Posts Tagged ‘start-up’

Making it on your own: Digital Whizzkids

November 5th, 2010

As the media was filled with the latest dismal graduate employment statistics at the beginning of the week (see our piece ‘The Graduate Unemployment Sector’ for more details) we thought it was about time to give you something to aspire to.

Or – perhaps we should say – some people to be inspired by.

Here are some clever souls who – with a little help from their computers – decided to take their career prospects into their own hands and make it on their own. And they happened to do it rather well.  Heck, if they can do it, maybe you could to? (It would be nice to see even more English names on the list next time…)

Mark Zuckerberg


If by now you still don’t know who Mark Zuckerberg is then please refer to the picture for a pretty big hint. That’s right, he is the creator of the biggest social media website in the world: Facebook.

Anyone who has read Ben Mezrich’s book ‘The Accidental Billionaires’ about Zuckerberg’s rise to social media fame, or seen the book’s film adaptation ‘The Social Network’ will know that Zuckerberg created the social networking site whilst he was still studying at Harvard.

Now the site apparently rakes in £20 a second and has an estimated net worth of £500 million. All this without even graduating – Zuckberg ended up dropping out of his degree when Facebook took off – so just imagine what you could do with that added degree qualification in tow…

Blake Ross

When Blake Ross, a Miami teenager, was just 17-years-old he helped to create a free web browser that at the time was called Bill Gates’s worst nightmare.  The internet browser was a little one you may have heard of called Mozilla Firefox.

Now aged 22, the net worth of the Mozilla company (which Ross had been interning with when he and his friend David Hyatt began working on their small Firefox side project) is estimated to be around £75 million. Not bad for someone who hadn’t even left school yet.

Catherine Cook

When Catherine was 15 years old she founded MyYearbook.com with her brother David Cook then 16.

The site – an online version of the traditional American yearbook – now has over 16 million members and is the third biggest social networking site in the States behind MySpace and Facebook. Through the site Cook became a millionaire at 18, though not without a lot of hard work – she says she often clocks up to 60 hours a week around school hours (she’s now studying at University). Still, it shows that a bit of overtime can really pay off sometimes.

Kulveer and Harjeet Taggar

Oxford university graduates Kulveer and Harjeet Tagger became millionaires after selling their booming internet company, Auctomatic, less than a year after its launch.

The cousins, who started their online auction management company whilst they were still undergraduates, had many toils before their triumph – with the pair almost running out of money before their big break. “We survived on ramen noodles for lunch and dinner,” said Harjeet to the Times. “We didn’t even buy any furniture for the apartment that we were working out of, just desks. We had foam mattresses on the floor. We would work until we needed to sleep and then get up and start all over again.”

But the students persisted with their project and were rewarded in 2008 when Canadian web firm Current Media bought the site for an impressive £2.5 million, making it a job very well done.

Adam Hildreth

Adam Hildreth from Leeds, West Yorkshire, was ambitious from a young age. He was only 14 when he started his first business, Dubit Limited with seven other friends.

The company, a website that consulted on marketing to the teenage market, grew to become the most visited teen website in the UK. Hildreth then went on six years later to launch his second business, Crisp Thinking, an anti-grooming software which develops online child protection technology. Over the years he has been featured in the Guinness Book of Records, won numerous young achiever awards, and now directs companies with an estimated net worth of £25 million.

Juliette Brindak

Starting young – really young – often seems to be the key. Juliette Brindak, now 20-years-old and studying at Washington University, was just 10 when she came up with her multi-million dollar making idea. It came from a few drawings doodled on a trip home, a bit of encouragement from her graphic designer mum, and some enthusiasm from her peers to get her site, MissOandFriends.com up, running and making profit.

The successful website, aimed towards ‘tween’ girls, offers the chance for young girls to play, create, learn, exchange ideas, compare experiences and get published in an environment away from every day peer pressure. The company has an estimated net worth of $15 million, and a recent survey said it was beating the likes of Barbie, Hello Kitty and Girl Scouts.

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Inspiring Interns welcomes push for fair internships

March 9th, 2010
Graduate Talent Pool - help or hindrance?

Graduate Talent Pool - help or hindrance?

On Sunday evening Donal MacIntyre presented an investigation into unpaid internships in the UK on his Radio 5 Live show. The report highlighted the fact that some companies are using the government website Graduate Talent Pool to advertise unpaid internships that potentially break National Minimum Wage laws.

Inspiring Interns shares the concerns raised on the programme and, further, welcomes any move to draw attention to the exploitation of graduates by businesses using unemployed young people as free labour. As a company we go to great lengths to ensure that our placements offer the kind of professional experience that graduates require in today’s oversaturated job market; moreover we only work with clients interested in developing young talent, not taking advantage of it.

The other main issue that the programme raised was how expenses-only internships are deepening the class divide, with only the wealthy able to undertake longer periods of work experience on low remuneration.

Inspiring Interns agree entirely that internships should be open for all, and back the government’s current schemes to support those who might not otherwise be able to afford internships. We were also delighted to hear David Lammy MP announce on Donal MacIntyre’s show that a new initiative will launch in the summer to offer means-tested support for graduates who undertake placements. Inspiring Interns believe that by offering government financial incentives, graduates will be inspired to test the water by gaining valuable experience in their chosen fields. They also have the opportunity to work in areas which they may not have previously considered. By participating in short term internships in a variety of industries or sectors graduates can make a more informed choice when planning their career path.

Inspiring Interns would also like to express support for businesses offering genuine internships, and urge the government to avoid over-the-top intervention that could damage a very beneficial system. There must be official recognition that in the current economic climate some companies simply cannot afford to pay interns and do not have long term openings. However, by offering a placement they do provide essential experience for graduates and potentially create permanent jobs; either when the market picks up or, more exceptionally, where the intern performs so well that the company perceives there to be a business case with low risk to take the intern on full time.

Banning unpaid internships would do more damage than good, both to young people and to the economy. Therefore the government needs to clarify legislation on internships, and follow the recommendations outlined in Alan Milburn’s report on social mobility. For as Mr. Milburn argues, “Internships are an essential part of the career ladder [and] part and parcel of a modern, flexible economy.”  At Inspiring Interns we aim to provide a valuable service both to graduates entering the job market for the first time and to industry. We provide choice, experience and hopefully long term career paths for our interns, whilst at the same time offering a commercial, low cost low risk business solution for.

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Slave labour graduates? Try ambitious young professionals

March 5th, 2010

On the 04/02/2010 the Daily Mail ran an article entitled ‘The slave labour graduates: Cynical firms are forcing thousands of high flyers to work for nothing – or even making them pay for the privilege’. In his report Tom Rawstorne suggested that the ‘cream of a generation’ were being taken for a ride by the system of internships that is becoming increasingly prevalent in our job market.

Inspiring Interns were left rather bemused by the entirely negative picture the Mail painted. Sadly there are companies willing to take advantage of unemployed graduates – with the media sector particularly guilty – but by and large the rise in internships has been a very positive development for both businesses and job seekers.

At Inspiring Interns we rigorously check our clients before we send them candidates to ensure the placement will benefit the graduate and that the company is not using interns as a rolling staff solution.

This means that, having been trading for just over a year, we now have a plethora of grateful graduates who are now in paid employment as a result of having done an Inspiring Interns internship.

Ben Tatton-Brown, CEO of Ring Ring Mobile, has hired eight interns from Inspiring, all of whom have secured permanent positions as a direct result of doing a placement. Tatton-Brown commented: “Inspiring Interns’ service has been invaluable to our company. We have found eight superb staff members that have developed and grown within their roles, and who would not have become part of this company had they not initially completed internships.”

Inspiring Interns are always thrilled to hear when our work has helped candidates gain invaluable experience, particularly when they have gone on to secure full-time positions. We believe it is this mix of developing skills and creating careers that make our company such an attractive proposition to graduates.

Inspiring Interns – specialising in finding meaningful internships for students and graduates –http://www.inspiringinterns.com

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Exciting Internship Funding News

March 1st, 2010
Earn money while you intern

Earn money while you intern

Back in December we reported that the Government was planning to provide £8 million of funding to those from disadvantaged backgrounds who would have otherwise been unable to undertake unpaid internships.

We are pleased to say that this scheme now encompasses any graduate from a participating university who is looking for an internship. If your old uni is taking part you could be entitled to around £6 an hour while you complete a placement.

Working in tandem with the government’s priority areas for future industries, the scheme is particularly keen to provide grants to graduates working in one of the following seven sectors:

  • low-carbon products and services
  • digital industry
  • life sciences and pharmaceuticals
  • advanced manufacturing
  • professional and financial services
  • engineering construction
  • industrial opportunities presented by the ageing society.

Alongside the obvious financial benefits this scheme offers, graduates will also get structured support before, during and after their placement – including mentoring, pre-employment and interview training, and CV workshops.

This is a wonderful opportunity for graduates to gain fantastic experience for their CV without having to make major fiscal sacrifices. And of course Inspiring Interns can help you on the way to finding that dream placement – so why not get in touch?

Inspiring Interns – specialising in finding meaningful internships for students and graduates –http://www.inspiringinterns.com

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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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Posted in CV & Interview Tips

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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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Posted in CV & Interview Tips, Inspiring Office Antics

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My First Internship at a Start-up

August 17th, 2009

Having only been on an internship with Inspiring Interns for a week, one very important aspect of working with a start-up has really crystallised in my mind and this is the fact that is it crucial to be RESOURCEFUL. Whether it’s using your contacts, or doing research, what is important is that information (or indeed help) is obtained in a cost-efficient and timely manner. It is all too easy to fall into the trap of feeling helpless, especially if you’re starting out at a new company, but if you make the most of what is available, the company and your skills will develop exponentially. Creating synergies is so much more important in a young start-up because nothing comes for free, so knowing exactly what your company’s assets are and how to use them is important.

I believe that if you are in the right job, your willingness to be resourceful will not be limited to just office hours. Ideally, research should continue all the time. Anyone with an interest in how their business progresses should be reading the newspapers everyday to keep up-to-date with what is going on in the industry, what is happening to your competitors and parties of interest, and what is going on generally. Networking also becomes much easier when you are up-to-date with current affairs and this WILL pay dividends. Even in the week that I’ve been working here, I’ve made use of my own contacts, to add value to this company. Mingling maven Susan RoAne preaches in her books and seminars the importance of networking. A really great example of the power of networking can be found on her website (http://www.susanroane.com/). She says “When I ask my audiences how many of them have learned of at least one of their jobs through another person, about 80% of the group raises their hand.” It’s a mystery that with so much potential arising from networking, more people don’t do it.

I’ve listened to a number of famous and successful entrepreneurs speak on behalf of Oxford Entrepreneurs (http://www.oxfordentrepreneurs.co.uk/), and from them, one message is clear. This is that one of the key qualities that separate the successful businessmen from the unsuccessful ones is their ability to spot opportunities. Whilst it is difficult to quickly gain this skill (as I believe it becomes much easier and more instinctive with experience), I have found that doing your research will really help you make the most of such opportunities. Really clarifying the facts and working with whatever is available to you is crucial for taking advantage of your own assets. Once you really understand the organisation or the industry in which you want to work, aligning your strategies will significantly increase your chances of success.

My advice for interns beginning the exciting experience of working at a start-up is simply to really get involved in as much as you can. Whether it’s working with the partners to create a strategy for future ventures, or writing a blog to contribute to the social media side of the business, throwing yourself into the role will really help you learn. And at the end of the day, if you’re hoping to start your own business or you want to work with a captain of industry, these kinds of skills will get you places.

Hayato Maeda – 4th Year Engineering student at Trinity College, University of Oxford and Co-Director of The Oxprentice series of events for Oxford Entrepreneurs.

If you would like to hear more, get in contact: hayato.maeda@trinity.ox.ac.uk

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