Your final blog post is a reflection on your internship experience. In thinking about what you did over the course of the past semester, include information about the following:
- There are a few important questions to consider coming out of an internship: is this a company would like to work for full time? are there positions in the company/field I would like to pursue? OR Having done this internship, I know this is a career/industry/position I would never want to have. Which one of these describes your situation? Be specific. (For example, I worked as a production assistant for 6 months and after running around getting coffee, sitting for hours on a set wait for one thing or another, I knew production was not for me.)
- What is the most important thing–good or bad–that you learned from this experience?
- Did you network as much as you could? Are they people you will be able to stay in touch with?
- Would you recommend this internship to other students at QC?
Feel free to add other information that might not be covered in these questions. Throughout the semester, you have offered insightful comments and questions about your internship experience. I wish each of you the very best in your search for a paid position -- the one of your dreams.
Dr. Fuqua
1) As my internship with SNL on NBC is coming to a close, to no surprise, I'd love to stay, but unfortunately, it's not up to me. Even while working with a gigantic company like NBC, I worked closely with only 5-10 people on a daily basis, which provided for a very rich, and educational work experience. As I've said before I'm working in the photography department. Prior to my internship, I did not realize how much work went into just some photos that make it to air on the show. It is a labor of love in which I can see myself working towards. I attended this internship for the opportunity to work on a TV show, but I've found myself falling in love with creating still images. Regardless whether I find myself working in a unique situation, like the one here at SNL, or else where, I can absolutely see myself continuing a career in Photography. There are positions in my department that I would love to pursue, but like everywhere else, there is office politics at play. I was told by my superior that it was too bad they couldn't hire someone hungry like me to be on staff full time because of existing nepotism within the department. From the beginning of the internship, I had no idea how to set up a studio space for a photoshoot. By last week , my boss let me set up the entire room from scratch by myself to see if I knew how to do it. ( Basically, do his job to see if I were capable) I was thrilled to have this opportunity to prove myself once more and they were pleased with the results. From that moment on, I knew I could handle this gig and I would love to have the opportunity to continue.
ReplyDelete2)The one most important thing I learned throughout the course of this internship is that, when working on set, you need to be quiet, out of the way, but also aggressive enough to get your job done. One of the details of my day were to acquire "Episodic" photos of skits that were being shot prior to the show (a.k.a. "Pretape"). I needed to get shots of the actors acting, but I was told I couldn't take these photos while they were rolling(The sound of my camera clicking would possibly get on the sound mix and ruin the skit) . So I had to capture these moments , before they yelled 'action', and after they yelled, 'cut'. Wanting to stay out of the way and quiet as I was supposed to, I had extreme difficulty in getting these shots in those fleeting moments. Afterwards I was reprimanded for not getting anything of value during my shoot. My boss told me I have to introduce myself to the director, and explain what I was there to do, so I could get those shots...So the lesson I learned was to be more assertive. Theres no time to be shy, you just need to be aggressive and get what you need.
3) I did network as much as I could have. My nature is to be quiet and just do my job. But after learning how important networking is in this business, I decided to shed my introverted nature for someone who is more outgoing. Many department heads know me by my first name, which doesn't normally happen with most interns. I wanted to stick my neck out to get noticed, I feel like it worked.
4) I couldn't recommend this internship any higher. Besides all the perks, the real experience I got during my internship is paramount to my education of the business. There are some of the normal intern like duties like, getting lunch, or grabbing someone a coffee, but other than that, you're basically a full-time employee , with expectations from your superiors as high as any staffer. It must be one of the best internships in the business.
Your experience sounds so humbling and amazing and fun! I am interviewing this week with Broadway Video, the production company that produces SNL, Late Night, The Tonight Show and Portlandia. I am super excited, yet nervous! Your advice about what you learned is so helpful, so that if I do obtain this position, I will know the demeanor of set life. Good luck!
DeleteSO COOOL! You truly got a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am very very happy for you. This experience will follow you for the rest of your life. I love how you were able to act as a full time employee would.
Delete1) As my internship is coming to an end (this week actually) I have reflected on how much I have learned over such a short period of time. I do not think this is a company that I would personally wish to work for full-time because it is not in the field of genre that I dream to be in. While Al Roker Entertainment does a lot of weather related reality television (mostly because Al Roker is a weatherman and it is his field) I wish to be in more of a comedy/political sphere. However, I would work in the development and production department of a company within that sphere seeing the way in which the departments interact at my company, and how much fun the jobs actually are! I learned so much about treatments for developments, pilots, transcribing episodes, production management jobs such as obtaining permits for filming, expense reports, purchase orders, invoices, etc. I learned a lot about how postproduction works as well and certain laws and ethics behind content.
ReplyDelete2) The most important thing I learned through this internship was not to be shy, quiet, and do not be afraid to ask questions. While at my internship, things were slow throughout the course of it because there were no shows currently in production. Instead, production had just wrapped on the 4th season of a show they produce. Sometimes, when things were slow, in the beginning I was afraid to ask for more work. As the course of my internship progressed, I spoke up more and asked to be given more responsibility because I Was interested in learning more. By doing this, I actually did learn a lot more. If I did not speak up, I would have never learned how to transcribe or how to create certain forms for the production team. These skills are so important to have because in my next internship experience, I can be of more use to a company and hopefully impress them!
3) I definitely networked as much as I could. I made sure to introduce myself to the president of all departments as well as the vice president and the staff. I always did a once-around of the office to say hello to everyone once I got there on Thursdays and Fridays so they knew I was in the office incase they wanted me to do any assignments or send me on any runs across the city. By doing so, I was able to show several people my skill sets and become an asset to the company. I become very friendly with the director of development and she was able to mentor me in my path to an internship for the Spring semester. She also helped me find some production companies I may be interested in to interview for. Al Roker was also such a nice guy and was able to give me insight on his experience in college and how he decided to get into weather and broadcasting. He even helped me out by giving me contacts at NBC to email for a future internship. I connected with a majority of my co-workers via LinkedIn to stay connected in the future.
4) I would recommend this internship to any QC students because it was an incredible learning experience. Everyone in the office is really friendly and the vibe is really great. While I was not as interested in some of their content, I was interested in learning how to create the content in a step-by-step basis. I was definitely able to do so, and I was able to expand not only my vocabulary in production language, but also learn how to do specific things that are required in production. I was introduced to Premiere, which I had never used before ( I have only really used Final Cut Pro) and I can now put this on my resume as well as Final Cut.
Wow, how cool is that! You will go very far in life, I am very happy that Al Roker was able to give you insight and also contacts at NBC! Goodluck to you!
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ReplyDeleteComing into the internship at Zefr, I thought I was just going to do just administrative work. I felt that I had no idea where my career was going and I lacked confidence about what I could do and what I am really good at. My internship has definitely given me a better understanding of my skill sets and where my career may take me. Being in the administrative side of media sales, I was able to do more than just printing, faxing, filing & coffee runs. I was introduced to the side of how social media works for businesses. While booking meetings, I helped the media planners with extensive research on youtube data where we were able to unlock the 90% of YouTube activity around a brand that a company is not seeing. I also attended meetings and seminars with the team and gained a little experience on how Zefr works. Now, to be honest, I only attended those meetings because I had to help with the logistics. But this was definitely an advantage because I was able to see the Account Executives in action. The media lingo, the technology and the social aspect of it all really intrigued me. Zefr’s software is a suite of tools built on top of Google to maximize YouTube effectiveness for companies. I definitely see myself learning more about their technology and will consider this company for a full time job, along with other start-ups or tech companies.
My internship at Zefr has taught me more than I could have imagined. As the Executive Intern, I feel my duties were diverse, and ever-changing. Although I did a lot of the typical administrative duties, I also helped with their event planning, research, analyzing and collecting data. Being a hybrid intern frustrated me because I was all over the place. But I took advantage of that. I was able to gain experience and knowledge in different areas of the company. This definitely opened up options to my future. Before I just wanted to be an Account Executive. But, working in the field of research was very interesting as well. Now I am a bit confused about what I may want to do, but I believe I’m on the right path. I requested to intern next semester as well, but in one specific area. Next year I just want to focus on either the research side of the company or the selling.
I interacted with pretty much everyone and anyone. That is how I was able to pick up on small projects from different teams. This internship really helped me with my development skills. What makes Zefr so unique in their success is their drive to continue their efforts in development. That is why I want to focus on my development as a professional and an individual, wherever I go in the future. I want to develop and hone in on my interpersonal and analytical skills. This internship taught me that no one is ever done learning. I hope my request to intern again will be accepted.
I would definitely recommend students to look into Zefr’s internships or job opportunities. The company is growing fast. It’s linked with Google and Youtube where opportunities are lurking at every corner. But, you have to work hard. Besides being productive and diligent, one of the most important things I’ve learned is that you have to network and communicate. These types of companies want people with personalities, not just intelligence. You have to fit in their culture in order to succeed. This has truly been a great learning experience. Hopefully everyone in this class was able to receive the experience in their internships as I did. Thanks everyone, and enjoy your winter!
The technology aspects that you learned are priceless, and being an executive intern for Zefr must have been challenging at times. What a great learning experience.
Delete1) This was truly an amazing experience working for such a powerhouse in entertainment. I was able to learn a whole lot about how large sized companies operate as well as what it takes to run a specific radio station. Having said that, I don't know if this is the place where I would want to work at full time. I've always wanted to work in television rather than radio and coming out of college, I want to make that a priority of mine. Some of the jobs day-to-day responsibilities in radio require a lot of sitting at a computer and editing audio. While that isn't necessarily a bad thing, I don't think it is stimulating enough for me to want to do every day.
ReplyDelete2) The most important things that I learned at SiriusXM were industry lessons. I really was able to get a good grasp on how the industry works behind the scenes. I learned about how celebrities and the media converge together, the business operations, and what it means to act professional.
3) I networked very strongly in my time here. Not only with the people who I worked with directly but with as many people as I was able to bump into. Any time I saw someone that I wanted to talk to, I tried my best to because there really isn’t much to lose. You never know who may come in handy when.
4) 100% I recommend other students to do this internship because it’s a real once in a lifetime opportunity just to come into this office every day and see what goes on here. Just because I don’t want to pursue this for my career does not mean that other people shouldn’t want to. It’s a great place to work and I’m grateful to have this experience under my belt.
What a powerhouse experience! Your internship is gold. You really got to get a grasp on how the industry works behind the scenes - SO important!
Delete1) Working at The View/for ABC has been amazing. Disney ABC Television Group really cares for their employees on a personal level and they have been amazing to work with. I could definitely see myself working here full time in the future. I'd love to work for The View, but since it may not be around much longer, I know from my experience that ABC in general would be just as great a place to work. I love how I'm not behind a computer for 8 hours. I love the hustle of the studio atmosphere and the live show. I'm someone who loves to be up on my feet and being creative and I got to do so much of that during my time at The View.
ReplyDelete2) I've learned so many important things while at The View but I think one of the most important things is not to take things too personally. I am a perfectionist when it comes to certain things and doing a good job is one them. Because of this, I sometimes take things (good or bad) to heart. I've learned that some people just have bad days or are running behind or there was a miscommunication and that those things are not my fault as much as it might feel like they are. I've told myself that as long as I've done my task to the best of my ability, completed everything to my knowledge, and have it done on time, then I should be proud.
3) I've been able to network tremendously while here at The View. I've networked not only among the staff, but my fellow interns as well. Some people have already asked me for my resume to pass along and I intend to give them to a few others as well. I've gotten to work so closely with so many people which makes me confident that they know my potential in the field and how much of a hard worker I truly am. I'm really excited for any potential future opportunities that could come from the networking I've done here. After all, it was networking from my previous internship that got me in at The View in the first place.
4) I would absolutely recommend this internship to others. You are able to get a great understanding of how much time and effort from so many different areas goes into production. You get experience weekly in the editing room, control room, research, talent, and audience departments. I went into this internship thinking I knew most of the basics of production because I already had to production internships under my belt, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn even more!
I will definitely miss this experience when it ends on December 19th!!
Amazing internship! I think that you are so right, it is very important not to take things too personally and to heart - like water off of a ducks back! Just try your best and stay true to who you are!
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ReplyDelete1.This was my second internship with the show and I absolutely think that this is a company that I would like to work for full-time. It’s been an incredible journey being there for a year and I wish it had not flown by so quickly. The field of talk radio is one that I would consider perusing after graduation. I enjoy working with material that revolves around popular culture and the latest celebrity news and that is exactly what the show discusses. After working on the show’s website for the past few months, I’ve realized that I really enjoy web design. I took the class offered on campus two years ago so that covered the basics, but I’d love to learn more in-depth HTML and CSS coding in order to create websites from the bottom up. I’ve seen that past interns have gone on to create their own websites using their own domain names so I think that might be my next step.
ReplyDelete2. The most important thing that I have learned from this experience is how beneficial social media can be to a company. I worked on sharing content across platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and Instagram) and each site was used for something different. I was able to share content with affiliate stations, reach out to fans, post the latest stories that were being discussed, and more. It’s amazing to see how social media can be utilized to create a brand.
3. I believe that I networked as much as I could. I got to know everyone around the studio and worked with as many people as possible including other interns. The members of the show have a strong presence on Twitter and Instagram and since we follow each other I’m hoping that will make it easier to keep in contact. I’m sure all the interns at the show would agree that the members all truly feel like friends. Hopefully I get to work with them again in the future.
4. This internship really is a once in a lifetime opportunity so I would absolutely recommend it to students at QC. I listened to the show growing up so I was very grateful to have the chance to work with such talented and down to Earth people. I think having an interest in pop culture and music is important since that is what the show is about. Specifically for the web internship, I think going in with some experience of Dreamweaver and Photoshop is essential since you work with the programs all day.
I am really glad to hear that you enjoyed your internship. Your comments inspire me, I want to intern with a show.
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ReplyDelete1. This was my very first internship experience. I am very grateful for the opportunity to come from California and attain an internship in New York City. I ask myself, was working for a famous fashion designer all that I hoped it would be? The answer is not quite, but I gained priceless experience. There were many positive happenings during my internship that I will always be proud of. I was able to coordinate with stylists from many different publications such as Vogue, Dujour, Elle, Vanity, People magazine, and so many more. One of my dreams came true, which was to attend a fashion show in NYC during fashion week. I was asked to join the Ralph Rucci fashion show on my second day as an intern. It really was a treat in helping the production team set up, as well as getting to see all of the action take place from live videography to hair and makeup. However, coming out of my internship I was able to understand that this is not the industry for me, so I would not want to work full-time at Ralph Rucci. However, I do know that I am interested in public relations.
2. The most important part of my internship was gaining an insight of what the fashion industry is all about because I went in and had no idea what to expect. The entire experience took me by surprise. To take a big step back and realize how much I have learned in just a few short months is very surprising to me. I was able to see a company struggle with many aspects on the business end, they did not have a solid formula to run their company. The drama that took place was insane, while I was an intern, the famous designer Ralph Rucci quit, the gal I was interning for got fired, and shortly as my internship came to an end, they fired 2/3s of the company. To say the least, I learned the potential realities a company can face. Since the gal I was interning for got fired, I was appointed to being number one contact for all affiliations within public relations. This was challenging, as it was very hard to keep up with all of the tasks since I was only present 3 days each week and I felt that I had little support because it was so chaotic - I felt like I was being tugged in far too many directions. I somehow managed and succeeded by staying confident and professional and overall, I am very thankful for this experience as I learned many skills that I will carry with me forever.
3. I made many connections within the industry overall. My personality was enough for my reputation to shine. I always remained positive and there was never a moment where I was not being helpful. I noticed that at the beginning of my internship I would greet everyone in the whole building to ensure that I would become well known and acquainted. I have kept track of all of the contacts I was in touch with and have made some really great friendships as well.
4. I would recommend an internship at Ralph Rucci for someone who is interested in public relations because I really learned the ins and outs of the position, and it allowed me to realize that it is definitely a career that I will chase after. To be in public relations is very competitive, and I am very grateful that I was able to take on such a huge responsibility as an intern.