General Advice

Always think of yourself as a whole package (not just a cover letter and resume). Every detail matters:

• from the message on your phone (NO background noise) to the message your email address sends (partygirl@gmail.com? foxylady@aol.com?);
• from the content in your correspondence and resume to the content on your Facebook page (employers do check so be careful about what’s public and what’s private); 
• from punctuality to punctuation (AND grammar, spelling, usage, etc., in ALL forms of communication); 
• from how you wear your attitude to what you wear (always look presentable; dress for the job above the one you have or for which you are applying.). 

• Use social media to demonstrate that you are serious about a career in communications. Showcase the things you are doing outside the classroom that relate to the career you want. 
• Make sure everything on your resume and in your cover letter is strictly accurate because it can easily be checked online.
•  A personal referral is always key in approaching a company for a job or internship.
•  If you ask someone you don’t know well to join your LinkedIn network, explain why it’s in their interest to do so.

Job Search/Interviewing

• Before writing your cover letter, try to find out who the right person is and send your material to that person. “To Whom It May Concern,” or “Dear Editor/Hiring Manager” is a turnoff. 
• Always be formal in addressing people (in writing and in person) unless you are given permission to use a first name or nickname. Follow the person’s lead. 
• Your cover letter should be short, speak directly to the position but demonstrate a knowledge of the company, and show some personality. Don’t be too creative in paper, format, or font (this applies to your resume as well).
• Spell checking isn’t enough. Have someone else proofread your cover letter and resume. It’s also helpful to have someone read your letter for content, how compelling it is, etc.
• The digital-world presenters said they want to see key words in a resume: blog, html, PhotoShop, etc. Some presenters said they prefer a resume that starts with a list of attributes at the top. None wanted to see a photo of the applicant. The general advice was not to include samples until at least the first interview.
• Many presenters indicated that it’s ok to ask for an informational interview, but that means a very brief and focused meeting. Be respectful of a busy professional’s time and come prepared with questions. 
• Prepare, prepare, prepare. Before applying for a job/internship and going on an interview, learn as much as you can about the company/ division/business unit, interviewee and other key players, industry issues and challenges, etc. Read the trade press; do some googling or binging; go to the website. Come prepared to ask the interviewer questions that show insight into the company/business/industry/position. Have an intelligent point of view and be conversant. You’ll make a far better impression if you can talk as if you already work there.
• No matter what the company’s dress code is, be conservative in dressing for your initial interview. Better to be overdressed than underdressed.
• Every point of contact/engagement matters, starting with the receptionist. That includes written, telephone, and in-person contact.
• Be interested in the position for which you are interviewing, and show that you are the best person for it. If what you really want is another position or a foot in the door, the “bait and switch” strategy will show and you probably won’t get the position. But it is ok to ask things such as, “If I were to get this position, what might the subsequent career track look like within your company?” 
• Let your passion, willingness to work, and flexibility in approaching the work show through.

• It’s OK to ask about the decision-making process and when you are likely to hear from the interviewer.
• Always send a HANDWRITTEN thank you note or card after an interview or informational meeting. It will make you stand out, especially if the image on the card reflects you and/or the recipient in some way that is appropriate. I recall several I’ve received. One featured a plumed pen with a real feather (appropriate to send to a writer) and one featured a beautiful pre-Raphaelite painting very reflective of the sender (an aspiring romance novelist). 
• Take you cue from the interviewer on when to follow up if you haven’t heard. Then follow up by email unless asked to do otherwise. Be persistent but not a pest. 
• When you follow up, it’s a good idea to be informative and/or demonstrate real interest in the company (e.g., “Since my interview, I have written two more articles for… joined XYZ, become a director for NYWICI’s X Committee”; “I really liked the article about X in your December issue. It made me think about…”; “I see that your company is moving into the Y area…”). 
• Don’t burn bridges. Just because you don’t get this job doesn’t mean another won’t come along in the same company. So stay in touch every three or four months, by email, and use the same technique as above.

Internships

• A good application letter needs to be brief but make you stand out. Try starting with a story: “When I was interviewing X last spring, I suddenly realized that what I really wanted to do with my life was…” Use that to transition into why you’re a great candidate for the position.
• Remember that you are there to learn — and, at your stage in life, you have a lot to learn. Go into it with humility, flexibility, and a can-do attitude. The tasks you are given — no matter how mundane they may seem — are a test to see how well you complete your assignments. If you can’t succeed at a filing assignment, for example, you won’t be given a more challenging assignment. So do what you’re asked to do, to the best of your ability and with a positive attitude. Internships are an audition for a full-time job in the company. Companies prefer to hire people they already know and who have proved themselves. 
• Check in with your manager periodically to see how you’re doing. Don’t wait for formal reviews.
• Make as many contacts and develop as many relationships as you can while interning, including within your peer group. And stay in touch.
• Take a leadership role within your intern group so that you will stand out.