Boston Intern Survival Guide

1. When choosing a seat on the MBTA commuter rail, fight your laziness and walk to the front cabin and pick a seat near the exit. (Yes,the smell from the bathroom lingers, but you get off faster and beat the crowd.)

2. When leaving South Station, stay left while passing through crosswalks on Summer Street. (Beats crowds that are crossing to Atlantic.) Run around the blind man with the walking stick you see every morning on Winter Street, he doesn't mind.

3. Upon entering the office building, have your wallet in hand to take out pass. Continue to keep it out, you will need it to get in the office on the second floor because no one is there at 8:15am.

4. Take off Uggs, put on your high heels you have stashed in your drawer - question yourself, if you put on deodorant. Use restroom now, or get coffee etc. No one likes to see an intern getting up from their seats every 30 minutes.

5. Say hello and good morning to everyone you see. Smile and say their name.

6. Answer emails pronto! Always be professional; Address their name, and always sign yours.Be careful you never CC a client on an internal email- (lesson learned).

7. ASK QUESTIONS, ASK QUESTIONS, ASK QUESTIONS. If you don't understand, ask, and you will learn. PROBLEM SOLVED.

8. Don't ask dumb questions . Yes I understand this conflicts with #8, but before asking for help, BE RESOURCEFUL. Did you completely read the task? Is there an example in the T-Drive? And, honestly think- how can I get this done? If it means researching, finding a number and calling someone from Kansas, DO IT. Results speak for themselves.

19. Be particular about how many emails you send. People are busy- make sure you have all the information you need before involving someone else and wasting their time with confusion and follow up emails.

10. Be professional. You haven't earned weekend story time yet. You are there for a reason. BUT, don't be a robot, social skills are key in PR and know when it's appropriate to talk about non work related things. "Excited about the Pat's?" in a Boston office, they will go all day long with a response.

11. Bring a notebook and pen whenever you leave your desk. (Not including bathroom breaks.. well I don't know, maybe).

12. Ask for deadlines. You haven't learned how much time certain projects require. Ask, and you will learn how to prioritize accordingly.

13. Bring snacks. If you don't eat and drink water, you are useless by 3.pm. Replace two snacks with fruit or vegetables. If you don't think a bag of Chex Mix and Kashi Bars won't catch up to you after sitting for eight hours? You're wrong.

14. Speak up during client meetings. Know your boundaries, but show you are attentive, and there for a reason. You are on their payroll, show you are valuable.

15. Go above and beyond. You might not have been asked to do a task, but if you noticed a writer from Forbes is writing on the exact topic your client is positioning itself on, flag it to the team. Don't just send a link, explain what you found and why it relates. Get involved with other aspects in the office, or ask how you can learn more.

16. Never leave right at the time you are allowed to. ( Besides, if you did, you would be waiting at South Station for 20 minutes standing up anyways).

17. Leave your shoes at your desk. Say good bye to everyone you walk by.

18. Arrive at South Station between 5:29pm - 5:31pm which will be the exact time the display board will reveal what track T.F. Green Airport is on. (Usually, 9,8, or 5 ). Walk fast and beat the flock of cattle. also #1 applies.

19. Go home, eat, don't binge! Floss teeth. Get as much sleep as you can. Wake up.

20. Repeat #1-19, but this time do it better.

Cheers to Maya Angelou

Crazy excited for the news!

Simultaneously, we endure the slippery train seats, walk as fast as we can through the bitter cold to our building, fight against the 3:00pm crash, and on Friday morning- truly appreciate the phrase TGIF.

It was such an amazing feeling to have a virtual champagne toast with Gessenia a few weeks ago after she accepted her position at Lois Paul & Partners. We've finally come full circle and I could not be happier!

Now if only we didn't have 231 miles in between us...

A Victim of the MBTA

I survived my first week at LPP. The office has been a little slow given the holiday season, but nevertheless GREAT. I am sure next week I will have more than enough action to talk about... in the meantime I am taking advantage of the office being almost empty (literally, there is 7 of us here today, compared to the usual of fifty!). I am taking the time to get familiar with my accounts, the software, ( I got to sit in some conference calls too ) and not to mention getting a handle on the MBTA. I have the train schedule down like clockwork. Let's just say I have officially sold my soul to the the MBTA, well at least for the next few months anyway. I know I will be looking at some apartments come spring....

It's ME. I'm Next.

Today I officially received an offer from Lois Paul & Partners; and I accepted (OBVIOUSLY!).

Words can't express how I feel; all my dreams are coming true ( WOW, didn't think this post could get any cheesier, but It just did).

On a serious note. I couldn't be any happier... and it's not even a full-time job (What?!).

It's a paid internship, 40 hours a week, and it's the opportunity I have been looking for. A real boot-camp internship where I can LEARN all the fundamentals of PR, at a prestigious company in BOSTON, but small enough where you are ACCOUNTABLE and NEEDED on a day-to-day basis. That extremely long sentence consisted all of the underlying values I looked for in my future employer. LP&P exceeds every one of them.

Patience is a Virtue.

Not to mention, there is a high success rate for those interns who do well to become an Assistant Account Representative, which includes salary and benefits. If the opportunity doesn't occur, (which it will!!!) I am confident that the experience will be a crucial stepping stone in my professional career path. It is a foot-in-the-door in Boston, the industry, (they specialize in IT/health- care/clean-tech - a huge market in Boston) and I will be truly qualified for whatever comes next.

Ironic as it may seem, #thejobhuntcontinues. As one of my interviewers from LP&P said, "Work for the job you want, not the one you have" and I know I will be working plenty hard to earn my spot there.

A Collection of Quotes, Sayings, and Nonsense

If I may quote my favorite Business book,"Networking is not a passive sport. You need to get to the people you want to meet, and it takes planning and work and overcoming inertia."

An idea I've been living by since I've read it. And now, as Carol from New Directions said, "Things are finally getting sticky." A phrase, that right off the bat may seem like an undesirable feeling but makes perfect sense. After six months of introductions, sending an email here or giving a business card to someone there... my network is starting to truly develop.

After a "Black-Hole" day... (as my former roommate calls it. A day where you're feeling particularly "unemployed-ish" and you grieve over the death of your college days)...

I decided it was time to revisit my contacts. Writing, "Hi remember me again" email after another and leading them all with Khiara's personal favorite, " what about this weather?" I finally had a break through. For the sake of "not counting my chickens before they hatch," (I couldn't tell you who came up with that one but everyone knows it) I will be vague about the details. However, I will say this much.

• I had an interview. (I possibly had a booger in my nose for at least half of it but other than that, it went AMAZING)
• It's A PR agency located in Boston (Check, Check)
• I absolutely love the place and the people (I think they liked me too)
• And I think I have a shot

"Only time will tell." (Again, I couldn't tell you who thought of that one either....)

31 Work Days Closer to Retirement

Sorry for my absence but I had to time my next post accordingly. I'm in a fairly good mood today with a hopeful outlook on my future (which is not as rare as I'm making it seem!) but I figured I would regret any of the posts that are currently saved in my drafts... sometimes a girl has to vent!

This is my seventh week being in New York and I can't believe I'm still adjusting. Everyday on my walk from Grand Central to Times Square I force myself to keep my eyes up and repeat over and over, this is my city now. No matter how hard I try, I still feel the need to poke my head out of the taxi cab window and  I can't resist taking pictures of Times Square- as if I'm never going to see it again.

I am still staying with my best friend's family just outside of the city on the hunt for an apartment I literally will never be able to afford. I must say I have been so incredibly blessed with this family. Without them I would have lost it 5 weeks ago...and yesterday....and today...

I catch the morning express train 7:30am and I'm usually getting off on the opposite side of the track around 7:30pm. The 12 hours days can be draining but at least the days don't drag by. I always have a new project on my desk that, more often than not, comes with no explanation. My work day is filled with trial and error and an ongoing list of questions. Thankfully I work with amazing young women who are so incredibly supportive and always seem to invite me on a Starbucks break at just the right time.

This transition into the real world has been a challenge for sure but what better place to embrace it than Glamour Magazine?

Thanksgiving Year Round

Well it finally happened...

The golf season ended - even though there is no frost to be seen and the average temperature this past week was 60 degrees. (Sorry Polar Bears; but thank you Global Warming).

... Meaning- I am officially unemployed.

No, I have not joined Occupy Providence despite the roller coaster of emotions I have endured these past weeks. My behavior has been as constant as the New England weather...everything from surges of impulsiveness, (almost bought a one way ticket to Florida) eating away my depression, to days of empowerment, hope and productivity, and right back to what feels like certified crazy.

My mood today? Pure Bliss. In light of the recent Holiday, I have a lot to be thankful for. And although some days are harder than others, I must remind myself to be grateful for these things every day and not just national Holidays.

I am still coming down from my high from one of the best weeks in my life. 10 days of true happiness. I had a great Thanksgiving with loved ones - the final count was 33. I have a HUGE family to say the least. Not to mention activities after activities! To give you a snap shot of the week- I had my first Bruins game, a night at the Biltmore Hotel in Providence, I successfully made my own pizza out of a brick oven , and did it all with great friends- old and new.

The best part of it all- an interview. LinkedIn has finally proved itself worthy. Advice: follow smaller companies. There is a good chance to get on their radar compared to a huge corporation.

My Job-hunt thus far has consisted of mainly major corporations, but now more than ever am I loving the idea of working for a smaller company. This consulting firm has a culture unique from any other. I was fortunate to meet with five associates, one including the CEO, all who value team work, unity and an overall understanding of respect regardless of status. That was very apparent to me from the minute I walked in and until the hour and a half later when the President himself walked me to the door.

It has me thinking a smaller company is the way to go. Especially after reading 10 pros of working for a small company.

http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2007/06/11/101529_ten-pros-of-working-for-a-small-business.html

#TheJobHuntContinues but I am thankful for each and every opportunity... TO BE CONTINUED.