The last time I blogged, I was in New York City visiting Brendan with my friend Emily. Yesterday, I was in NYC again, but this time, I was there to attend the first ever Her Campus National Intercollegiette Conference. Unfortunately, my other lovely campus correspondent, Alex, couldn't go, so I was flying solo on this one. Nonetheless, it was still an awesome opportunity to meet other HC members and get some advice from top name bloggers, journalists, and editors about the job world. The day consisted of listening to keynote speakers, attending panels, and learning more about how to
market and manage your HC Chapter. Here's how the day went and some advice I learned along the way:
Morning Keynote Speaker: Anna Post, author of Emily Post's Etiquette, 18th edition
-with phone interviews, always ask how much time you have to talk and always smile-log out of your Facebook to see what it looks like to a complete stranger to get an idea of how recruiters see your profile
-when you have to turn down a job, it's a better idea to do it over the phone because it's more personal
-Praise, Concern, Suggestion are three ways to correct oversharing information
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| I couldn't go to all the panels at once since multiple were going on at the same time, so with that came tough decisions... |
1st Panel: Fashion Blogging For Beginners
On the Panel: Danielle Berstein, Gala Darling, and Megs Mahoney Dusil (if you click on their names, it will show you their blogs)
Berstein:
-Make business cards and hand the cards out at events to promote your blog
-Make an editorial calendar to keep you on schedule with what you're going to post
-Use Twitter to alert your readers when there is a new post and use Instagram to show off personality to readers
-Give something extra on Facebook to viewers to get your page out. Something as similar as weekly contests would be an example of this.
-Have a strong voice and passion to really stand out
-Start off with a simple blog name so people remember and know what it's about
-Make a business plan to get even more hits
-Start a forum and let readers comment on your blog so they can provide input on your content
-Knowing nothing was the best way to know everything. Dusil made Pursesblog with no prior knowledge to anything about purses, but she talked about how learning was the best part about blogging.
2nd panel: Journalism Jobs: 5+ Years Later
On the Panel: Julie Hochhesier Ilkovich (Digital Editorial Director at Alloy Entertainment), Sarah Khan (Freelancer at New York Times/Vogue India and Editor at Travel and Leisure), Julie Miller (Senior Editor at Alloy Entertainment), and Raakhee Mirchandani (Fashion Editor and Deputy Features Editor at New York Daily News)
Ilkovich:
- Keep in touch with past internships for references and potential job openings within the company
- Don't be afraid to ask to move up in the company
- For resume purposes, stay at your job for at least a year
Khan:
- Pitch ideas to the company to really stand out and make a name for yourself
- Ask to do anything such as taking on more responsibilities and tasks
- Have a mentor/role model to guide you through the job process
Miller:
- You're going to know when it's time to leave a company to spread your wings and fly
Mirchandani:
- If you can tell a story, you can tell any story
- Take any writing opportunity that you get to build your resume
3rd Panel: How to Break Into PR and Marketing
On the Panel: Christina Gibson (Account Supervisor of Marina Maher Communications), Stephanie Luu (Digital Strategist and Senior Account at Ogilvy, and Keeley Patterson (Director, Marketing and Client Solutions at GLAM Media)
Gibson:
- Give the job a chance even if it isn't your dream
- If you don't want to be the boss of your company, then you don't aspire to move up in the company, so move onto another job that interests you more
Luu:
-Apply everywhere you can because you DO have options. Test out what you really like.
-To find jobs, go to PR websites and also check out prweekus.com
Patterson:
-Mediabistro.com is a helpful website when it comes to looking at jobs
-Set up a Linkedin account to build networks and join groups that are related to what you want to do
-Being emotionally mature is a strong quality employers look for
After the panels wrapped up, the moment many of us were waiting for was FINALLYY happening (dun,dun,dun...) Ann Shoket, the editor-in-chief at Seventeen magazine, was in the building and ready to give her speech as the Afternoon Key Speaker. Of course, during one of the coolest experiences of my life, my phone was on low battery and it really put the pressure on me to snap the perfect picture in a mere two seconds. Well, that didn't quite work out...
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| Instead, I got a blurry Ann Shoket and a nice picture of the back of everyone's heads.. |
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| Now, this is a better picture. (Photo cred: Meghan) |
During her speech, she gave out two key pieces of advice:
** At some point, everyone should work for a start up company and a legendary brand.
** There are three tips to getting a job that are GUARANTEED to work:
1. Write a letter to the Editor In Chief or CEO or someone who has a say in the company, rather than just an assistant and tell them what you can bring to the company and why you want the job more than any other job out there.
2. During a job interview, sit on the edge of your seat and engage in the conversation. Ask questions to show you're interested in what the job entails.
3. Write a thank you note, but don't just say thank you. You want to make sure that you include part of the conversation from the interview to show you paid attention and remembered it.
So, there you have it. A long day filled with panels and guest speakers, yet also, a day filled with a lot of fun! Here are some pictures from the event!
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| my crew for the day |
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| Results from the emptied out goodie bag filled with a Jack Wills headband, Lord and Taylor Ipad case, Stila lip gloss, gift cards, and much much more! |
Also, for the class of 2016, I've been slacking on having a special blog post to offer you some
advice on your first year, but not to worry, that's coming up sometime soon! For now, check out these helpful first year articles from both Alex and Alex, and Juliana.
