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By Joan Milnes
Director of Internships and Career Services
Montserrat College of Art

“If you ever hope to be a credible adult and want a job that pays better than minimum wage, then for God’s sake don’t pierce or tattoo every available piece of flesh. Otherwise, plan your future around saying, “Do you want fries with that?” – George Carlin

Artists and art students are independent thinkers. Their talent for creative expression often reflects the unconventional. Tattoos, body piercing, unusual dress and unnatural hair color sometimes serve as avenues for self-expression.

“The thing we often see missing is the ability to use the right side of the brain, the creative part.” - a VP at Hewlett-Packard, commenting on new hires.

Artists and art students are independent thinkers. Their ability to create new ideas is highly valued in today’s Creative Economy, the growing segment of our economy that includes artists, writers, consultants, and researchers. In fact, a recent study of metropolitan Boston shows that the Creative Economy represents 10% to 12% of the region’s private sector employment, more than biotech at 2% and more than manufacturing at 7%!

How can art students reconcile their independent-mindedness with conservative private sector internship sites seeking their creative talent? Can self-expression and conformity coexist?

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
When you were a kid, you probably had to take your shoes off before entering the homes of some of your friends. You removed your shoes because it was the accepted and expected thing to do at certain houses. Do you think that you were “selling out?” I doubt it because you know that removing shoes was a rule of the house that doesn’t change anything about you. Preparing your appearance for the workplace is similar to accepting and respecting the rules of the house.

Some workplaces are more casual than others. For example, a successful hardcore/metal record label employs several talented illustrators who happen to be heavily pierced and tattooed. Art students with conventional and unconventional appearances are routinely accepted as interns at this company. Appearance typically is not an issue for students who are accepted for in-studio apprenticeships with established artists.

By contrast, interns with a conservative appearance only are accepted at one prominent law firm to design collateral print materials. A conservative appearance is also required to assist the fashion designer at her boutique featuring custom made couture. In general, the more conservative the appearance, the more workplaces into which that appearance will fit.

Tip
Articles of fine jewelry are displayed on plain background to showcase their attractive features and to eliminate distractions. Employers of creative individuals are looking for talent in their interns, so don’t let your looks distract employers from the talents to be showcased during your interview. When applying for internships, prepare your appearance in a manner that will not overshadow your talents. After you land the internship and have demonstrated your skills, intelligence, work ethic, sense of humor and other favorable qualities, there might be opportunities to introduce self-expression into your appearance.

Joan Milnes is the Director of Internships and Career Services at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts.

By Carl Hymans

Managing Director

G.S. Schwartz & Co.

Pick a major, make a career choice, get an internship, gain experience for getting that first job.  Seems that’s the natural order of things.  But somewhere along the way, despite the best efforts of the career development department, potential interns are not always getting the key message: details are paramount!

I continue to see many of the same standout errors, which may keep you from getting a callback.  Here are five tips to help you get the internship you want.

Include A Cover Letter

An email subject line of ‘internship’ with a resume attachment is not enough.  I definitely recommend a cover letter.  The letter does not need to be very long and can be in the body of the email.  Remember, it is an opportunity to make a positive first impression.  Use it!  Include that you are interested in an internship position, the university you are attending, your major, your goals for the internship, how it is part of your career path, etc.    

Avoid Careless Mistakes

I cannot overstate the importance of being detail oriented as a mistake-filled cover letter or resume will often end up in the trash.  I’ve actually received cover letters from potential interns that mentioned how much they wanted to come to work for us and what an opportunity it would be to be part of our firm.  There were only two glaring errors.  One, as these were obviously form letters which were simply copied over and over again, they did not take the time to notice that the firm they referred to in the letter was not G.S. Schwartz & Co.!  Another error was that the firm name was in a different font than the rest of the document, making it all too clear this was a ‘fill in the blank’ form letter.  These are extreme examples but not as unusual as one would expect.

Do Your Homework

Aside from avoiding the aforementioned errors, as well as numerous others such as bad grammar, typos, etc., do your homework on the firm you are writing to and get some detail in the letter.   Visit the company Web site and do Google and other searches for information you could note in your letter.  Reference some details about the firm that show why you’re specifically interested in it, and not just that it happens to be in the industry you’re trying to enter.        

Be Ready For A Phone Callback

The phone rings and it’s a callback from the firm you want most to intern with.  Are you prepared for it?  What are you going to say after ‘thank you for getting back to me?’ 

This phone call is more important than most candidates realize.  If I receive three resumes from candidates with similar credentials, the one who makes the best phone impression is the one I will invite in for an interview.

Prepare yourself in advance by having several key points in mind that you want to communicate.  These should include your relevant course work, strengths and accomplishments, internship goals and career objectives. 

Come To The Interview Prepared
Bring several copies of your resume with you.  Don’t assume it’s the interviewer’s responsibility to have your resume waiting for you.  You may meet several people and you should have enough copies for all. 

It’s also important to have information on projects that you are involved with at school or in your personal life that relate to your chosen field.  If you are applying for a communications related internship, writing samples are recommended.  Even if you are not asked for them, do not be afraid to present any materials such as writing samples or coursework that will help you secure the internship. 

Other materials to bring include a notepad and pen!  The blackberry or cell phone in your pocket won’t help you when the person you are speaking with offers recommendations of Web sites, organizations, etc., that may be helpful to you.  Plus, it’s better to take notes than miss important points.  Doing so will only reinforce your attention to detail.

So, do your homework, be prepared, and get that internship!  Good Luck!

 

 

By Kathryn Evans
Assistant Director
Locks Career Center for Women in the Arts
Moore College of Art & Design

Historically, a young person hoping to become an artist would work with a master craftsman during a long apprenticeship. They toiled alongside the senior artist until they reached a level of proficiency that would allow them to set up a shop of their own. Many famous artists learned from other famous artists – think of Donatello as the apprentice to Lorenzo Ghiberi. With the evolution of the modern educational system, we now look to Internships to accomplish a similar task.

Internships are an integral part of gaining the experience necessary to have an active career in art and design. Just like in business, the relationships and network you build as a young artist help to support you throughout your career. To begin, focus your search for the right internship as specifically as possible, you can always broaden it later. Think about your main interests: Would you like to work directly for an artist? Do you know a design firm whose work you admire? Do you think you would rather have more interaction with a local community? Ask your faculty for help. You can research organizations through the online resources at professional organizations in your field. Check in with your Career Center. And start attending events in your field, even while still a student. If you find a firm, an arts organization, or artist that interests you, do as much research as you can, then contact them to ask when and if they accept interns.

For artists and designers, keep in mind you will be judged on your personal presentation skills, your portfolio, and your professionalism. Here is a bit more about how to be prepared:

Presentation: Be sure to follow the standard job-etiquette rules. Write a good cover letter that is very specific to the artist or firm. Be sure to dress appropriately, and write thank you notes after your interviews. For most arts organizations and firms, they will expect traditional interview attire. If you are interviewing for a welding position on a job-site, then you want to modify your attire a bit.

Portfolio: Include your most recent or most applicable work first. If you are submitting an electronic portfolio, orchestrate a slideshow using a program like Powerpoint, so you can set the order of your work. Be sure to include only good photographs of your work, and discard or reshoot any blurry images. Ask a photographer friend or a faculty member; often they can refer you to someone that can help. Learning to create good images of your work is of the utmost importance! Having good quality images that are presented in a well-designed portfolio is vital not only for jobs and internships, but also for grant applications, residencies, graduate applications, and exhibitions.

While building your portfolio, try to think like the employer. Is this the type of position that will want to see a lot of variety, or would they prefer pieces that show proficiency in a particular vein? For example, at an interview for an internship in a public mural program, a student might want to show the ability to render figures and portraits, while also demonstrating a strong color sense. On the other hand, if a design student is going to an interview for a corporation where they will be working entirely in one digital program, then most of the pieces they show should be composed in that program.

Professionalism: Be sure to set yourself apart by responding quickly, being humble, polite, and grateful for the opportunity. Also, be on time! And be sure to call if you must be absent – timelines in this field are often unforgiving! Remember the art and design field can be a challenging, personality-driven environment. Try not to succumb to gossip and negativity about your workplace or boss, during or after your internship!

Kathryn Evans is the Assistant Director at the Locks Career Center for Women in the Arts and Moore College of Art and Design. She can be reached at kevans@moore.edu and 215-965-4064.

By Sarah Smith
Producer’s Assistant
Platinum Dunes

When I first started applying to internships I had no idea where to begin. Eager to find an “in” among the mass of applicants, I decided to seek out Boston University alumni. I sent my resume to several alumni who were working at various companies within the entertainment industry. One was for Fox2000 (a film production company on the Fox studio lot) and the other was Anonymous Content (a film production company that also specializes in commercials and music videos). This strategy proved to be extremely useful, wherein I landed both internships after brief interviews. I found that having been a graduate of BU, my interviewers already knew my worth. They were familiar with the curriculum, faculty, and campus life and therefore already had a sense of my abilities. It didn’t matter how long ago they had graduated from BU, the standards to which I was held were the same. Somehow there was already an unspoken bond having attended the same college.

I found this alumni connection to be incredibly helpful. I had easily landed two quality internships in the heart of highly competitive Hollywood in matter of minutes. This alumni power only continued as I went on to apply for full time paying positions. I received amazing recommendations from my internships and that in turn helped me land my first job at Tapestry Films (another film production company). Ironically at Tapestry I had two alumni co-workers. Again there was an instant bond that came from attending the same college. We could easily recount professors, sports teams, school renovations, cafeteria food etc. Various things would come up at work that we could talk about even though again we did not graduate the same year. This bond helped to solidify my relationships with my co-workers and helped these relationships continue to be strong even when we moved on to work at different companies.

Soon after I had gotten my career started I was in charge of recruiting interns for the office. I found that the same criteria I was looking for was easily fulfilled by BU students. I was able to see how years earlier I was chosen for my internships based on these same criteria. It was easy to know the work ethic and the academic background that the students had. It was also nice to be able to help them out and teach them what I knew, as I had learned from my alumni mentors.

Judging from my past experience the power of alumni is strong on many different levels. Find former alumni whether they are or are not working at a company you want to work for. Ask them to meet for coffee. Discuss their career paths and ask them for advice on your own career plans. Attend alumni events that your college holds such as movie screenings, sports games, banquets etc. If your college does not hold such events, start a networking group for alumni yourself. The alumni connection is a great resource for starting out and it will only grow throughout your career.

One guess as to how I got asked to write this article…from a fellow alum.

By Anita M. Todd
Assistant Professor
Division of Professional Practice
University of Cincinnati
Immediate Past President, Cooperative Education and Internship Association

“I read…and I forget, I see…and I remember, I do…and I understand.”
Confucius (c. 551-479 B.C.)

Today, more and more colleges and universities are emphasizing the need for students to gain career-related experience prior to graduation. Why is experience so important? For employers, recruiting is very expensive. Training new employers is expensive. Making a “bad hire” – or hiring a candidate that does not fit in the company, is not productive, or is just not happy – is very expensive and can be counterproductive. Employers seek to minimize risk and maximize gains through the recruiting and hiring process. One way employers do this is by either hiring cooperative education and internship candidates to create a full-time recruiting pipeline, or screening full-time candidates for previous work experience, among other items.
For those students who are planning to go on to graduate school, experience is also valued in graduate school admissions. MBA programs seek candidates with professional experiences from which students can draw. Technical programs value the career/research direction gained through experience and, if applicable, any research experience students have gained.

As a student, career-related experience is far more important than just paragraphs on your resume to impress recruiters or graduate admissions. It enhances your education in many ways and assists you in finding career direction and potentially in funding your education. Some of the many benefits to students include:

For Your Education:
• Understanding theory through practice – learning and practicing the application of classroom knowledge to work in the real world
• Developing written and oral communication skills – you may not have courses that specifically address these skills or address how important these skills are or how they can be applied in the workforce. This is a chance to develop these skills first-hand.
• Practicing teamwork – Teamwork is essential in today’s workforce.
• Developing other skills not taught in class – There are many skills or tools that a company or profession may specifically require that you might have exposure to in class.
• Integrating work experiences into to the classroom to enrich the overall classroom experience.

For Your Career Path:
• Helping you choose/confirm a career direction - identify likes and dislikes and crafting your path accordingly
• Helping you choose or confirm you major, degree options, course selections, and other curricular decisions.
For Your Professional Development:
• Learn job search skills/strategies – these skills can be carried through your full-time job search and beyond.
• Networking – meeting and observing others in your profession
• Understanding the importance of a good work ethic, motivation, and initiative
• Developing “Business savvy” – knowing how to leave your student persona in class and be a professional in the workplace

For Your Maturity and Self Confidence:
• Knowing you can get the job and do it well
• Learning to be self reliant – through relocating, finding transportation, finding housing, and creating a professional wardrobe.

For Your Marketability:
• Gain more skills and experiences to offer
• Know how to sell it
• Ultimately - more / better full-time/ grad school opportunities

And if all of this was not enough to get you interested, work experience can provide the important funding needed to help offset the costs of higher education. Not all fields or experiences are paid, however, those in business and technical fields typically are. University programs such as “cooperative education” require the students to be compensated.

In summary, career-related experience has many benefits. When you invest significant time and money into your education, you want to graduate and get THEE job, not just A job. Career-related experience is the edge you need to help you do this.