By Janine Puhak
Ed’s post-Valentines happy hour with Cosmopolitan’s print, social media, and digital editors (you know, the experts in relationships and all things bow chika wow wow) was a huge hit.
The spot was packed from wall to wall with whippersnappers looking for tips on everything from making a good impression to nailing their internships. And because Ed knows everybody needs some free advice, especially from the editors at the number one women’s mag, he swooped in to get a few nuggets of wisdom.
Danielle Kam, an editorial assistant at Cosmopolitan, said that getting noticed during an internship is about making an impression and working your butt off. “For interns, my best advice is to be accessible and be yourself—so you can’t be replaced,” she says. Another way to stand out during your internship is to always go above and beyond by emailing your supervisor for more projects, says Kam. “You’re not annoying, it shows you are responsible,” she says. Noted.
Cosmo hires interns three to four times a year, and it takes something special to stand out, says Eliza Thompson, associate entertainment editor at Cosmopolitan.com. The ideal intern is detail oriented and shows a true interest in their assignments, she says. “I know that sounds very obvious, but you would be surprised how many interns make simple mistakes,” says Thompson.
#edxcosmo #ed2010happyhour #livingtheeditorlife
A photo posted by Ed2010 (@_ed2010) on
One editor who turned her internship at Cosmopolitan into full-time job was Caitlin Scott, now social media editor for the mag. “You have to make yourself indispensable,” says Scott. One way to do that, she says, is by finding out if there’s a project or task that your editor or supervisor really wants to do, but doesn’t have time for. Then do it—and get really good at it! “For me, that was growing our Tumblr following at Cosmo,” she says. That project continued after Scott’s internship and into her last year of college. And, as you might have guessed, she did such a good job they didn’t let her go.
If you ever find yourself at an Ed happy hour with editors working at your dream mag, like many of the whippersnappers at last week’s event, the number-one thing to do is to check your nerves at the door, says Allison Berry Ed2010 events director. “You’re not going to get anything out of a networking event by sitting at a table because you’re too scared,” she says. But if you are a bit intimidated, you can always ask an Ed2010 volunteer for an intro, she says. As soon as the intro is made, ask what they do at the mag, find a common interest, and then ask them your specific question.
For example, you might ask them for interview tips, how they got their current position, or how dealt with a situation that you’re currently in, like job hunting or edit tests.
Hopefully, we’ll see you at the next Ed2010 happy hour!
Steal Her Style: Refinery 29’s Alyssa Coscarelli
»