Tag Archives: job

Ask the Intern : A Q&A session via Facebook

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On the 19th of March, I went from observing webchats to actually answering the questions that people wanted to ask. I have recently finished my Social Media Internship at Macmillan Cancer Support and agreed to take part in a discussion about what I did and what I gained. You can view the actual thread here but I wanted to go through and answer a few of the questions again in full.

1. What is an Intern?

The answer I gave :
An internship is a great way to get involved, build on existing skills or explore a change of career. Some other interns have written about their experience as well as their roles http://www.macmillan.org.uk/GetInvolved/Volunteer/Internships/InternshipCaseStudy.aspx.

Additional thoughts
An intern is someone who is looking to gain experience within a certain profession, a little like going on work experience although it is often for a longer time frame and you have a little more responsibility. I didn’t end up making tea/coffee or just filing paperwork. I was involved in several meetings and given the opportunity to put forward my own ideas for projects.

2. What is it like and what do you do?

The answer I gave

I loved my internship, I got the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and at the beginning my line manager discussed what skills I’d like to develop and ways I could build on my experience. My internship was for a social media role so I got to learn more about the way that Macmillan uses social media to provide support, information and the planning involved in different projects.

Additional thoughts
Working for Macmillan is an experience in itself, with so many people passionate about their work it is hard not to get caught up and end up staying extra hours. I have had the pleasure of meeting people from many different departments and offices, in person, via email and even spoken to them on the phone. The office itself is very bubbly and the ever-changing posters bring a smile to my face. I work on social media, I wrote posts, responded to comments and found answers for those that needed them, I also got to learn about our regional pages and accounts as well meet some of the fundraising team up in Shipley. I had the opportunity to experience the ups and downs of working life as a member of the Social Media team.

3. What is the meaning of life?

The answer given
42

Additional thoughts

It depends which book you read.

4. More details please? Full Time? Part Time? All areas of support or focused area?

The answer given
My role was 4 days a week, mainly working on social media but I did have the opportunity to learn about all the various ways Macmillan provides support (here is the blog I wrote about it http://community.macmillan.org.uk/blogs/b/community_news/archive/2013/02/20/how-macmillan-supports-online-and-offline.aspx ).
Internships are fairly flexible, I work from the London office but there are internships available around the UK. Macmillan asks that you do a minimum 3 days a week and will ask what hours you are available to work.

Additional Thoughts
Social media has been integrated across all levels at Macmillan, so I found myself often asking other departments for information or how I could help out. I learnt a lot from the cancer information team and throughly enjoyed working on the recipe Pinterest board as well as trialing the recipes. So even though I only worked in the office for 4 days a week, I often caught myself thinking of new ideas and wondering how everything was going on even on my days off!

5. What qualifications do you need to apply?

The answer given
Internships are available to everyone, you are chosen on your experience and what you could bring to the role. So if you are interested get applying

Additional thoughts

Internships are open to everyone, that is one of the best parts of applying for one. No pressure on your qualifications just the knowledge of the role you are applying for. If I decided to intern for the fundraising department I would just need to evaluate the skills I have opposed to trying to work on another qualification. This part of internships amazes me.

6. I take that this is voluntary work?

The answer given
Yes an internship is a voluntary role, I was given a nice pin badge to say that I’m a volunteer which I wear proudly.

Additional thoughts

I volunteered my time and effort to gain experience so I could be a part of the work that Macmillan Cancer Support does. I also got a snazzy folder and badge. I was pretty chuffed with my starter kit.

7. Did you work in a PR capacity? If so, what’s the best way to get an internship?

The answer given
My role was focused more on social media, which meant we did work closely with the PR team for some projects. Keep an eye out for any opportunity to gain experience, previously I did some work writing for a local magazine which got me used to press releases and other things

Additional thoughts

Grab any opportunity you can to gain experience, I loved writing for the Ark Magazine but I also enjoyed the photography I did for the students union. There were lots of opportunities to get involved whilst I was at university and it gives you a chance to learn more about how different people work. It also gives you chance to see the way you work when placed in different teams/departments/companies.

8. What part of your internship have you enjoyed the most whilst at Macmillan?

The answer given
I’ve loved working on a variety of projects, seeing a project go from planning stages to launch has been fantastic! Learning about new ideas and working with some lovely people has certainly made the 3 months fly by.

Additional thoughts
There have been days where I wondered how people managed to stay so positive about their cancer experience, then there were moments of pure joy when I heard about how thankful someone was for the support they had and wanted to know how they could give back. The projects were great to work on and they did make time fly, though I do have to say some of the messages I saw re-affirmed why I want to work for a charity and how I can help others.

9. What campaign have you enjoyed working on the most? HINT #CharityShakeOff

The answer given
There have been a few projects like #AgeOldExcuse, #charityshakeoff and #notalone. I’m currently working on ‘A Really Good Night In’ so I’ll have to announce my favourite later on this year.

Additional thoughts

The shake off was pretty cool, seeing three charities work to raise awareness and have a bit of fun was certainly different. Video is a great way to portray messages without lengthy explanations, although simplicity is key. #Notalone & #AgeOldExcuse have very powerful messages that have left a lasting impression on those who have seen them. My current project ‘A Really Good Night In‘ is my first fundraising project and it has been hard work getting the planning and content together but I am thoroughly enjoying seeing everything develop.

10. Are there internships in the north-east of England? Is there an age limit on being an intern?

The answer given
There are internships available all across the UK so keep an eye out for them via http://volunteering.macmillan.org.uk/Search/AdvancedSearch . You have to be over 18 to be able to apply but other than that no age limit. Great that you’ve chosen to learn new skills, wishing you the best for the future

Additional thoughts

It is experience that matters not age, I was very surprised by this question purely as I believe you can change career or learn new skills at any age. I have always wondered if I have been rejected from jobs because of my age, I never considered that people may believe they’ve been rejected due to being too old for an internship. We all have to start somewhere.

14. What is the internship about ? What do you do? And what do you gain?

The answer given
There are a wide variety of internships across Macmillan. My internship was for Social Media, so I focused on the Macmillan Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+) working on different elements of planning and content. I have gained experience of working within a charity and the chance to work on some amazing campaigns.

Additional thoughts

I’ve recently been trying to explain to friends and family what I actually did during my internship, the simplest way to explain is that I work on a selection of social media platforms. Generally this gets me a bit of a blank look and “so you just sit on Facebook all day?”. I wish it was that simple, drafting up content for statuses and picking photos to upload is a lot more difficult, trying to be interesting and relevant all the time. I love it but trying to explain it can sometimes be tougher than if I was able to show them exactly what I do in an average day. I have gained a lot of knowledge not only about social media but also about cancer, medical support and financial support available.

15. What are your managers like?

Additional thoughts

I didn’t reply to this on the main thread as it was asked after the Q&A had finished. My managers have given me the chance to shine, with their feedback and knowledge I am not the same person that I was when I started my internship (in a positive way). With their help and encouragement I have spoken at events such as #barcampnfp and actively taken part in discussions both internally and externally about how social media should be incorporated. I have been very lucky to have been offered the opportunity working on ‘A Really Good Night In’ and look forward to evaluating what I have learnt after it has been completed. So I would like to say Thank You, to my Managers and the Online Community team for making my internship a fantastic experience. I hope the next intern brings you even more snacks.
Amy

End of the Year

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With the holiday season almost over I have a bit of time to reflect on the year that has been 2012. It has been busy that is true, it has had ups and downs. Even so, it has been one of my best yet.

I have made new friends, rekindled old hobbies and pushed myself to exceed at new challenges such as presenting in front of large audiences. Academically this year I have done well, I completed my degree with a final grade of 2.1. Professionally I have done myself proud by gaining my first few steps on the career ladder and working my way upwards by building a solid foundation of experience.

I have moved myself down the country, to help with my career and even though there are many boxes to be unpacked I know in my heart I have made the right choice.

Last year my focus for the new year was to enjoy good food, after a year of cooking I am now learning about balance. In both the sense of accounts and healthy living. So there will be lots of posts about recipes, growing my own produce and using different produce.

I have not yet decided my targets for the new year, I want to avoid the standard cliches of new year resolutions so I will get back to you about that.

I will however work harder to make sure that this blog does contain useful information as well as my general ramblings. Privacy is always up for discussion when the internet is involved and after reading the Zuckerberg Photo smash I am not surprised that it is still up for debate. I have recently been learning more about online communities and hope to develop my understanding further.

You may have noticed my recent addition to this site of fundraising. A few daft pictures for now but I do aim to have more up to date content for this section so keep your eyes peeled.

This will be my last blog of 2012 so I hope you enjoy all the celebrations and Happy new Year
That is all for now
Amy

Black and Yellow

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“formally offer you a 12 month placement with us as the PR/Marketing Intern at Magma Digital Ltd commencing on Wednesday 1st August”

Morning All! Guess what? I have a job! Best thing of all is that it is actually a marketing job too!

I am proud to say that joining the Magma Team will be an exciting 12 months, working alongside Heather who is a fellow UCLan-er and learning from Sue will create new ideas and ways to make marketing work in ways the theory never knew.

With just over a week to go until I start, I am researching new ideas, learning about the North West in more detail and finally trying to read a few sections of the PHP book I have collecting dust on the shelf. You will be more likely to see me at events such as CIM Meet Ups than the students union events. Believe me there are a lot more exciting things to come and a lot more interesting posts to look forward to.

That is all for now
Amy

New Month & New Seeds

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New Month

It’s May, day 2, the final month of my degree. I would love to say I am wishing the days would slow down. Unfortunately I am counting down to end of May, the end of my deadlines and the chance to start fresh as a full-time employee….somewhere. The new start is a great way to re-evaluate what has changed since the last month. A new focus is required for me, a focus on job hunt and refining my skills so I can be welcomed into the tough job market with a smile and a firm handshake.

New Seeds

Sweetcorn and Courgettes, are my newly planted seeds. This will be my second year of growing sweetcorn so I am looking forward to the new sprouts, courgettes are a new seed to me. Taking care of such a delicate object is relaxing, the plants just rely on water and light to grow. I am hoping to plant more seeds later this week, compost and weather depending.

New CV

The job hunt starts again after a short hiatus, meaning a new version of the CV needs to be developed after all the feedback I had received. Fingers crossed by the 2nd of June I will have had the opportunity to practice my interview techniques further.

That’s All For Now
Amy

Feedback, Loud and Clear

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I’ve received, reviewed, reworded and revised the feedback I have been given from my interview last week.

The interview was in two parts, the first part being a proof reading and writing exercise. The feedback I had for this was that I had missed some simple spelling mistakes within the proof reading section, although I would have liked to know which words so that I can at least make sure I do not make the mistake in any of my future written work!

The second part was a competency based interview, to which I was seen to be very nervous and I didn’t provide a substantial amount of evidence which was needed for my answers.

The positives are that I was seen to be personable and well presented. It seems like I needed to focus more on the possibly answers I would need to give for an interview like this and relax so that I am not as nervous next time.

That’s all for now
Amy

I would travel 10,000 miles for you

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I am now back in Preston, after a week of being in my home town of Worcester and visiting High Wycombe. I am happy to say that distance is not an issue. Travelling a long distance may seem daunting but it is important to remember why you are travelling there.

Family

Travelling to see a relative can create a treasured moment, seeing a new family member for the first time or someone you have known since the day you were born. A new memory is created and more reasons to make the journey again develop.

Friends

Friends are the family we choose. A popular phrase I know, I am starting to believe this to be completely accurate. These are the people who choose to spend time with you despite of your faults and annoying habits. They know you for who you are now and who you were then. The time spent apart can feel like forever but the hour spent catching up can make it feel like yesterday. As you get older you move away from your home and your friends. It takes more effort to see the people but the new memories are worth it.

Job

Work maybe the bane of many people’s lives, when you find a job you enjoy with people you get along with. The journey although tedious, can add to the relaxation of getting home after a busy day to a place you feel comfortable with the wages you’ve worked hard to be paid.

Travelling is not just for holidays
That’s All For Now
Amy

All Feedback is constructive

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I have been looking to improve my cv as part of my job hunt, I have consulted the services available at the university. A friend of mine advised I look at the CV Store, I emailed my cv across. I have uploaded the feedback I was given to this post. Certainly there are elements I will take on board but the thing that struck me most about this feedback is that it does not give any tips on how to improve what you have submitted only comments on what is wrong and needs changing. Although all feedback is constructive, if it does not help you develop and progress it’s a bit like being shot with an arrow. You know what the message is but no idea how to solve the problem.

Any help or ideas on how I could make these changes would be amazing

That’s All For Now

Amy

#RedRoses at CIM Pitch Final

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On 8th March 2012, Myself, Emma and Stacey started preparing for our pitch presentation for the CIM Final. The presentation itself had been sent on 24th February, so at this point we were trying our best to time our notes and ensure that all the information was clear.

We had woken up in Glasgow, after a few hours we were ready to head to the SECC full of nerves and excitement. With our props being very delicately held, astate does not enjoy being printed on, no matter how much hairspray is used. So smudge free we headed round the centre to find out where to sign in. After a few minutes we bumped into the Huddersfield Team (Who came first in the Northern CIM Pitch Heat) and not long after we signed in did we meet the other 2 teams who had made it to the final these teams were Brighton and Leeds .

It was great to have the support of so many, as a team we worked very hard to make sure that we had a presentation of the highest standard. We have been using #redroses since november the responses through twitter were very positive.

Whilst we were presenting having pictures sent out showing our “fabulous” dresses as well as showing how nervous we were (or at least how nervous I was!). After each presentation the microphone was offered up to the audience for full participation. We were very lucky to be asked 2 questions, which were answered in full to the best of our knowledge.

Unfortunately #RedRoses did not win this years CIM Pitch 2012, Team Envision from Huddersfield took the award which was well deserved with their clear idea for raising awareness with posters in specific areas. The experience was worth every second of research and wanting to just throw the laptop across the room! Developing presentation skills further in a more competitive environment outside of a University campus or classroom is of the highest value as graduation gets closer and the job applications increase. Being different from the student next to you can get quite cut throat with jobs being so scarce. Being a Member of a Team that got to the national final out of 45 teams that entered in total is something that went straight onto the cv and linkedin profile.

Below is our final presentation minus notes

CIM Pitch 2012 – #RedRoses University of Central Lancashire Team

View more PowerPoint from MissAJBurton
For me the opportunity to present at Diabetes UK Conference at the SECC was not only great for the cv but a chance to understand more about diabetes. My younger sister is a Type 1 Diabetic, as I am in Preston most of the year I get very little opportunity to find out about glucose monitors and technology to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Although my medical knowledge is limited and I am not a diabetic myself so it’s mainly a case of what I have seen is what I know.
Opposite the arena where the Pitch presentation was held was the Nipro Europe stand which was promoting the True Result Twist monitor, one of the staff explained the monitor in full and helped me to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the monitor. It’s size was the first thing that caught my eye, closely followed by the colour. Having a demonstration of it with test liquid was enough for me to try find out the cost, to which I was told I could take one home with me for a trial. It’s rare I take advantage of a freebie, more often than not it leads to TONS of paperwork and a weekly email reminder to review the product. As with many of the stands, most people took time to explain what the product was, how it worked and what their stand was about. It was incredible to see so many people in once place who are working to help those with diabetes any way they can.
I would recommend any Marketing or Business student to enter CIM Pitch competition, the experience you gain and the people you meet is worth the time you put into it. I would also love to go to the Diabetes UK Conference again, the information provided is excellent and everyone there was so friendly even when they did find out that #RedRoses were not medical students or diabetics.
I look forward to more events and opportunities like this once I am working within Marketing.
That’s All For Now
Amy

Phone Interview – Tips and Tactics

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The humble telephone call, often forgotten about in the world of emails, instant messages, text messages and tweets. This doesn’t mean it’s lost value.

Hearing a voice can add a personality to any kind of text, the easiest example of this would be an audio book. So if you were hiring a new member of staff, it is often the first step to ask a few questions over the phone.

I recently experienced a telephone interview for a graduate scheme, very scary, I felt very unprepared for both the structure and what was going to be asked.

1. Research the company you are applying for

Even if it’s just a part time job, knowing the menu of the cafe will certainly make you stick out from the rest who will not have researched.

2. Breathe

When preparing for the call DO NOT WORRY. It is key to stay relaxed and try focus on staying calm. During the interview take a moment to pause before you answer and if you are unsure of the question just repeat it back to the interviewer to clarify that is what was meant.

3. Take Notes

Make sure you note down the interviewers name, any key questions you struggled with and anything you feel will be useful for future interviews. If they asked you to slow down or speak louder keep this in mind.

Most companies use telephone interviews as a screening process, so if you are nervous try practising with a friend. Just used to talking on the phone.

4. Smile

It is said you can hear when the person on the other end of the phone is smiling. By keeping positive you will create a good impression over the phone.

That’s All For Now
Look forward to hearing your tips and tricks

Amy
@MissAJBurton

Darling, You give love a bad name

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Wherever you are currently working, or even if you are not working you have an element of pride. A respect for yourself as a human being.

Many carry this pride into their jobs, a sense of achievement when the wages hit their bank account.

But what about the few that really couldn’t care less?

If you taken pride in making sure a job is done properly yet the person two desks down puts in half the effort and is on the same wage!

After recent discussions with friends and co-workers, the task of figuring out why people act in such a way is impossible. But the impact it can have on a company can be extreme and even the reputation of a trade can be effected.

Do you believe the reputation of a company or job has been tainted by some bad press?

That’s all for now
Amy
@MissAJBurton