From Bunny Slippers to Business Plans
I was recently asked to guest post over at YouTern‘s Savvy Intern blog, partially because I’ve done three internships myself, and partially because I’m the intern coordinator at YourTango. Why yes. I am a huge proponent of interns… whether or not you’re still in college!
Here’s an excerpt of my guest post:
Forget my degree. My resume. Even my (pretty darn awesome) cover letters.
My three internships are what got me where I am today.
While it would be really groovy to have my own editorial intern, I don’t know that I would even know what to do with one. I have a hard time letting go of my work (being the perfectionist control freak that I am), and have always sucked at delegating.
Yet somehow, I ended up as the intern coordinator at YourTango.
On the one hand, it’s overwhelming: the posting of job ads, the weeding through of application letters, the interviews, the hiring, the training, and the managing…
On the other hand, it sort of reminds me of coaching. I get the chance to talk to those just starting out about their goals and dreams, and then I try to build an internship experience for them that will help them achieve that.
p.s. I’ve been told that I’m fabulous to work with.
So if you’re looking for experience at a web magazine, or looking to build up your portfolio (or both!), check out the editorial intern ad after the jump… or pass this post along to all you friends!
It has been over a month since my last Link Love. In lieu of the Hail Marys and the Our Fathers, I’m finally going to own up to the fact that something’s gotta give.
I mean, my grandfather died. And then I started a new copy editing gig. And then I launched a mom blog over at YourTango. And Michael and I started making plans to go hang gliding, maybe go on a French wine cruise, clean out our condo and sell it, buy a house.
Things fell by the wayside. My plans to do market research for my career coaching practice. My e-book. This blog.
Something has to give, but I don’t want to give up any of it. Which is why, at the very least, I can at least stop feeling guilty over the infrequency of my blog posts. At least for now.
Last night, I attended a callanetics class with my mom. I’ve been going every week for the past 11 years (give or take the few years I was away at college). It typically serves to simultaneously relax and invigorate me, both stretching me out and strengthening my core. Last night, however, I had a panic attack during class, and started crying on the drive home. I just felt so overwhelmed.
So yes. I’m going to try to feel less guilty. I’m going to try to acknowledge that I am merely human. I am not going to give up this blog. But I will be here less often. If you’d like to stock up on some reading material in the meantime…
I feel as if this week was a perfect example of how much I was missing when I was playing recluse for the past year. (The positively balmy weather didn’t hurt.)
On Tuesday, I went to the #nyblogout — a happy hour for NYC dating bloggers — and met a few people I had previously only known online. On Friday afternoon, I went to an open dress rehearsal for Armida at the Metropolitan Opera, and then went to a Ben Folds concert in the evening. And today, I went to the local university to rehearse a choral piece an old high school friend had composed for his grad school recital. It felt good to get away from the computer screen.
I seem to be pulling out of that slump I was in for the past couple of weeks with my at-home freelance work. My copywriting is going faster, and easier, and I’m also feeling fired up for Freelance Success‘s regular query challenge, which starts tomorrow, and for which I’m actually a team leader (talk about accountability…). On top of all that, I’m loving my part-time, on-site job more and more every day (which happens to make life — and my commute — a lot less gloomy). How is everyone else weathering the long winter?
Okay, okay. I know what you’re here for. This week’s link love:
Hey guys! In my new role as Assistant Editor at YourTango.com, I am responsible for hiring editorial interns, and it’s about time for me to seek the next batch. Interested?
YourTango is a fast-growing online media company/web mag that provides content devoted to love and relationships. We’re seeking a motivated editorial intern to join the YourTango team. Responsibilities include:
– writing for our news/trends/celebrity blogs
– contributing content ideas for video, features, photo galleries, etc.
– photo research and editing
– social media marketing
– and content production.
Requirements:
—Excellent writing skills
—Photoshop experience
—Familiarity with online media (basic HTML, CMS experience, knowledge of SEO)
—Ability to commit to a part-time 4-month–or full-time 3-month–internship
A small stipend or college credit is available.
If you’re interested, you should e-mail me with your resume, cover letter, and a sample blog post (previously published blog posts are also accepted).
Well come on, guys! Send along those writing samples! And if you know someone else who might be interested, pass it along!
This past weekend, I did something truly revolutionary: I didn’t do a damn bit of work. Instead, I spent a day cleaning the condo. I threw a party. I caught up with people I hadn’t seen in eons, due to my all-encompassing absorption with my work. I took down the Christmas decorations. I even enjoyed a leisurely lunch out with my husband. Tonight? My husband and I are meeting up with a group of friends to see Avatar at the IMAX theater. Work? What work? I’ve been completely unproductive. But it’s nice to feel a part of the world again.
Before I head out to the theater, here’s your weekly link love:
Over the course of the past 10 years, I’ve juggled on-campus jobs, part-time retail work, temp work, full-time work, freelance projects, and internships, all in varying combinations.
At first, in my earliest post-college years, I considered full-time work to be the obvious end goal and, for a time, was quite proud of myself as I moved up in the world of academic book publishing.
As my longing for more creative work grew, however, I determined that I could only find happiness as a full-time freelancer.
Now, as the New York Sun teeters on the brink of end times, and I find myself losing a main source of income that was more part-time than freelance (except for the 1099), I’ve been forced to consider that an all-or-nothing approach is perhaps not the best one for me.
And maybe you’ve come to the same conclusion. Perhaps you’ve read The Anti 9 to 5 Guide and One Person/Multiple Careers and are already masterminding the perfect balance of multiple income streams. After the jump, the types of income sources you should consider, and why:
