IABC Newsletter

8/13/2019 IABC Newsletter

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Issue 1 Spring 2014

ConnectionsUniversity of Georgia IABC

The Internship Issue: A marketing intern shares seven steps to an unbeatable first (or fourth) officeexperience

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Table of Contents

Page 2 The Key to Networkingby Sofia Jesani

Page 3-4 Internships: A How-ToGuide by Emily

ardaman

Page 5 Dealing with RejectedIdeas, continued

Getting the Most Out ofYour Internship byVictoria Cooper

Page 6 You Landed YourDream InternshipNowWhat? by Sabrina Lewis

You have to remember the client always hasthe final word. They generally know when an idea

wont work for their brand.

Dealing with Rejected Ideas

As an intern in the communications industry, youll probablyspend a good bit of your time coming up with new ideas. It might

be ad campaign ideas, copywriting, ideas for a client pitch, orseveral things. While interning this past summer, I spent at least12 hours each week brainstorming strategies for social media,coming up with name and tagline solutions and ways to brand

our agencys clients. I pitched dozens of ideas to my bosses andclients and faced much rejection along the way. Sometimes it wasa great idea, but the client just was not ready. Other times, it was

just a lousy idea. Youll see rejection in any job or internship youhold here are my tips on dealing with it.

Stay Calm

Youre going to need some thick skin to make it in this profession(or really any field). Rejection is all part of the job, so dont getupset with or explode on your client. You have to remember the client always has the final word. They generally know whenan idea wont work for their brand. Take a deep breath and go

Continued on Page 5

By Joseph Arnold

Page 7-8 Perseverance by Reginald Askew


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The Key to Networking

Networking: theintroverts nightmare?

Nearly half the population classifies themselves as at leastsomewhat introverted. For many, introversion addsdifficulty to the already-daunting task of meeting strangersin a professional environment. Networking, especially incommunication-related fields, is unavoidable and integralto job success. What are these people to do?

The key is preparation. Rehearsing a confident mentalstate and envisioning positive results can makeinteractions much eas ier. Its important to remember that

networking is not a hereditary trait for anyone, but rather a skill that takes practice to develop. Vigilantfocus on maintaining a positive mental dialogue and open body language will enable you to make a greatfirst impression and will yield better business and social relationships over time.

We keep hearing about it. This daunting thing thats supposed toland us all jobs. Networking.

I know it doesnt sound scary, but it is. But the good news is, itdoesnt have to be. Putting yourself out there in front of someoneyou have never met before is pretty horrifying. But the key is practice .

Once you have networked with one person, it gets easier every time.

Starting out, you will be nervous but after you have had aconversation and maybe even made a contact, you will gain theconfidence to talk to more people.

Tips for success:

1. Do not be afraid of people in suits. They were once in yourposition!

2. Practice your handshake along with an introduction explainingwho you are and what you are interested in.

3. Practice, practice, practice! Talk to as many people as you can.

4. Follow up with people you speak with to keep life long contacts.

By Sofia Jesani


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Internships: A How-To Guide

What was an intern? I had no idea, but at 18 years old Icarried the word around like a new puppy. It felt more likemy first day at kindergarten than anything else. My momtook a picture as I climbed in the car; my outfit had beencarefully planned a week in advance. This internship was my firstob, and I was a bachelors degree away from having a clue what

was going on. But thanks to hard work and the guidance of theworlds best boss, I made it through and learned things Ill carrywith me for the rest of my career.

Step 1: Drink coffee. Too many times Ive lost the first hour of my day in a sleepy fog or almost fallen asleep in an importantmeeting. If you have a job that requires being alert any time before noon, drink coffee. Remember thatwhile you may have idealized coffee as the secret to appearing sophisticated or classy, it will not makeyou any more mature, but it will keep you awake. Even if youre Superman and dont need it, at leastlearn how to work a coffee machine. Youre an intern; youre going to be making coffee at some p oint. Iwas fortunate; my co-workers preferred Diet Coke.

Step 2: Dress strategically.Its important to remember while youre dressing for success, you're looking for success in the office, not

on the runway. Wear clothes that thirty-year-old you would think are cool. They can still befashionable, but in order to streamline your office experience they cant be too distracting. This bringsme to the golden rule:

Step 3: Make people forget how old young you are.Youre going for an aura of curious and modest competence. If necessary, fake it till you make it forthe first few days, just to minimize the deer-in-headlights look on your face. But keep in mind thatinexperience shows and humility goes a long way. If you are there to learn, which you should be,people will respect you for it.

Step 4: Carry a notepad.Treat that notepad like its your firstborn child. Take it with you everywhere. There are two reasonswhy this is a good idea. First, youll look and feel more prepared when youre holding something; itsgrown-up security blanket. Mock it if you want, but it works. Secondly, since the point of this internshipis to learn things, youre going to need to remember them, which means writing them down. You donthave to take minutes of every me eting (unless thats part of your job), but its wise to write downquestions and key points. Also, dont forget to bring a pen instead of asking to borrow one. Its a smallthing but it goes a long way towards making a good impression.

After a few weeks,instead of flinching at

acronyms youll be flinging them right

back. Its empowering

and fun.

By Emily Dardaman

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Step 5: Whats y our headline?After every meeting or event, my boss would ask me, Whats your headline? Often these were meetings

loaded with foreign vocabulary and backstory I had no inkling of. It was a steep learning curve, and onceor twice I had to tell her, I have no idea. But knowing that

question was always waiting for me, I learned to consolidatethe bits and pieces I had gleaned into a single idea. This alsohelped me learn to ask smart questions. More isaccomplished from a few targeted questions than athousand vague ones, which means that before you ask aquestion you have to learn what exactly you dont know.Thats half the battle.

Step 6: Learn the lingoEvery office has its own jargon, even different offices in the

same industry. Its not just new words you have to watch outfor but also the old words repackaged with new definitions. On

that notepad youre carrying, write down unfamiliar acronyms, phrases, or anything that seems out ofcontext. I advise you to treat this the way you would learning Spanish if you found yourself stranded inChile. Youre not going to be an effective communicator if you cant speak the language. Nobodys goingto give you a vocabulary list and nobodys going to quiz you, but this might be the most important projectof your internship. After a few weeks, instead oflinching at acronyms youll be flinging them right back.Its empowering and fun.

Step 7: Learn from your co-workersGo to lunch with them. Listen to their stories, and itwill be the most rewarding thing you can do. At the

beginning of last summer, I had no idea I would beworking alongside people who served in Afghanistan,raised goats, met Snooki, witnessed Hurricane Katrina,and loved Doctor Who as much as I did. Its true, I gotlucky; my co-workers were extraordinarily funny, kind,and good at their jobs. But whether youre in a group oother interns or are the youngest one in the office by tenyears like I was, dont forget that the people around you can teach you as much as the internship itself.

Looking back now, that summer marked the time I became an adult. Not because of the coffee or becauseI had a desk with a desk phone on it, but because I learned to navigate completely alien environments, fullof strangers and unfamiliar acronyms, without feeling lost. All it took, in the end, was a little interest.Initiative, that holy grail of intern characteristics, is nothing more than curiosity acted upon. Whetheryoure pursuing a medical internship or a teachers assistant position, your eyes and ear s are the tools youneed to succeed. Take care to hold expectations of yourself, others, and circumstances loosely; then leanin and enjoy the ride.


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What to Bring1. Laptop On the first day of my most recent internship, Iassumed that I would have access to one of thecompanys desktop computers and left my laptopat home. When I found out that there were noavailable computers for me to use, I wasembarrassed and extremely limited as far as thework that I was able to get done. Avoid mymistake and always bring your laptop!

2. Notebook and pensTake l ots of notes. Write down everyones names,the password to the buildings Wi -Fi, the names onearby coffee shops and anything else you thinkyou may need to remember. You will thank

yourself later.

3. LunchNot all companies give their interns a leisurely

lunch hour everyday. Especially onyour first day, itsbetter to brownbag it than to bethat miserableperson sitting attheir desk with agrowling stomach.

What to Wear1. Better overdressed than underdressedNo matter where youre interning , youshould be the picture of professionalism on your

You Landed Your

Dream InternshipNow What?By Sabrina Lewis

first day. Avoid anything too bright, flashyor revealing. Its better to be safe than sorry.

2. Learn the dress code Pay attention to what other people are wearing.Some offices have casual Fridays while othersare strictly business professional five days aweek. If you want to be sure, ask someone whatthe appropriatedress code is beforeleaving the office.

What to Do

1. Get a goodnight of sleepEven though youllhave a millionthoughts runningthrough your headthe night beforeyour first day, try toget at least eighthours of sleep. Thiswill help you put your

best foot forward and ensure that youre readyfor anything thats thrown your way.

2. Test drive your route the day beforeIts a good idea to do a practice commute beforeyour first day so that you can figure out the bestroute to the office and calculate how long ittakes to get there with traffic. Once you knowexactly how long it takes to get from your doorto your desk, tack on a few extra minutes forgood measure. Being early not only combats theuncertainties of first day jitters, but also makesa great first impression.

3. Do your homeworkWant to impress your supervisor? Show upwith a clear understanding of what thecompany has

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IABC Spring 2014

PerseveranceBy Reginald Askew

Throughout my collegiate career, Ive done whats seems likethousands of internship applications to no avail. To call itfrustrating would be an understatement, but there is a silverlining. I have learned some tips and tricks along the way that I

believe will help me, and you, navigate the tricky road to aninternship:

Dont take it personally The first thing you must understand that no is the nature ofthe beast. Companies receive thousands of applications and

therefore must refuse a lot of good students. Although this may seem like common sense, it remains agood thing to keep in mind for perspectives sake. You cannot get too discouragedif you dont get a particular internship. Now on with the next application!

Be thoughtful and thorough

When filling out the many sections within an application, treat them all with greatimportance. Students tend to gloss over the shorter answer questions and focusonly on the essays. While the essays are very important, the rest of the applicationreveals a lot to the employer. Make sure to go through your application with afine-toothed comb and you should be fine.

Review your resume As students, our resumes essentially serve as our business cards. They give employers an idea of our

The last thingthat you want to

do is spend your summer being acoffee gopher fo

some corporate slacker.

Continued on page 8

done in the past and what they are currently doing. Read the companys website, social media posts,corporate blog and any recent news articles about them.

4. Dont be afraid to ask questions No one expects you to know exactly what youre doing on your first day. Dont be afraid to ask your internsupervisor to clarify what you can expect during your internship and what will be expected of you.

5. Get acquainted with your fellow interns Youll be working alongside these people for the next few months, so be sure to introduce yourself to theother interns, exchange contact info, and get to know them on a personal level. If another intern has beenworking for the company before you got there, ask him or her to help you get acclimated. Befriending thepeople who youll be spending most of your time with for the next few months will definitely help you outdown the road, and will also make your internship more enjoyable.


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AboutThe International Association of BusinessCommunicators, or IABC, is a not-for-profitinternational network of professionals committed toimproving the effectiveness of organizations through strategic interactive and integrated businesscommunication management. IABC: Be Heard

www.iabc.com.

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Twitter: @UGA_IABC

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academic achievement, employment history, and extracurricular activities. Here at UGA, we have anexcellent resource in the career center that specializes in critiquing resumes to perfection. Even if youdont go visit the career center, having someone else look at your resume is definitely on of the best thingsyou can do. There are certain things that only a new set of eyes will catch. Trust me, youll be glad thatyou did it.

Finding the RIGHT internship Do your homework when selecting which internships to applyfor. Make sure that you focus your efforts on companies andorganizations that allow their interns to get real experience inthe field. The last thing that you want to do is spend yoursummer being a coffee gopher for some corporate slacker.Research online and reach out to former interns to make surethis is not the case.

These are just some of the many things that I have learned are

helpful during my internship search. I know it can seem pointlessdoing all of these applications when you arent getting many callbacks but I like to believe that the night isdarkest before the dawn. Just hang in there. Perseverance is key, as the search for an internship is not a

battle, but a war. Now lets go fight and (hopefully) win the war!
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