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Intern Picks: Paid Internships

February 22, 2012

Every day, our intern Ting gets a sneak peek at all of the new internships being posted daily on Internships.com. Each week he’ll choose a theme and highlight a few of the new internships he thinks are cool/useful/interesting.

ting head shot Intern Picks: Paid InternshipsBy Ting-Tien Wee

Hello again fellow students in need of internships! Last week, I highlighted virtual internships. If working from home just isn’t your thing or maybe there was just not enough incentive, then I have some good news for you. This week we will be looking at paid internships. This is pretty self explanatory, and at this point I would be surprised if you are still reading what I have to say because I would have skipped ahead to see what awesome, new internships I could apply for while getting that dough.

Here are my top money making internships of the week:

Photography internship
with Quirky in Manhattan, NY
Quirky implements a unique approach to product development: with the help of hundreds of thousands of community members from all around the world, they design and launch two new consumer products/inventions each week. Help document this amazing activity as their photography intern! Apply here.

Financial Representative internship
with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in Dallas, TX
Northwestern Mutual is one of the most prominent financial service companies in the world being the largest direct provider of individual life insurance in the United States. Interns even have the same opportunities to build their careers as full-time representatives! Apply here.

Digital Internship
with BookRenter.com in San Francisco, CA
Are you a social butterfly, athlete, campus leader or a Greek life god or goddess? Then help BookRenter.com blog, tweet, post, comment and upload videos showing why your school is the best! It is like getting paid to use the social media that you use everyday! Apply here.

Business Management Training Position
with College Pro in Bremerton, WA
Want to develop your business skills in various areas including marketing, customer interaction, leadership, and management? Then join College Pros, a company that offers house painting and window cleaning services to an average of 25,000 homes annually! Apply here.

Accounting Assistant
with American Services and Protection in Columbus, OH
Accounting Majors! American Services and Protection is a growing security service company looking for an accounting assistant to help them perform accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, offer creative budget solutions, and compile financial reports. Apply here.

Human Resource Intern (Year Round)
with CareFirst BCBS
CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield is looking for an intern to post new jobs, track the cost and effectiveness of media outlets and various websites for job postings, process regret letters, coordinate candidate interviews, drug screens, and testing, and more! Apply here.

There are many more paid internships on our site, click here to search all internships.

What type of internships do you want to see highlighted  on Intern Picks next week? Let us know in the comments below.

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How to Make Opportunity Find You

February 20, 2012

Jemima Lopez is a freelance blogger and writer who writes for Zen College Life, the directory of higher education, distance learning, and best online schools. She welcomes your comments at her email.

By Jemima Lopez

After months of submitting applications and not hearing back from anywhere, I finally landed the most educational, hands-on internship I could have ever imagined — and all I had to do was show up.

During the months following my college graduation, I tried desperately to find an internship with a film studio.  Living in Houston my options were limited, but that didn’t stop me from applying to every program I’d ever heard of all across the country.

Feeling rather satisfied with myself for so ambitiously sending out applications, I dutifully waited for the call or email informing me of my acceptance.  But the call never came.

I had nearly given up when I decided that I hadn’t exhausted every possibility.  So I started looking for local programs.  There was very little in the way of film internships around town, but there were a few studios, so I called them and asked if they’d be interested in having me on as a non-paid intern.

Most places admired my enthusiasm and resourcefulness, and though almost all of them said they didn’t have room for an intern, they all remembered my name and said they’d talk to others about my request.

learn lighting techniques film making 800x800 How to Make Opportunity Find YouEventually it paid off, both figuratively and literally.  I soon got a call from a local director who referred me to a gaffer that would be willing to take me on and train me.  Plus, the director said, he’d even pay me (occasionally).  All I had to do was meet the gaffer on the set he was lighting.  Right that moment.

So I bolted out of my room and met him there.  When I introduced myself, he said, “So you’re the young person everybody’s been talking about.” I was stunned.  People were talking about me.  This gaffer knew who I was.

He said he would train me and thus began the best internship I’d ever had.  I met sports and culinary celebrities, learned more about the industry and technology I was using than I could have ever learned in a standard “studio intern” position.  And I did get paid occasionally.

The moral of the story?  Don’t be discouraged when you don’t hear back from internship programs.  In fact, plan not to hear back from them. Be resourceful and aggressive in your search.  Introduce yourself to as many major players as you can, and get your name out there.  Don’t let a piece of paper speak for you.  Get on the phone and start introducing yourself.  Take people to lunch.  Do whatever it takes and the opportunities will find you.

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Intern Picks: Virtual Internships

February 14, 2012

Every day, our intern Ting gets a sneak peek at all of the new internships being posted daily on Internships.com. Each week he’ll choose a theme and highlight a few of the new internships he thinks are cool/useful/interesting.

ting head shot Intern Picks: Virtual InternshipsBy Ting-Tien Wee

Hello fellow students in need of internships! This week we will be looking solely at VIRTUAL internships. Now you are probably asking yourself, what type of internships are virtual? No, you will not be thrown into a digital world with the mission of saving it using lighted disks. (This is what I thought it was initially, but being the smart students that you are, you probably know better). A virtual internship entails the student working offsite or remotely for a company. Some virtual internships will have the student come in to company offices for a little bit, but for the most part, the student’s time will be spent offsite.

Here are my top virtual internships this week:

Social Media Intern (Online Marketing)
with Trickomatics in Brooklyn, NY
Do you love social media and have experience with Corporate Facebook Campaigns? Then apply for Trickomatics’ virtual internship and gain valuable knowledge on online marketing. Help market their revolutionary math learning program for kids! Apply here.

Graphic Design Intern
with GRACESHIP in Louisville, KY
GRACESHIP™ has an exciting opportunity for a Graphic Design Intern to help visually communicate our brand’s chic image. Design web banners, email skins, and Graceship’s signature, while collaborating with their sales and marketing team! Apply here.

Film & Video Internship
with Noble Toy Company in Chicago, IL
Noble Toys is looking for a films intern to help document their story. A minimum of three years experience in film/video production is required, and a commitment of at least six months. Although this position is non-paid, there is a strong likelihood that this will lead to a lucrative and fulfilling full-time paying post at Noble Toys! Apply here.

Event Planning Internship
with The Water Works Restaurant and Lounge in Philadelphia, PA
Water Works has an unpaid internship opportunity for those interested in wedding and event planning. The intern will work with the Catering Department on a wide range of projects; from meeting with clients to researching the latest trends and attending and supporting events. Gain experience in all aspects of event and wedding production! Apply here.

Content Journalist
with Ballparks on a Budget in Columbus, OH
Love to write? Love sports? Then apply for Ballparks on a Budget ‘s internship where you will be writing and editing website content, researching ballparks, restaurants, hotels, and other local hotspots in sports heavy areas, and assisting with the maintenance of social communities. Apply here.

Staff Writer/Blogger
with vicepresidents.com in Woodland Hills, CA
If you are into politics and want to write and be read then this internship is for you. VicePresidents.com provides you with a defined audience focused on news and entertainment on the Vice Presidents and Vice Presidency. Have your blogs featured on their home page and be read by tens of thousands of readers! Apply here.

You can always search all types of internships, not just virtual ones!
What type of internships do you want to see highlighted  on Intern Picks next week? Let us know in the comments below.

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From Intern to Commissioner of the NFL: Roger Goodell

February 1, 2012

You may know where they are now, but where were some of today’s most powerful and influential people before the power and fame? Many held an internship position that created a foundation for their future success!

Before becoming the commissioner of the National Football League, the most successful sports and entertainment entity in America, Roger Goodell began his 30 year NFL career as an intern.

“He wrote about 40 letters: one to every single team in the league at the time, and one to the National Football League.”

Football became a passion for Goodell at a very young age. By the time he graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 1981 he already knew what he wanted to do – he was going to work for the NFL. He wrote about 40 letters: one to every single team in the league at the time, and one to the National Football League headquarters.  All he needed was one positive response in the pile of rejection letters. He got that response from the league office, a casual reply telling him to “stop by if you’re ever in the area.”

NFL RogerGoodell From Intern to Commissioner of the NFL: Roger Goodell

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, began his career as an intern

Roger’s reply? Yes, he was in the area and could come by the next day. He got in his car, and drove seven hours from the Pittsburgh area to NFL headquarters in New York City. It was worth the drive – a few months later he was working as an administrative intern for the league. This lead to a full-time public relations internship with the Jets in 1983. At the end of his internship, Goodell was offered an entry-level position with the Jets coaching staff. His internships had exposed him to different aspects of  the professional sports industry and he realized exactly what he wanted to do and it was not coaching in the NFL. He was more interested in the  administrative roles of the NFL and returned to the league office full-time.

He continued working his way up and through various positions, culminating in his appointment in 2006 as the Commissioner of the National Football League (and only the 3rd commissioner since 1960).

Amazing story! All it takes is one response from one employer to get your career started. Check out our sports internships.

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How to Personalize Your Email and Resume Attachments to Impress Employers

January 27, 2012

Dante Hamilton is the founder of Internet Webpages Newspaper, Inc, a print, online and event company located in downtown Chicago, IL USA. Dante has been using Internships.com to recruit his interns, and has some tips for students on how to stand out.

By Dante Hamilton

As an active employer on Internships.com I’ve personally reviewed 200 replies from prospective interns. I will share how to impress an employer like me with one simple tactic: basic personalization.

Customize the Name of Each Resume Attachment

Do not name your attachment “Resume.doc” or “My Portfolio.pdf” because once I download it there is no way to tell who that document belongs to. I have dozens of “Resume.doc” files on my hard drive. What do I do with them? I empty them in the trash and delete forever. Do not suffer this fate.
TIP: Open your generic Resume or Portfolio document and save it with a new name. Start with your name, the company name or initials and add an abbreviated position title.

To illustrate what I mean, take a look at the three below files below:

  1. Resume 2012.doc
  2. My Portfolio.pdf
  3. Gitma Attenshun Resume – IWN Acct Exec.pdf

Which do you think I will remember to open after I download it from Internships.com? Easy choice: Gitma Attenshun stands out. I know they prepared the resume for my company, IWN. I also know they are applying for the Account Executive position. Even before I open this resume I’m already interested and ready to email or speak to them on the phone. Why? They appear to know exactly what they want.

Gitma Attenshun made it effortless for me to respond. What happens to Resume 2012.doc and My Portfolio.pdf? They’re recycled.

Include the Company Name and Open Position in the Introducti0n

Next, let’s tackle your cover letter (known as the Personal Message on Internships.com). Most respondents use the same impersonal cover letter with each new application. Some don’t even do this much, they simply leave it blank, not even bothering to tell you if they are seeking a summer or year round internship position, or if they are planning to relocate.

PersonalMessageEx How to Personalize Your Email and Resume Attachments to Impress Employers

I discourage using “To Whom It May Concern” in your opening sentence. I received a reply like this earlier today using those exact words, and it wasn’t the first time.

You’re applying to a company and you may not know the person’s name who will read your reply. Therefore, simply say “Dear [Insert Company Name]” as your opening salvo. When I see “Dear Internet Webpages Newspaper” (the name of my company), right there you got me just by stating the name of my company. Now I’m listening. Tell me more.

Don’t Strike Out – Hit a Home Run

You’re at bat. You can strike out or hit it out the ball park. Here’s how to do the latter.

Tell me who you are, what you’re looking for and what’s in it for me. Keep it simple. Give me a little mystery, not everything all at once.

It only takes one sentence to strike out. Here’s a great example: “I am very interested in the internship your company has listed.” Okay. Which one? I’ve got two listed. This person struck out. Don’t be like them.

Good luck in your search! Take the advice above and apply to Dante’s paid internship in Event Sponsorship, Print Advertising and Online Media.

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The Alternative Spring Break Plan

January 24, 2012

Student Conservation Association and American Eagle Outfitters will engage 120 students from colleges across the country in meaningful hands-on conservation service at two of our most environmentally challenged national parks: Everglades National Park and Joshua Tree National Park. Lauren Freedman Whittlesey participated in the Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program with SCA and AEO in 2010.

By Lauren Freedman Whittlesey

Two years after my Alternative Spring Break trip with SCA, I still can’t shut up about it. I was at the end of my first year of graduate school in Manhattan. I got most of my exercise running down the block for the bus or hastily jogging up nine flights of stairs when the elevator at school was broken. I was afraid I might forget what stars looked like. Wanting to try something different, I applied for SCA’s Alternative Spring Break at the Grand Canyon. I was offered a spot and immediately accepted, and then remembered I didn’t even own a sleeping bag.

Luckily, I was able t0 borrow a sleeping bag. I rounded up the warmest gear I could find and was off to the Grand Canyon. I spent the coldest nights of my life huddled around a campfire with 30 new friends and sleeping in my heaviest coat, hat, and gloves. With snow on the tent and frozen noses, coffee has never tasted so good.

4490953400 d601a7959a m The Alternative Spring Break PlanThe cold was immediately forgotten when we began work in the mornings. We spent our first days salvaging native plants in areas of the park that were slated for construction projects. These salvaged plants would spend the next year in the park’s nursery, readying for another crew to replant them the following spring. Our crew salvaged, potted, and transported over 1300 native plants in just two days! It was so satisfying to see the fruits of our labor lined up in neat rows filling the nursery knowing we were making a difference at one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

After a few days of salvaging, we completed the cycle by planting native plants that had been salvaged by the previous year’s ASB crew. Those plants will still be decorating the landscape at the Grand Canyon visitor’s center when my own children are old enough to work on an ASB crew.

When we weren’t busy getting our hands dirty, we spent time learning about the history of the canyon, visiting the National Park Service’s private museum of Grand Canyon artifacts (with a tour from the curator, an SCA alumna!), hiking, and enjoying the breathtaking views. We also took in a few ranger talks and went for a moonlit hike along the South Rim one evening.
4490320451 359e557d60 The Alternative Spring Break Plan
Sounds like a lot in just five days? It was! I’m still amazed that we could cram so much work and so much fun into just one week. When I got home, I was completely exhausted, and thrilled to sleep in a warm, soft bed again. But at the same time, I couldn’t stop telling my friends and family about the satisfaction and exhilaration of my spring break.

As this year’s ASB crews head to the Everglades and Joshua Tree National Park in just a couple months, I’m a little envious but mostly excited. They have big boots to fill, and I can’t wait to hear what they come back bragging about.

Looking for a different type of spring break trip this year? Learn more about participating in the 2012 Alternative Spring Break from SCA and American Eagle Outfitters at SCA’s Alternative Spring Break page, deadline to apply is January 27th!

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Finding the Ideal Creative Writing Internship

January 17, 2012

Lawanda Johnson is a 22-year old senior at the University of Baltimore. Majoring in English with a specialization in Creative Writing, she has interned at several local newspapers and magazines. Currently she is the music columnist for Limerence Magazine and is working on her debut novel, Second Chance.

LawandaJohnson headshot1 150x150 Finding the Ideal Creative Writing InternshipBy Lawanda Johnson

Being a senior in college it’s almost mandatory to complete an internship. As an English major, it was difficult finding the right internship for what I wanted to do and learn. I wanted something that could lead to a  job I’d ideally want after graduation. When looking at other internships, I noticed assignments were limited. If the position listed was for editorial, as an intern I’d work only on editorial assignments. But I wanted more.

I researched magazines and newspapers in the Greater Baltimore area, as well as online companies who were seeking writers, bloggers, editors, or assistants. Some I applied to just were  not the right fit for me – I wanted an experience where I’d have more hands on experience. That’s when I came across an internship as a music columnist with a new online magazine, Limerence Magazine. It had many of the qualities I was looking for in an internship, so I  applied. It was a good match, because I landed it!

At Limerence, I was able to find my niche. I’m able to make my own decisions with regards to which topics I covered. I’m not just assigned a topic and then asked to write a report or article about. I do my own research and searched for artists I’m interested in and who are a great feature for Limerence Magazine.

The internship is a great fit for me. I am well-rounded and get to work an a variety of assignments. I’m able to write my column, learn some marketing skills through social media, and I am able to edit my fellow co-workers’ articles and interviews. On top of that, I’ve enhanced my communication, computer and interpersonal skills all by working at this internship.

Limerence Magazine provides a great internship environment for college students. Students definitely become versatile afterwards. All writers and staff members are able to be themselves, learn exciting lessons about the publishing world and apply those skills hands on. This to me is very important and I have gotten so much from being part of this internship.

Thanks Lawanda, this sounds like an excellent internship experience. Limerence Magazine is currently looking to add more interns to their team – creative writing, webcomics and editorial.

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How to Become a Successful Blogger

January 12, 2012

ThomasFrankHeadShot 300x225 How to Become a Successful Blogger

Thomas Frank (@thomasfrank09) is the founder and head geek at College Info Geek, a college blog that publishes tips on studying, technology, money, music, and other student-related topics.

He started College Info Geek for fun, and it now has become one of the highest-trafficked  sites on the ‘net. We asked  him to share his story on how he did it, why he did and his advice for college grads.

What was the moment that made you decide you wanted to start a blog to help others “be awesome at college?”

During the summer of 2010 I was working at a Cyclone Aide, which is my school’s name for orientation assistants. At that point I had learned more than I ever thought possible about Iowa State and was answering hundreds of college questions every day from students and parents alike. Around the same time, HackCollege (one of my favorite blogs) announced they were looking for writers. I thought it would be cool to write for a big blog, so I wrote up a post and sent in my application.

Aaaaaaaaand rejection. I was politely told that my application was great, like many others, but it wasn’t good enough to make the cut.

Instead of throwing it away or making it a Facebook Note, I decided to put my prior web design experience to good use and start my own blog. On a whim, I named it College Info Geek and put up that first post.

What were the first steps to get College Info Geek started?

CollegeInfoGeekLogo How to Become a Successful BloggerI was a web designer in high school, so I already had a hosting account I could use for the blog. After I registered the domain and tied it to said hosting account, I installed WordPress and just started writing. I had almost no experience with WordPress at the time, so I just chose a free theme and didn’t do much in the way of customization. In fact, you can see what College Info Geek used to look like back in the day.

After I wrote a few posts on my own, I brought one of my friends on board and we started writing together. For the first few months, that’s all it was; him and I kept a list of post ideas and wrote less than five posts a month.

Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently at the beginning?

When I published my first article, I figured that writing posts and hitting the publish button was all there was to blogging. I thought that people would just eventually find the site after a long enough period of time.

When you’re a blogger, you can’t just post and expect people to find your site. You have to build links and get your name out there by sharing posts actively and guest blogging.

Since then, I’ve learned so much about WordPress, SEO, social media, networking… the amount of knowledge I’ve gained about blogging since I started is incredible. So yeah, I would have done a lot differently. For starters, I would have started posting consistently a lot sooner than I did. For the first 10 months, I was doing anywhere from two to eight articles a month. Now I try to do five articles a week (though I relaxed for a while during Christmas break). Publishing frequently gives people more content to read and more entrance points to your site.

I also would have focused on SEO and building relationships with other bloggers sooner. When you’re a blogger, you can’t just post and expect people to find your site. You have to build links and get your name out there by sharing posts actively and guest blogging. These are two things I’ve been doing a lot lately. It’s also really good to meet the other bloggers in your niche – if I could go back, I would take the time to meet other college bloggers a lot sooner than I did.

What is your advice for college students or recent grads looking to stand out from other job candidates?

Build a personal brand. This is huge. The thing about a college degree is that it’s very cookie cutter – there are thousands of other people graduating every year with the same degree you’re graduating with. Your ability to fill in the right boxes on a test sheet and get good grades won’t be enough to stand out. You need to make yourself known as an expert in your field as soon as you can in order to make an impression.

The first and most important part of this is getting actual experience. Internships and co-ops are the often-cited way to do this, but they’re not the only ways. You can do other things to get experience, depending on your major – get a part-time job during the school year close to your field of study, or start your own project.

After that, you need to build a presence for yourself. Create a personal website that shows off your work or expertise, use your social media profiles to network with your people in your field, make custom business cards, etc.

What have been the “perks” of starting this blog up? Has anything unexpected happened as a result of the blog?

The amount of traffic it currently gets was definitely unexpected! To be honest, I started the blog thinking it would get a small readership, and my only other goal was to have a writing portfolio I could show to employers in order to set myself apart from other graduates.

Since I’ve started, some amazing things have happened.

One of my posts was featured on LifeHacker, and I gained a lot of readers from that. I’ve partnered with some awesome companies including Adobe, Sony, and Vonage, and was able give away cool stuff like an iPad 2 and copies of Adobe CS5 through those partnerships.

In October, Adobe sent me out to Los Angeles to attend the Adobe MAX conference, were I was given a press pass and got to see all kinds of cool new stuff from Adobe and other companies. Free travel was certainly not something I foresaw when I published that first post!

Thanks Thomas! This is a great success story and great advice for students who always hear about ‘building a personal brand’. Get in touch with Thomas through his site.

Next week, we’ll hear again from Thomas about his own personal internship experience. Stay tuned!

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5 in 5! with Linda of Ironic Music Booking Agency

January 5, 2012

Ironic Logo 300x159 5 in 5! with Linda of Ironic Music Booking AgencyIronic Music Booking Agency (@IronicMusic) is a full service, licensed music booking and music promotion agency focused on booking live music acts North of Boston (all of Essex & Middlesex counties) & in the Southern NH areas. Ironic’s goal is to help musicians broaden their horizons and get more gigs, as well as help venues who are looking to get to know new and different talent. They work with everyone from single musicians to full bands, and strive to find the perfect musician/band to fit the venue. They’re currently hiring interns!

Linda Somma is the Director and Founder of Ironic Music Booking Agency. She is a professional with 25+ years of experience in the promotion & management of artistic and cultural projects in the entertainment industry. Linda was born and educated in the USA, has a BA in International PR, with a concentration in languages (Italian & Spanish). Throughout her career, she has collaborated on a wide range of projects, beginning her professional career doing communication & marketing in an artistic field. In 2002 she began collaborating in the entertainment industry with her first gig as a talent agent! Ironic – the consultancy – followed in 2003, where the desire and need for a “consultancy” arose.

LindaSomma Ironic 231x300 5 in 5! with Linda of Ironic Music Booking Agency1. How did you get started in the industry? How can someone who is interested in your work get started?

I have been doing marketing and promotions in a creative industry (architecture, industrial design, graphics, film, etc.) for 25 + years and when I returned from living abroad and realized where the economy was going, and still had a desire to be my own boss, I was attentive to what was happening locally and realized that a locally based new fangled booking agent was just what the area needed. Ergo, Ironic Music Booking Agency LLC was born. To get started in any creative industry one must get hands-on experience. I personally did 3 unpaid internships throughout college and that helped me a lot in my obtaining a job so I am a huge advocate of internships. Do your research, find what interests you and target your search!

2. What’s the future of your industry or job?

I believe that in any creative industry, much is based on a person’s own ability and drive. I created a job, a business and a niche (Ironic is the only booking agency who proactively promotes their musicians’ gigs through social media, etc.).

3. What do you look for when you hire an intern or entry-level candidate?

Someone who is organized, timely in their responses, has hands-on experience and who demonstrates drive and motivation.

4. What is one thing an intern can do to make a favorable impression?

Write me back in a timely fashion, with no spelling or grammatical errors, and tailor their cover letter/email to the specific job.

5. Can you share a positive intern story and an intern horror story? No names needed…

Absolutely! One of my first interns did an amazing job at any project he put his hands on. He asked me for a reference for a job he really wanted, which was a very highly sought after position, and I gave him a rave review! The employer contacted me and thanked me for the recommendation, and also thanked me for teaching him so many important skills. That is one ex-intern that I know will go far!

Thanks Linda! Are you ready to get started in the industry? Ironic Music Booking Agency is currently looking for Social Media & Marketing Interns.

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NGO Internships: Work With Volunteers and Benefit The Less Fortunate

January 3, 2012

Margaret Huey is a junior at Brandeis University, majoring in Psychology and Health: Science, Society and Policy.

MargaretHuey headshot 150x150 NGO Internships: Work With Volunteers and Benefit The Less FortunateBy Margaret Huey

This summer, I had the immense pleasure of being an intern at Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization in Brighton, MA. I found this internship while doing some research online, looking for opportunities to help children in the Boston area. Cradles was a perfect fit. This non-governmental organization (NGO) provides essential items needed by kids in low-income and homeless situations. These items include clothes, toys, winter boots, books, shoes, etc. of the highest quality possible to ensure that the children who receive the items feel valued.

Through the course of my time there, I learned how crucial it is for one to take initiative and realize the bigger picture in order to achieve the mission of Cradles to Crayons. As interns we achieved this through the hard work of the committed staff there, who show their passion on a daily basis, and the large network of the Giving Core, comprised of college interns, teen leaders, and champion volunteers.

“Many people who came through the doors clearly had a desire to give back, and seeing new faces every day that I went in always made it interesting and fun.”

The volunteers who come through the doors of the Giving Factory all come from different walks of life. I had the pleasure of working with a number of girl scout troops, a range of students, families from all over Massachusetts , college professors, others working in business, and even a group of elderly women who came in to volunteer in order to celebrate one of their birthday’s. Many people who came through the doors clearly had a desire to give back, and seeing new faces every day that I went in always made it interesting and fun. As interns, we were encouraged to make a personal connection with the volunteers, in hopes to keep them excited about C2C. Talking to many people and learning about how they came to Cradles was intriguing to me.

The most meaningful part of my time at cradles was the work itself. I was responsible for leading groups of volunteers in the different stations, and seeing all of the work come together in order to create a “KidPack” for each child in need is very powerful. Each week, Cradles receives hundreds of orders for individual children, and each order form will have the child’s name, age, and items that he or she needs. A lot of love and care goes into each one of those kids, and I feel honored to have been part of such an incredible team that made those Kidpacks possible.

I learned how the organization worked and gained important skills in building connections and NGO management. We were taught the structure of the company, and the importance of the clear delegation of tasks and individual responsibility.

Do you share the same passion as Margaret? Cradles to Crayons is currently looking for their Summer 2012 interns.

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