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Internship / Graduate Scheme Interview Advice

December 7th, 2009

There’s more to life than clothes, but it’s a good place to start…

What to wear to an interview is a potential minefield. Though recruiters should be judging students on their sparkling CVs, not their dress sense, reports state that a staggering 37% of employers have decided against hiring a graduate due to the way they were dressed. Even something as minor as a girl not wearing tights or a guy not wearing a tie can impact on your success.

To suit or not to suit? For most jobs it’s fairly safe to assume suiting up is the way to go (law, finance, management, etc). However, in notoriously image conscious industries such as fashion, advertising, marketing and PR things are not so clear cut.

Tips:

  • Research the agency. If it’s a long established place like JWT or Weber Shandwick, chances are they’re going to approve of the smarter side of dressing with a hint of personality (e.g. colour, statement jewelry, and other interesting accessories). If it’s a younger agency, like VCCP or Mischief it’s better to go with something more casual, yet still professional (e.g. smart jeans but no low cut tops or scruffy t-shirts).
  • Do not go overboard on accessories. Keep it to one interesting piece.
  • There’s usually a recruitment video by current grads. Check to see what they’re wearing in the video and dress similarly.
  • Receptionists know everything. Call the front desk and ask for some inside info. They’re generally very helpful to graduates looking for internships or work experience.
  • Never wear a suit to UK ad agency Mother or you will be called an idiot…or worse (see clip ‘my first day at mother’).
  • If going for a fashion placement then make sure you show your personal style but try and make it fit to the design aesthetic of the company you’re applying to.
  • Before entering the interview for your dream work experience, pop into a local café and check your appearance in the mirror. Check there’s nothing on / in your teeth; clothes are straight; make-up isn’t smudged; and hair is brushed to avoid embarrassment.
  • Carry gum or mints with you for fresh breath – no one wants to know you had the tuna for lunch – but make sure you remove gum before going in.

Top tips for girls:

  • Wear heels but ones you can walk in. 69% of recruiters said girls in heels made a positive impression. From personal experience, if shoes are too high you look like a bit of a numpty tottering along the halls so safe options are wedges or boots.
  • Keep make up understated. You’re going for an interview, not a photo shoot.
  • Do the ‘sitting down test’. You’ll be seated for most of the time so make sure your skirt doesn’t ride up or that trousers are not too constricting.

Top tips for boys:

  • Make sure your shoes are polished and nails are tidy. Attention to small details will show that you care.
  • Take a woman shopping with you. We have an instinct for these things and will stroke your ego.
  • Invest in high quality garments. Worth it in the long run and you can always guilt your mum into paying.

Most importantly – be comfortable. If you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing and feel like you look good then you will naturally exude more confidence and confidence is the foundation of a good interview. If you’re still worried about your outfit then don’t hesitate to come into our London office where we can turn you from slobby student to impressive intern and find you the perfect placement!

Inspiring Interns- specializing in internships and work experience in London - visit http://www.inspiringinterns.com/

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Kanye graduates to internship

December 2nd, 2009
Kanye boosts his employment prospects with an internship

Kanye boosts his employment prospects with an internship

The news that rapper Kanye West recently started a placement at GAP has served to underline the importance of an internship, particularly for graduate candidates who wish to boost their work experience. Of course Kanye isn’t the first big name to boost his CV by volunteering to intern at a company. Last year melancholic crooner Ryan Adams joined the staff at New York magazine Black Book, where “he helped with sorting mail, filing TPS reports, and composing extemporaneous ballads about retouching cover photos”.

Other famous celebrity interns include Oprah, who completed a journalism placement at a television station in Nashville, Tennessee, while filmmaker Spike Lee was a production intern for Columbia Pictures. Donald Trump, Stephen Spielberg and Bill Gates also went onto greater things after completing internships.

Such examples prove that a placement can be the difference between getting that job of your dreams and sliding into unemployment oblivion.

It has also got us at Inspiring Interns thinking about what other celebrities could benefit from an internship in a new field…

Thierry Henry – Maybe could do some carpentry: he likes working with his hands.

Katy Perry – Would suit something in the PR field – clearly strong on brand management.

Dannii Minogue – Should try out stand-up, excels at keeping a straight face.

Rafael Nadal – Would adapt well to the military with those guns.

Tiger Woods – Driving instructor. It’s a double joke. Think about it.

Rafa Benitez – Absolutely anything; he’ll have plenty of time on his hands soon.

Think you can do better? Not that hard, I know. Either way post your celebrity internship match-ups below…

Inspiring Interns- specializing in internships and work experience in London - visit http://www.inspiringinterns.com/

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Inspiring Interns meeting students face to face

November 20th, 2009

Inspiring Interns has been doing its best to meet students in different schools and talk to them face to face! We are happy to answer students’ questions and concerns. We understand that under the economic downturn, students are under pressure and worried that they are facing a dead end right after graduation. Inspiring Interns dedicates itself to assist in this situation, Inspiring Interns is a solution! We are always here to help! ;)

DSC01839 Inspiring Interns at ESCP Europe Business School

DSC02075 Inspiring Interns at Greenwich University

Inspiring Interns- A company specialises in London Internships and Work Experience Replacements

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Attitude

September 28th, 2009

Until most recently I shared the perspective of many recent graduates and students:
“Why should I do an unpaid internship when I already have work experience?”

“The company would gain more from my work than they could offer me in terms of relevant experience. Why do work that someone else will essentially get paid for?”

Or even…oh, I love this one: “Why work with a small start up company? I want a “big” name to make my CV “look nicer/better/posh”.

Now, after working in an expenses paid internship with a 20-strong start up company, I consider this thinking over-confident (if not arrogant) for a young graduate and severely outmoded in the current economic climate.

I’ll tell you why.

1. Being 20 something does not qualify you to consider yourself in the know. Just because you had three or four work placements doesn’t mean you have the right to slow down and rest on your laurels.
There will be times where you can hopefully say: “I know what is to be known”…but surely not yet.
My advice to you: “Go and work with a start up company and see how you can handle taking on real responsibility.” Those placements are a lot more challenging then working in Famous Ltd. doing something that will be forgotten by your manager by the end of the week. Of course, a smaller company might not be able to provide you with the hold-your-hand-tutor you might be hoping for; someone who will explain you how to fix the world (indeed I think there is no such person at all).
The most efficient and rewarding way to learn is to be forced to deal with a situation that seems initially like Mount Everest but seems like a bump on the road after you’ve been forced to master it.
The thrill you get by solving a seriously challenging problem with your own proactive attitude is an experience that no money can buy (or perhaps pay for)
One thing you can’t learn from work experience at Famous Ltd is how to develop your own personality as well as your skills and ambitions.

2. Everyone is talking about networking and getting a foot in the door; well, why not create a door to step through yourself? Famous Ltd. will have a rolling intern program and there is little chance you’ll find your way onto it until someone either leaves or dies. However, if you contribute your energy and time to a growing working environment and make yourself indispensable, you lay the stones for your future career as opposed to waiting for someone else to lay them for you. What are a few months of a double workload when a full-time placement awaits you? Especially while others will be still waiting for a phone call.

We should strip our pampered attitudes and put in some serious effort to stand out from the crowd. The traditional graduate/well paid position formula doesn’t work anymore and I’m glad that I realize that now.

We should update our attitudes as often as we update our facebook status.

There is no space for a bad attitude in the job market and there never has been!

- Marianne

Inspiring Interns- A company specialises in London Internships and Work Experience Replacements

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Get Involved – Get Inspired!

September 11th, 2009

Hello all! This is a little blog post aimed squarely at letting you know how and encouraging you all to ‘get involved’.

All this means is engaging with us beyond simply looking at our vacancies page. Many of you are friends of ours on Facebook; many follow us on Twitter, and many of you message us through them!
Make use of us more! Open Facebook chat and say ‘hello’ or ask for some advice, send us a direct message on Twitter just asking what we’ve got available or for C.V. tips!

Then of course there’s calling us for general info, starting a thread or a debate in our FB group ‘Internships In London’ or joining up with us on Linked In.

Don’t forget that every now and again we’ll have an office B-B-Q. If we invite you to it (normally because we know you live near-by or we’ve already met you) you really ARE more than welcome to come along. Again, you’re welcome to drop by the office to record a video profile, drop off your C.V. or just introduce yourself.

So that’s us. Not just a vacancy list or a company. Real people who are keen to meet ya!

Inspiring Interns- A company specialises in London Internships and Work Experience Replacements

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Govmnt. Encourages Youth Work Experience/Internships

September 3rd, 2009

Quoted from: This MarketingMagazine.co.uk news article

“Part of the drive is targeting the 18% of young people interested in a career in advertising, marketing and PR. It is hoped it will lead to the creation 85,000 jobs and training opportunities with the backing of 150 companies nationwide.”

“Work experience is one of the key focuses of the campaign. A poll conducted by Populus has found 69% of businesses are more likely to hire someone who had experience within their company. A further 43% saw work placements completed elsewhere as an asset.”

Good news! Although it might seem like common sense that a majority of businesses are more likely to hire someone with experience within that same company, the fact still remains that figures talk. That the government is taking notice of these figures is also a definite positive; the upshot being that, hopefully, more and more relevant and respectful internships (of the kind we negotiate and advertise vacancies for in fact…) will be available to young people and graduates.

This is further proof if ever proof was needed that internships are an increasingly valuable way to break into some of the most competitive industries such as communications, P.R. and new media.

Gordon Brown claimed that his proposed measures would ultimately lead to 85,000 new jobs; whilst “the Conservatives deemed the figures unrealistic [and] the Liberal Democrats said the proposals laid out were ‘timid’, as is the wont of opposition parties, it is nevertheless a very positive start. So take heart young job-seekers, and get inspired!

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Get a Job After University?

July 28th, 2009

28th July 2009

So university is over, and like thousands others you are trying to find that first job… well in our climate any job.

But is this the route that we should be following? Do students really want to jump from the one nest of education straight into the other of employment? For the sake of youth and experience, take a leap of faith and who knows where you could land.

The other things to do after University: » Read more: Get a Job After University?

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