further in my past. I have learned a lot, and I was happy to share my experiences with the public. I hope my posts helped those out there interested in interning or currently interning. As a graduating senior, my biggest advice is to intern, intern, intern! You get to try new jobs over and over again – it’s seriously such a lucky thing. Take advantage of it! Thank you for reading!

    B.

     

  • Brittany Horowitz 11:27 pm on April 20, 2012 Permalink
    Tags: , , professors, SOC, thank you   

    Always Say Thank You 

    Another piece of advice that I received from an SOC professor that is so simple yet often overlooked is to always say thank you. Remember, during your internship, your bosses and coworkers are taking the time to educate you in an industry you are interested in, and you are gaining a lot of knowledge that others would really appreciate. It is important to show others that you are not taking your lucky opportunity for granted. By showing appreciation, those you work with will appreciate you even more.

    Snail mail and handwritten notes have become things of the past, but I still enjoy sending and receiving mail to friends and families. It shows a little extra effort and time was put into sending a message, which is why I always write handwritten thank you notes to those I worked with for the semester. I also make sure to write genuine notes because there is nothing worse than receiving a letter that appears rushed and copy and pasted from previous thank you letters. By pointing out something you really enjoyed about the internship or a piece of knowledge you gained, you’re showing the company that you actually benefited from the position. A genuine and meaningful card can go a long way, for it can leave a lasting impression. Anyone can write a quick email, but people get so many emails these days that they are quickly read and then deleted. You want to make sure your departure from a position is not quickly forgotten like an email in a spam box. You want to be remembered.

    B.

     

  • Brittany Horowitz 12:02 am on April 17, 2012 Permalink
    Tags: , , , , SOC   

    Trying New Things 

    When in college, students like to explore their options by interning, which is especially true at American University. However, many students tend to think that they need to intern with companies or organizations that completely compliment their majors and/or minors. Of course, it is smart to intern with places that interest you and that will teach you important skills and information about your future workplace industry, but I don’t think students should be scared to branch out and experiment in areas that are outside of their areas of study.

    How will you ever know if you like something if you don’t try it? In the beginning of the year, I had been contemplating going to law school after graduating, but I had never interned in an area revolving around law. So, I took on an internship that allowed me explore the law field. Most importantly, I made sure this position did not seem completely out of place on my resume by having the position involve my minor as well. In the end, I have been able to learn about law while also combining it with another one of my interests and areas of study.

    When exploring options that are outside of your comfort zone or area of knowledge, it can be useful to use resources that AU has available to students. I suggest going to the Career Center and seeing if an advisor can point you in the right direction. Also, the Career Center has a library full of information on how to get a job and other important industry basics. I also suggest asking professors for help. If you’re looking for a position outside of the school you study within, then there is no harm in exploring the other AU school web sites and professor information pages. There might be a professor or staff member who is perfect for helping you. You just need to do your research! Lastly, as a School of Communication student, I am a strong supporter of using Twitter to connect with people. Tweet about a position you’re interested in, and you might be surprised by how many people are willing to help.

    B.

     

     

  • Brittany Horowitz 11:37 pm on March 27, 2012 Permalink
    Tags: , , , SOC,   

    Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions 

    At the beginning of a new position, it can feel like you’re in a foreign country when you walk into your new office. New faces, new work practices, new rules, and the list goes on. It’s important to remember that asking question is vital in becoming adjusted to your new environment and surroundings. If you don’t ask questions, then you’re more likely to make mistakes.

    It can be intimidating to ask certain “silly” questions, such as how to use the phones or company rules for lunch breaks; however, how will you ever know the answers if you don’t ask? If you make a mistake while setting up a conference call for the whole office, or if you’re gone too long for your lunch break, it is not a valid excuse when you say, “I didn’t know.” Just ask! It’ll be a weight off of your shoulders once you learn about how the office runs, and then you’ll be less likely to make easy to avoid mistakes.

    Lastly, don’t start asking a million questions until you have read your company’s office handbook or rule book. Usually, a company will have an FAQs document that goes over basic office information, such as dress code and sick leave protocol. It would be bothersome to your HR department to have to answer questions that have already been written out for your convenience. Don’t make that amateur mistake. Try to see if the answers are available first, then seek further assistance when necessary. All in all, gaining new information will make adjusting to a new office even easier!

    B.

     

  • Brittany Horowitz 6:11 pm on December 5, 2011 Permalink
    Tags: C.fox, , , , SOC   

    Farewell, C.Fox! 

    Unfortunately, this is my last week interning with C.Fox Communications. It has been a great semester, and I have learned so much! This week, I will be closing all of my projects for my various clients. The office is throwing me a farewell party on my last day, which is very nice. I am looking forward to it. Lastly, our staff holiday party is next week, so that should be fun!

    As mentioned in previous posts, I had never interned during the actual academic year, so this was new to me. I found it to be extremely  worth while, and it was a lot easier than I had imagined. It was all about time management and being flexible with my schedule. In the end, I did not find it overwhelming with balancing my class schedule. It became a routine, and I loved it.

    I am sad to leave this office, but I know I will stay connected with my coworkers and bosses. Even though my internship is ending I get to forever hold on to the lessons I learned and the relationships I built.

    Thanks for an amazing semester, C.Fox!

     

  • Brittany Horowitz 2:56 pm on November 28, 2011 Permalink
    Tags: , community service, , SOC,   

    Vacation: A Thing of the Past 

    As winter break gets closer, I am beginning to realize something every student dreads: the end of vacations. No more summer vacation? No more winter break? Not even spring break?! Each realization hits me harder than the last. NO MORE VACATION?! You mean I have to be an adult who works all the time? This winter break will be my last winter break – ever (ew!). Every senior reading this is probably asking, “Why is she talking about this?!” Well, there is a reason – while interning, I have realized that there is still hope for some time off even after our college years are over.

    Even though the times of three month vacations and mid-winter breaks are going to be over, there are components of careers that have perks as well. At my internship, full time employees are given days off to volunteer or to participate in community service. I didn’t even know employers offered such a thing. I think it’s awesome! Also, people are given vacation time, so that is something to look forward to as well. Most importantly, no homework! Sounds silly, right? But, it actually will be such a nice addition to our new lifestyles after graduating. After the work day is over, we will get to go home and relax. No worrying about future papers that are due or upcoming exams. Weekends off for some, or maybe even getting to work from home!

    This is a blog post for hope. Even though I still have to push away panic attacks over the idea of never getting to relax for months at a time in between semesters, I still have hope. The transition to a full time career will not be that overwhelming if you keep these components in mind. When college ends, we will realize that there are perks outside of our academic lives. We will be working in fields we love and using the knowledge we learned in college. Remember, just breathe. Oh, and enjoy every day of winter break!

     

  • Brittany Horowitz 6:05 pm on November 17, 2011 Permalink
    Tags: , , Image, , reputation, SOC   

    Choosing an Internship: It’s Good to be Picky (Sometimes) 

    Nowadays, people are just happy if they can find a paying position, so being picky is not a luxury they can afford, which is completely understandable. However, I believe it is important to be picky when it comes to a certain aspect of a potential employer: image.

    How a company or organization represents themselves is important because once you become their employee your image suddenly shifts, and part of you becomes identified with the company, which is huge! You don’t want to be connected with an organization that conducts business that you disagree with or takes on clients you are not comfortable with. Also, it is important to choose an employer that focuses on professionalism and equality. It’s vital for a person on a job hunt to really know who they are applying to work for. Focusing on the small details is really important because when those little details are pieced together they translate the big picture of the company. How is their website? Is it professional, or does it look neglected? What is the office like? Is it clean and organized, or is it repulsive? How are the email exchanges? Are they professional, or are there spelling errors and typos? These might seem like meaningless factors, but they are actually important. They all reveal whether or not the employer is organized, a good time manager, concerned with their employee’s work environment and professional. I once interviewed with a really prestigious company that represents huge clients across the country, but their office in DC was messy, dirty, and extremely uninviting. I was actually offered the position, and the interviewer emailed this offer via email, “Brittany, you got the internship if you want it. Let me know.” I was shocked. I thought, “Is this what they believe is a professional offer?” I turned it down.

    It isn’t necessary to be picky about every last detail of an internship or job position, but it is important to take the image of the company you are contemplating to work for into consideration. Once you are hired, their image becomes your image. You want to be proud of who you work for, so choose wisely. Check out C.Fox’s website, and you will quickly see a great representation of what this company has to offer.

     

  • Brittany Horowitz 10:58 pm on November 15, 2011 Permalink
    Tags: alumni, , , , , SOC   

    American University is Everywhere: Make the Most of It 

    Ever since I began interning years ago, I started to realize how widespread American University’s imprint on DC was (and even further). At a previous internship, my coworker graduated from AU, and my boss previously taught at AU. While I was studying abroad in Beijing, China, I met AU alumni at a random restaurant one night, and they are currently teaching English to students. Currently, my office is extremely connected to AU, and I didn’t even know it when I accepted the position. One of my coworkers has known a previous AU professor of mine for forty years; one of my coworkers is married to an AU alumni; one of my coworkers is currently in the School of Communication’s graduate program; one of my coworkers is an AU alumni; my boss knows various AU professors very well.

    This made me realize how big AU’s connection to the DC community is. We are well represented throughout the professional arena, and we should be proud. This realization boosted my school spirit, and it made me realize how important it is to network and make use of the connections that this great school has to offer to its’ students and alumni.

    There are so many amazing and talented people who have graduated from AU who have gone on to have successful careers, and students should really utilize this by connecting with them and learning from their success. Also, during networking opportunities, students should ask people where they went to school and what they studied. In DC especially, there will most likely be times when you’ll randomly meet an AU alumni. Through this connection, students should stay in touch and keep that connection going because you never know where it will take you. It could mean a potential job interview or even just a friendly new acquaintance to keep in mind for future opportunities. AU’s presence in prominent businesses and organizations throughout the country and world is something to be proud of, and students should make the most of it – it’s something to be excited about!

     

  • Brittany Horowitz 4:27 pm on November 14, 2011 Permalink
    Tags: , CHF, , SOC, Travalo   

    What do you do at work all day? 

    I am at my internship three times a week, so I am devoting a lot of my time to C.Fox. My parents and friends are always curious about what I am working on throughout my hours interning, and luckily, I always have a lot of things to update them on. I am always busy at work, for I am given a lot of responsibilities and time consuming projects, which is awesome. I never just sit around counting the hours down throughout the day. Instead, I am responsible for a variety of our clients, and I am given assignments that really contribute to our clients, making my intern role meaningful.

    I have been involved with various clients throughout the semester. In a previous post, I mentioned CHF International, which is one of our nonprofit clients that does developmental work all over the world. I have done a lot of research for them to create social media campaign ideas that are meant to engage more people and bring attention to all of the great work their organization does for the world. Also, I have built media lists and written press releases. I also write pitch letters. Basically, I do a lot of different tasks for this client. I have loved working with them because they do great work for so many people around the world, and they deserve the media attention. I also conduct media sweeps for this client, and it’s a great way for me to stay in touch with the news going on around the world since they are based in so many different countries. I am more aware of world news because I have to be for this client, which is great. It’s important to be in touch with current news.

    Another client I have worked closely with this semester is Travalo, a fragrance atomizer that allows consumers to take their perfumes or colognes on the go for traveling or daily errands. It’s a great product that I fully back since it really adds convenience to life. It’s been fun working with a product because this is unfamiliar territory for me. I have done a lot of pitching for this client in order to get it in different media outlets. A great feeling during my internship was when I earned a handful of successful pitches for this client. Different outlets agreed to review it, and their reviews are beginning to post. It’s thrilling to see your work pay off. To learn more about Travalo, you can go to the website: us.travalo.com

    C.Fox offers a lot of variety with their clients, which I really enjoy. I get to be involved in such different projects, which keeps things exciting and prevents the workday from getting dull. Thankfully, when I am asked, “What do you do at work all day?” I always have a list of projects and work to discuss. Unfortunately, there are internships that only involve coffee and copying: getting coffee for your boss and making copies. C.Fox is not the type of company that would run such an operation. Interns are important to them, and they enjoy teaching. Fortunately, I am learning a lot.

     

  • Brittany Horowitz 5:29 pm on November 9, 2011 Permalink
    Tags: , , , , SOC   

    What’s the name of the intern? 

    Don’t you hate it when people forget your name? Or, when a professor doesn’t even know your name after months in class? No offense, but that’s your fault – not theirs. There is an extreme need to make yourself known and memorable in your work environment so that you never have to overhear your coworkers whispering, “What’s the name of the intern?” Make an impression, so no one ever forgets your name again.

    Ask questions, volunteer for tasks, start small talk with coworkers you don’t know very well. The important point here is to take action. Don’t just sit at your desk, complete your tasks, and then leave for the day. Make it a point to make something about yourself stand out, so that even after your internship ends your impression lives on.

    I still keep in touch will all of the companies/organizations that I have interned with. It’s important to prove that you were more than just an intern – you were a key figure in their team during your time there, and you should remind them that you’re still around long after leaving. I enjoy building strong relationships with my bosses because it allows you to connect with them more, and it shows that you’re not just some robot sitting at a desk completing work from 9-5. Rather, you are an interesting person with opinions and insights, and you have a passion to discuss those ideas with other intellectual people. If you have no voice, then how can you ever be heard?

    Even after you leave your internship, you should touch base with your previous bosses or coworkers from time to time. I think the same goes for professors. Making connections is easy. It’s making those connections last that most people have difficulty with, so don’t be lazy or scared. Send a friendly email. Pass along an interesting article you think they’d enjoy. Call them if you’re feeling extra daring. Just, remember: do something, or else you’ll become known as, “That intern from last semester.” Don’t you deserve more than that?

     

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