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.

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....

Time To Shake Things Up

Yes it is time to shake things up around here! And Yes the pun was intended. For those that haven't tuned into their T.V.s and Facebook pages - (Doubtful)- Today the East Coast experienced an earthquake. I however, didn't feel a thing other than the vibrations from my cell phone from the countless notifications on Twitter and the news talking about it.

In Other News...

I had a successful phone interview with the HR from Lois Paul & Partners. I have to admit, I have been really lucky so far because again the HR (Christine) was very welcoming and made it very easy to talk to. I had my "Marketing Plan" in front of me, and overall felt very prepared. It went so well in fact Paul (the man that gave me the introduction) E-mailed me, and said she was impressed and I am near the "top of the list" to contact when a opportunity opens.

What does this mean? - It means I keep going to the gym, keep eating my veggies, keep searching. The #jobhuntcontinues and it is time to mix my strategy up a bit. What can I do now to really WOW the next interview that presents itself?

I have concluded that a Public Relations Career in Boston = Working in the IT, Health/MediCare/ Clean Tech industry, rather than NY which is more consumer based. I do a decent job staying "in the know" when it comes to PR, but I need to learn more about these specific industries. I have started following IT companies on Twitter, reading articles and blogs, and even contacted an alum from URI's Public Relations Society, who did PR for Dimensional Insights, (an IT company in Boston) and asked her for advice on where to gain further knowledge. While reading some of these articles and posts I find myself Googling words I don't understand - how else am I going to learn!

My second move, is to start working with a Head Hunter. I say working "with" rather than "use" based on an article from who else but @AvidCarreist > http://www.avidcareerist.com/2010/11/05/should-you-use-a-recruiter/

Khiara had mentioned her friend had recently got an HR job, and has worked with Head Hunters and she strongly encouraged it. To my luck, my older Cousin Geoff is a Head Hunter ( he's 1 of my 23 cousins - and that's only counting my Dads side - and no, not step cousins, my parents are together... as of now. ) He works for O'Neill Consulting Group LLC, and hopefully he will have some guidance to step up my game.

I am going to need to keep the level of determination high these next weeks, especially since my best friend and motivator- Khiara- has left me today for Oklahoma. Disappointed I will be visiting the infamous Sophie's Coffee myself - I am reassured by Khiara's promise to continue our job-hunt and coffee sessions via Skype.

Marketing Yourself 101

Well the date is set - this Monday at 11:00am I will be having an interview of sorts with the HR of Lois Paul & Partners- on the phone. Despite my attempt of trying to get physically in the door at the agency, keeping in mind the advice I learned early on this summer - the HR had said it's protocol to have a phone conversation before any meeting is arranged. Khiara who played phone tag with the HR Manager of Alex And Ani last week, found herself getting blind sided with an interview, while babysitting two kids. Being resourceful as she is, she pulled through of course- but we both agreed further preparation is needed in case such an event occurs again. The reality of someone calling you on the spot, and not having a face in front of you to read and detect how the conversation is really going- is nerve wracking. Especially with all our resumes being sent through various networks we have met this summer while trying to get our foot- in -the- door. As thankful as we have been for the people who have been sending our resumes through for us, we find ourselves getting phone calls from business contacts who then begin probing us for a position we don't even know exactly what it entails. ( Half way through a conversation you realize we are talking about Project Management... when you studied Marketing.) We both have realized we need to think outside the box, and be able to take our knowledge about ourselves and apply it in any given situation at any given time.

I faithfully follow @AvidCareetist on Twitter - so helpful! And she recently posted an article by Career Shepra, The Best Job Search Tool Ever. It is basically a Marketing Plan of yourself. Of course ours is slightly different, but thus far its been a great help for organizing all our skills and their related experience.

Hopefully it will help my phone conversation lead to an invite for a face-to- face conversation. I'll let you know.

Outside Providence

How is it the end of July? My goal all summer was to take a little trip somewhere in the beginning of August. It has finally occurred to me, that time frame is next week. And after August.. Is September... Time to kick it up a notch.

I have been really busy working at both the golf course and in Providence at the Media department at RISD. I can't believe there was a time when I would leave that building in Providence on 20 Washington Place, and have to wipe snow off my car. Now leaving the AC filled office I'm hit with a heat wave. I will tell you though, there is something about Providence, especially the East Side, in the Summer time ( for those who don't know that is the area where the ivy league school, Brown is.) I mean, it ain't no Boston, but it ain't that bad either...

The work I have been doing at RISD is less than exciting, but I don't mind it one bit. The more I can learn about anything, the more it will help me in the future - even if it does make me go cross eyed . Let's just say I can utilize the PR Program, Cision Point with my eyes closed.

However some good news! Since I didn't send my resume directly to Racepoint Group (My supervisor and a former employee at Racepoint Group herself, did for me) I decided to follow up with the head HR of the agency on Linked In, with a personalized message of course. Thank God I did.

Now this is where I have analyzed the situation up and down. I don't have the job, but at the same time I don't Not have the job either. The E-mail I got in return, overall thanked me for my interest, admitted she wasn't "entirely sure there is an opening, but these things change at any moment,day to day." She also said "with that in mind, she would like to have a phone conversation, to see if I'd be a good fit." I was peeing my pants basically, and I don't even have the job...Yet.

Keeping in mind the advice from my last informational interview, - Get in front of the person that hires you - I knew the phone conversation wouldn't be enough. Nervous that I was being too - pushy, (I did it anyways) and asked if I could have the chance of engaging in a face-to-face informational interview, but expressed my understanding of her busy scheduled and that I would be more than appreciative to take up her on the phone conversation.

Result- I am going in next week!

I am so excited! My mind is already getting ahead of itself. Racepoint Group is in Waltham, MA. so maybe not exactly in Boston, but close enough to drive to the Harvard Sq and get on the red line (I already did my homework.) Either way, I am excited to get some practice in for interviewing.

Funny how things work. A job that I want so much has become a little closer to becoming a reality, and all I'm thinking is I need to go and get on a plane to Europe or on a beach in Florida. Can you say Indecisive? There are just so many options! I guess I don't have to figure out my life in one night. But I am about to look up some tickets. I need an adventure before this 9-5 happens any sooner.

Bostonians

7:30am: (401): So excited for todayyyyy! I'm on my way...Boston here we come!

7:55am: After getting to her house, Gessenia and I spent a considerable amount of time deciding which shoes she should wear to her informational interview. It was between her reliable "mature" white shoes or her stylish nude suede heels. After weighing the pros and cons, we obviously agreed on the latter...(it may be an interview, but you still have to look fabulous!) With the assistance of her mom, Gessen's outfit was complete and we were ready to catch the 8:38am train.

8:38am: We're only at exit 20 on 95. "Looks like we're taking the 9am train!"

8:45am: We purchased our tickets and it wasn't until we stepped out of Cafe Le France (or whatever it is) that we realized he said the next train was at 9:48. What?! Not possible. Turns out we somehow managed to read the schedule wrong the night before. After a brief moment of panic we did what he had to do and paid the extra money to buy another ticket for the 9:16 Acela.

9:05am: As we were waiting outside for the train I grabbed my camera off the ground to snap a pic of the State House. Silly me forgot I was using my camera to keep my ticket from flying away. Sure enough my ticket took off. As it drifted toward the tracks I had a moment of poor judgment and envisioned myself doing whatever I had to do to get it back in my possession...even if that meant jumping down to the tracks to grab it. Thankfully I caught it just as I stepped onto the yellow section. Gessenia and I died laughing at my frantic scramble and it wasn't until we read the sign "Caution live wires below" that we fell silent. That could have been bad.

9:48am: We arrived in Boston after numerous mock interviews and the extension of our Boston dream. We had just enough time to find New Directions on Oliver Street and grab a multi-grain bagel at Starbucks.





12:00pm: I got quite far into my book, Firefly Lane, while I had waited for Gessenia outside on a park bench down Oliver Street. When she finally walked out of New Directions it looked like a whole new level of excitement had come over her. She was reassured, motivated and was so excited to share the information she had learned during the past hour and a half. (I'm sure she'll go more into detail in her blog to follow)

We lost track of time for the rest of the day and it only continued to get better. We walked around Quincy Market and found Gessenia the perfect graduation party dress at Urban Outfitters. We grabbed lunch at a little Mexican restaurant where we discussed our next move (career wise) over apps and a pitcher of white sangria. We made a lengthy check list and decided to step our game up even more (after the 4th of course!). After we paid the bill and checked our statuses in the mirror, we took off-with no plan in particular just to make the most out of our trip. We hopped around from place to place, even tried watermelon flavored beer, until Gessenia got a call from a friend (who saw her tweet- that she was in Boston) and we made our way to The Landing. It was so exciting to be in the Boston crowd, mixed in with people who were just getting out of work and really feeling like we belong here.

After too many drinks and too many laughs my boyfriend scooped us up after his night class at 10:15pm and we headed home. It was such a perfect day....and we still have unused tickets back!

Informational Interviews 101

Another rainy day - it's OK- Another productive day.

Went to the doctors and got medicine for this on going sinus infection- Kept up with the Weight Watcher's Diet... Soup for dinner followed by 6 Oreos (It's within the points!) And got a confirmation for an informational interview.

Thanks to a friend of a friend my parents know, I was able to reach out to VP of New Directions in Boston. They are a Portfolio company, and from my understanding a little mix of life coaching, marketing and branding for individuals and businesses. They help people get to their next step. (HELLO Just what I need!!) But- I am not going there as a client, but as a young professional to ask questions and flatter. We finalized the date, for Thursday next week - in Boston (YES)- I already have my outfit picked out in my mind. But that is the only thing I have prepared thus far.

I need information on how to make use of an informational interview.
Kind of Ironic when you think about it. Your are going there to get informed, yet I need to be informed before I get there.


The way I see it, is people of these industries love talking about themselves and an informational interview can play out in 2 scenarios. 1- they do the same song and dance that they do for every graduate that reaches out to them, telling them the same story of how they got to where they are. or 2- I suck this interview for all it's worth and really make and impression.

Now how to accomplish situation 2. Dissect their company's website. Make a list of questions pertaining to my life at the moment. etc. etc. There is going to be some major preparation for this, and this isn't even a Real Interview. I might even go buy Crest White Strips. Over the top? I don't think so people, this is a recession.