Finishing Strong and My Three Goals to Accomplish

     My internship so far has been going good, and I plan on finishing strong in the best way possible. I have meet many new people, and have made some awesome friends, but now it's time to put the nail in the coffin. When I first started, I did not know how to set up equipment, but with time I have gradually learned, and improved myself. With that in mind, I want to continue to impress my bosses as much as possible. I know by the time I finish, I will have some very important people in my contacts list for future employment and potential networking opportunities. For me, it's about getting better everyday and learning new things. My internship so far has been an amazing experience, and I know I am lucky because not everyone gets to experience what I am experiencing. As a matter of fact, I am probably the first student from Holy Family to do an internship at XTU and Wired. In a way I am opening the doors for other students at Holy Family to intern at XTU and Wired in the future.

      Finishing strong is going to be very challenging because now things are going to get hectic. When I first started, we did not have many events, but now we will have plenty, especially with ticket run season approaching. Just the other day, we did simulation practice in the parking lot of how to set up a tent, and to take winner information down. It was difficult to grasp at once, but hopefully I can get the hang of it. It was actually pretty cool to see how they ran things, and in all honesty I can't wait to in the field with my street teamers doing ticket run events. In a way I feel overwhelmed, especially with going to school full time, and also working a part-time job. Now is also the times where I have to complete my final comps, and do many projects before the semester comes to an end. It's going to be a rough stretch but I just have to find a way to get through it all.

     So far, I have showed up on time on my promo hours and my events. I try to keep a cool head with everyone there because when I graduate, I want to be able to keep my contacts with these important people in case if a job was to open up. I feel that if I keep my head down, be humble, and do as I am told, then I should not have a problem with anybody, and It may lead to my bosses liking me more. That is the way I plan on finishing strong. Keep my head down, and do exactly what my bosses want me to do. I will try to complete every task they have for me in the best and most impressive way. I want to blow them away and show them that I am the real deal. I am hoping that this attitude can lead me to a better and successful future.

    So my three goals that I plan to accomplish before my internship is over:
     
      1. To network with as many people as possible. I want to keep a cool relationship with everyone including my fellow interns. I already know all of my street teamers, and they have shared their personal stories with me of where they went to school, and how they got a job in radio.

     2. Be humble and complete every task to perfection. This is tough but I am going to try my very best to make everyone happy. I am improving everyday that I am there, and I think I am on the right track. If people can see that I am good worker, then they will take notice and maybe offer me recommendations and possible job openings after I graduate.

    3. Finding a job! That for me is the most important goal of all. Thanks to XTU and Wired, I was able to learn about a summer program up in Bloomsburg that deals with every aspect of broadcasting, specifically sports. I applied, and was officially accepted. Maybe I may not get a job at XTU/Wired, but if I play my cards right at the summer program, my chances of getting job will be that much greater. I know that I still need to work hard and continue to improve, which is why I am giving full 100% effort until my internship is over.    

Internship Experience: Assessment

   At the moment, my internship at WXTU and Wired is going great. Everything is just as I expected, with at times, even exceeding my expectations. I have meet many new interns and, have made some awesome friends. My bosses are very nice and friendly, and they are always very easy to understand. My promo hours that I do every Monday from 9 till 3 are going well. On Monday's I am there with two other interns, Chaz and Amanda. We help clean up the office, and call people who have won prizes. So far we have done an excellent job. Colleen Doherty who is the promotions coordinator for XTU is a very easy and chill person to go to. If I have a problem, I can just go to her and ask her questions without having anything to worry about. It's an amazing working environment, and we have become one big happy family. I even had the chance to meet Brantley Gilbert, who is a huge country star in the making. I got my photo taken with him, and I was really happy. That was on my first day, so I got a little bit lucky. I am hoping to meet future stars such as Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan. I know it's asking a lot but you never know who will walk through those doors.

    I am also having so much doing events for both Wired and WXTU. I have some amazing street teamer's to work with. I have been to Deuces Wild, which is a nightclub/bar at Valley Forge Casino, with DJ Crocket. There I have been with my other intern friend Linda, and we give stuff away such as shirts, cd's, keychains and other stuff. We do a good job of helping promote the company. I also went to the Philadelphia Auto Show, and there I got to see some amazing cars, as well as take photos with people that were there. DJ Mijo was also there for Wired, and safe to say we pumped that place up. The last event I attended which was on Saturday was Nissan Turnernsville, in New Jersey. We were at a Nissan dealership representing XTU, and we took photos with people as well as with the cool new Nissan cars. XTU had been there in the past, so when we walked in people knew who we were, and they were coming up to us and saying hi, and it was such an awesome experience. I can't wait until mid March and April, when there are concerts. Overall, events have exceeded my expectations in a very good way. Brittny Carr is the Promotions Coordinator for Wired, and for events, I am always constantly in touch with her.

    So far, I am benefiting from doing this internship. On my very first day, we got an information packet about the Confer radio Talent Institute, which is a 10 day program at Bloomsburg University. Over 35 media broadcasters from across the state are going to be there, and since I want to pursue a career in sports broadcasting, I feel that this is a wonderful opportunity. The application deadline is this Friday, and only 25 people get accepted, and I am hoping I am one of the lucky 25. I would not have known about this program had it not been for this internship. I am networking with a lot of people, and hope to network with more soon. I think applying for this internship was a great decision because I feel that this will help towards my future goal. It's a good step to get my feet wet, and figure out how the radio industry works. If you want to be in broadcasting, do an internship in radio because you will get a lot of experience, and meet cool people along the way.

   The only things I need to improve on is balancing a schedule which fits my needs. I have kinda fallen off track a little bit this semester , and I am looking to get back on. It's been very difficult to balance work, internship and going to school full time. The problem is things become hectic, and suddenly you do not have the time to do everything. So time balancing is something that I really need to work on. Also, when I am at events, sometimes I get a little nervous when I walk up to people, and ask to take a photo for our radio station. I have to remember just to be calm, cool and collected. Some people say yes with a smiley face, and some say no with an attitude when it comes to pictures. You just have to go in there with a positive attitude. So I do have some things to improve on, but overall everything is going fine. The most important is that I am having fun and networking with people. That is the beauty of this internship. I am very lucky and glad to have this internship, and I hope everyone else is having fun and doing a good job at their internship as well.

 

                           
             

           

   

How Using Linkedin Can Help You Find a Job

    Now, I have never used Linkedin, nor did I really ever know what it was used for. I mainly thought it was used for professionals as a networking tool for them to contact other professionals within their working environment. That is not exactly the case as college students are getting in on the fun too. Linkedin seems like a great tool as means to contact with future possible potential employers. The Huffington Post article that I read points out that over 175 million people use Linkedin to meet people in the industry. That is a lot of people, and it shows just how big Linkedin has become. It seems that you have to work a lot on your Linkedin profile because you may have future employer's checking your profile out. You want to make sure you make it as professional as possible. You also have to make sure that your profile is as deep as possible in terms of detail. Make sure you have a good summary about you as well, such as were did you go to school, what are your skills, and the classes that you have taken. They way I see it is Linkedin is like another Facebook or Twitter, with the exception that it is more professional, whereas Twitter and Facebook are more general. It's basically your own autobiography to show other people, and the skills that you have to offer.

   Another thing that catches my eye is your profile picture. The way in which you look and represent yourself is extremely important because that is the first thing that employers look at. You want to make sure that you have a picture of you in a suit, and a great smile that can catch everyone's eye. You always want to make sure that you are one step ahead of the game. Also, make sure the photo you are using is professional in a good setting, and not a photo of you in bar getting hammered with your friends. It's not going to look good, and it makes you look very bad in the eyes of your future employers. Also I am going to try to make sure that I connect with as many people as possible, as that is the main benefit of Linkedin, that you get to network with as many people as you want.

    The student job page does not seem bad either, especially for students that are graduating and looking for a job. It may be extremely beneficial for me considering that I am going to to graduate school soon, and this tool can help land a job. Anything that deals with job boards helps, and Linkedin seems like the perfect place to network with employers. Yes I would follow the advice on the PowerPoint and the article, especially for someone that going to open a Linkedin account, you are going to need to know how the tools work, and what is going to make you stand out from the rest. I can't wait ti open up my own Linkedin account because it adds another tool to my arsenal that I can use after graduation. The information provided by in the article is extremely helpful because it gives you a rundown of what you need to do to have a successful profile. Take every tip an help that is given to you, and use it to the best of your knowledge.

   I know that you can use Twitter and Facebook to help get a job. It's not the best method but it can work. Twitter has lots of job boards that you can look up. If you are looking at a specific employer, you can ask him questions about the company, or you can tweet to him/her of how much you want this job. Facebook can also be used to network with employers. They key is you have to know how to use social media, as not everyone's profile is professional. My advice is, have two profiles, one for general and one for work. That way you can have a personal and professional life, and it will be a little bit more easier to balance. Just be careful with what you post though because you never know who is looking at your profile. Social media is very helpful, but you just have to be careful with how you use it sometimes. In conclusion, I definetaly want to make my own Linkedin account now considering the amazing benefits that come along with it. I think a lot of college students need to use Linkedin because it's great tool to network with future employers. Who knows, thought Linkedin, you may be able to finally land that dream job that you always wanted.

How to Be the Best Intern

    It's very difficult to find a job even after you are done interning at place for three months. I know that chances of me getting employed at Wired and XTU are not that high, but I also now that it may open other opportunities for me. Looking at the reading, I am never afraid to ask questions at my internship, as if I have a problem with something I will bring it up to my bosses attention. My bosses are just a little bit older than I am, and sometimes I even talk to them like they are my friends. I am very lucky to be interning at XTU and Wired because the people that work there have amazing personalities and they know what it's like to be in your shoes. Other interns at other places don't get so lucky, so I am counting my blessings. From day one, where I walked up the office, I have always had the right attitude and mindset. I go in do my job, get whatever they need me to get done, and then I go home. I repeat that process week after week, and so far it has done me very well. I maintain an excellent relationship with my bosses and so far I have not had any major problems with anybody. Now am I sometimes nervous? Of course, as I am sure anyone else is, but I always have right attitude in getting the job done.

    Targeting my effort is a bit difficult because I am there with 13 other interns. On Monday's I do my promo hours with my fellow interns Chazz and Amanda. They are wonderful people to intern with, and they are both very smart. I do the best that I can in terms of networking because I know that everybody that is there is going to want to look for a job just like I am. So in a way while we are working together as a family, we are also competing against each other. Kind of crazy when you actually think about, and I did not realize that until I read this article. Now It's not like I know everyone there personally, other than Chazz and Amanda whom I see every Monday. I am cool with everyone there, and I would like to maintain it that way because it goes back too, the more people you know, the better off you will be. Now obviously, the bosses is whom I really plan on hitting a home run with because I know without their help, my chances of getting a job will be zero to none. The way I see it is, we are all one big family that is competing with one another.   

Preparing for a Career in Media

   Media or sports broadcasting is what I want to do after I graduate from Holy Family University. Sports is my love and passion, and that is the field that I want to be in after graduation. Getting there though is going to be extremely difficult because the competition is fierce, and there are going to be other students from other colleges that are going to be fighting for the same job that I am. It's even more difficult now especially with a tough, difficult economy in which there aren't that many jobs out there. Reading "Preparing for a Career in Media", gave me a good idea of what I need to do if I am to be successful in the field of which I am going for. I am already panning on applying too as many places as I can after I graduate. There is a wonderful program that is being offered at Bloomsburg University in July that I am looking to take advantage off. I am doing to my best to plan early because I know it will give me an advantage in the work field. People that are better prepared in life tend to do better than those that are not. I have worked hard to reach this point and now I just need to keep pushing. I actually never thought if keeping a notebook or journal, but now that I think about it, it makes good sense to keep one. I can keep tack of what I am learning, and it gives me a good chance to evaluate my work and see where I need to improve. That way I can also figure out my strengths and weaknesses. Having a notebook gives me a chance to critique myself, and finding out where I need to go from here. It's a great organizing tool as well because you are not going to be all over the place, as everything you have done will be right there.

   To be honest with you, I hate being critical of myself, but I feel that it's important you are honest with your self. I am also very critical of other people, but sometimes I tend not to show it because I don't want to hurt other people's feelings. I have seen plenty of work from sportswriters such as Jason Witlcok and Malcolm Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, as well as many others. There have been times where I have liked their work, and other times not so much. I have studied the way that they write, and how they engage with their sports audience. I have seen Al Michaels and Marv Albert, who are two of my favorite sports broadcasters out there, and I want to model my work similar to theirs. They are amazing professionals, and it's obvious they love doing what they do. Well, I want to be there soon, and I want to be on TV commentating about the World Cup, or maybe write a sports article about a controversial topic that's dominant in the sports atmosphere.

   Creating a contact list will be extremely valuable for me because it gives me a chance to network and contact people with whom I may be looking to get a job. It's great to have a contact list because it gives you a scoop of the latest jobs that are out there. If you have a good client list, it gives you a good chance to be employed. I was never really the best person with computers, but I have gotten the hang of things as of late. I know how to do PowerPoint, Word and Movie Maker, but it's the advanced programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator that gives me issues. I took Desktop Publishing and I did not like it one bit, because the teacher would move so fast, and I would get stuck behind not knowing what I was doing. I came very close to dropping that class, but I worked through it, and managed to work hard to get a C+. The class was very difficult and it was a nightmare to deal with throughout the entire semester. I however did not panic, as I just put my head down and went right to work, and got through it. Job searching is something that I will have to do after graduation, and I need to be good at it, if I want to get my dream job. Fixing my resume is something that I will need to do asap because that is your DNA. It's what makes you, and it's your chance to show your future employer what have you done, and why you are a good candidate for the job.

   In my Multi-Media Storytelling class, my Professor Amanda McClain is having a everyone do their own website as a portfolio. I thought to myself how amazing that is because not only does that look professional but it makes you stand out more. You can get as creative as you want with it, and it give you a lot more flexibility. I think having a portfolio is great because it gives you a chance to organize the best work you have done over the years. Not only that but imagine you are being interviewed for your dream job, and you give your employer a digital portfolio with all of your work. It looks impressive and amazing, and it gives you a chance to make a lasting good impression. Lastly, cleaning up my online life, as that is something in which I think everyone should do. A word of advice, never post on Social Media about your personal life because it leaves a digital train behind. I have seen far too many people get screwed because their personal life got mixed up with their professional life. I am very well aware of that, and I am always very careful about the things that I post. People need to realize that anything can be seen over the internet, and just because your page is private does not mean that your boss is not looking into it. So please be careful about what you post because it might come back to haunt you.       

  

Succeeding In your Internship

  Succeeding in your internship was an interesting read, as it talks about the ways that you can be successful in your internship, as well as networking with other people. So far, my internship is going well, as I have not had any problems with my bosses nor my fellow interns. I had done all of the work that I am required to do so far. That is doing my promo hours every Monday from 10-3, and showing up for my events, In the reading it says, "small tasks equal big rewards", and I am hoping that the small tasks that I am doing now can equal in big rewards later when I graduate. I always get the job done, and go above and beyond to meet my goals. The only issue I have had so far is balancing a schedule in which I can work with, as that is something that i really need to work on. After graduation, there are no second chances, and you have to take advantage of every single opportunity that you get. So far my attitude at my internship has been positive. Every time I go in there, I try to keep a smiling face, and do whatever my bosses ask me too. I am very passionate about the broadcasting and radio industry, which is why I choose to do this internship because I feel that it may open future doors for me. So far I have been very trustworthy with the people that I work with. I am honest about everything because I always want to leave a good lasting impression. No one likes to work with people who are not honest because then you don't know if you can trust them or not.

   I am aware of the corporate culture that surrounds most business today, but WXTU and Wired are much different. The work atmosphere is very good, and so far they have been very lenient on most things. It's a very chill, cool working environment to be in, and I am enjoying every second of it. Yes, I do receive orders on what to do, but it's nothing that i can't handle. I treat everyone there with dignity and respect. I am very careful about not burning my bridges with the people that I work with. So far I have not gotten into any major argument with anyone there, and I try to keep a cool relationship with everybody. These are people that I will depend on in case if something happens, and I want there to be good communication throughout. I know that there is going to come a time where I may ask for a favor, and I want to make sure that the person that I am asking is cool with me, with no issues whatsoever. You can't go into a working environment with a bad attitude, as it's just not going to fly. You are not going to be very successful either with a bad attitude.

   So far I have not had any mentors as of yet, but I do have a couple of people in mind. I am relatively new at my internship, so I am still in the process of getting to know everybody, and what they are like. I know that having a mentor is extremely important because they can help guide you when you are making difficult life choices. Mentor's can help guide you because most likely they have gone what you are going through, and that can be a big advantage to have over somebody that does not have mentor. Of course, Networking is probably the most important thing you will doing at your internship. It's so important to develop good relationships with people because you can keep them as a reference later on. I am trying to network with as many people as possible. I have gotten to know most of my street team in which I go to events, and they tell me how they got a job in radio, and what they had to overcome to get there. I am also networking with my bosses to see if there is any potential opportunity for employment after my tenure is over. Even if not, maybe they know some other place that hires, and they can put a good word for me. It's very important to network with people because that is how you succeed in life. The more people you know, the more opportunities you are going to get. That is the way that I see it right now, and I am doing my best to network with as many people as I can. I always help whenever I can because helping people is the best thing you can do in life. It makes you a better person, and it opens opportunities for you down the road.    

  

Internship Initial Goal Sheet

    I am happy to announce that for the spring 2015 semester I will be interning at WXTU 92.5 and Wired 96.5. My goal is to be in media broadcasting after I graduate, and I feel this internship can lead me in the right direction. My first day is January 21st at 3 pm so I haven't quite exactly started yet. my supervisor is Colleen Doherty, and she is the Promotions Coordinator at WXTU. I am required to at least spend one day a week in the office from 9 till 3, and also attend events. Now because WXTU and Wired are owned by Beasley, I am required to to attend events for both radio stations. They made this clear to me when I went in for my interview in December. It's not just going to be me as the sole intern, as there will be other student interns there from across the area. So I think this will be a fun experience, and I can;t wait to meet the people that I will be working with.

   My supervisor expects us to attend as many events as possible, and to do the best job that we can. I always give 100 percent full effort, and I will give it my absolute best. If I don't understand something I will have to ask Colleen for clarification. I am to report to her every single week, and she will evaluate as to how I will be doing. This internship is for college credit, so not only will they evaluate me, but they will also be in touch with my Co-op moderator. Now, I can turn down an assignment but only if I am really busy with school, such as If I have finals do, or a big project. In that case I will have to go up to Colleen two weeks in advance and explain to her my situation. They know that we are college students, and we all have those busy weeks studying for test, so they just want us to be honest with them. If I attend an event, and Colleen tells me that I did things wrong, then I will take her criticism and learn from it. I am going to make mistakes, as I am not perfect, so I will take criticism and use it as a learning tool.

   I think this internship will benefit me in a lot of ways because I am going to meet new people and learn the ins and outs as to how a radio station works. When I went in for my interview, they talked about that music stars do come there, so hopefully I can get lucky and meet some music superstars. This internship is going to teach me how to me confident in my-self whenever I am presenting. When you attend events, you are representing WXTU, and it has to be in a professional manner. You also have to be good at people communication skills, which I am good at, but I feel that I can improve my-self in certain areas. My networking plan is to meet as many people as possible, and to try to make as many connections as I possibly can. These people have been in the radio business a long time, and they know how things work. I will have to stay loyal, humble and respectful and try to find my own way, and establish my own connections. I want to gain experience in the field of media and radio. I want to be in broadcasting, and most of the people that are in broadcasting today, started in radio, and gradually worked themselves up. That is what I want to do, and this is a good fist step. Like I said before, this internship will help me attain connections in which hopefully I can land a job once I graduate at the end of the semester. My resume is going to change and improve as I go along.

   I am hoping that this internship provides me with the necessary tools I need to find a job in media. I hope it leads me to great friends and wonderful co-workers. When I went last December, the people that worked there were nice and helpful. They even let me see their studio, and how they work on a daily basis. So at the moment I am just hoping for the best, and I can't wait to start. Hopefully this is an experience that can lead me to a better and successful future.