With fall semester drawing to a close and registration for spring happening now, many readers are probably starting to apply for (or at least think about) internships. Interning can be a stressful time because so much is expected of you and for the most part, you’re doing tasks you’ve never had to do be before! While it can be difficult, it is so important to do well in your internship because it can open up many doors for your future career! HC alum, Ellery Badcock, or as I like to call her, “Her Campus Auburn’s Interning Guru” share’s her interning experiences with us and give us some advice how to intern like a pro!
Ellery graduated in August 2011 with a double degree in RTVF and Theatre. She was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, the Emerging Leadership Institute division of Tiger Tuesdays, College Republicans, Lambda Pi Eta, AU Players, Eagle Eye Television, and of course President and Co-Founder of Auburn’s branch of Her Campus!
HC Auburn: Where are you from and why did you choose Auburn?
Ellery: I am originally from Lakeland, Florida, and I chose Auburn because of all of the opportunities Auburn had to offer. I was, and still am, blown away by the kindness and the generosity within the Auburn community, and I could not be more proud to have graduated from such a distinguished university.
HC Auburn: What internships have you done while at Auburn?
Ellery: I was an Accessories intern at Lucky magazine, and this summer I was the Editorial/PR intern with the Office of External Affairs in the College of Liberal Arts where I worked on the annual alumni magazine, Perspectives.
Going into my internship, I knew that interviewing was a large portion of my job, but I never could have imagined that I would meet such incredible people. I’ve really been able to understand what it’s like to work on a magazine from start to finish. It takes such a large amount of time to come up with a theme, research stories, and conduct interviews that the writing has become the easy part! What I really loved about my internship, were the remarkable stories I was able to tell. I am currently an Editorial intern with Food Network Magazine in New York City this fall!
HC Auburn: What are your suggestions for balancing time and staying organized (with so many extra curricular activities)?
Ellery: Staying organized was about the only way I was able to keep up with my crazy schedule! And yet, being in a college environment- this isn’t always an easy task. I definitely made mistakes along the way, but keeping a planner was my way of making sure I knew when I had meetings and tests and gave me a sense of structure.
HC Auburn: What have you gained from your experiences with Her Campus?
Ellery: I have gained so much professional experience from working with Her Campus. Acting as co-President and Editor-in-Chief with Summer last year, we learned through trial and error about how difficult it really is to start, and maintain an organization on Auburn’s campus. I had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, and really found that I wanted to actively pursue an editorial career. I have to credit the connections I’ve made, along with the experience I had working with Her Campus are what landed me in the internship positions I’ve been so lucky to receive.
HC Auburn: What did you wear on your first day at Lucky?
Ellery: To be totally honest with you, I was so nervous I don’t exactly remember! It was during the winter, and I think I had on a simple black velvet skirt from Anthropologie and a pink silk blouse from J. Crew with black tights and heels. I wanted to keep it somewhat conservative and business professional on my first day because I didn’t know what to expect. BUT I will say- that was the last day I wore heels unless it was a healed boot. I was walking all over NYC going on pickups and returns to different designers offices, and at the end of that first day I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to take off shoes in my life! If your are going to wear heels, I would suggest bringing a comfy pair of flats to slip on when you have to step out of the office.
HC Auburn: How did you manage the pressures of designing/planning a magazine?
Ellery: It was definitely intimidating at first, but I tried to deal with things on a day-to-day basis. When I thought about all of the assignments I had to do over the course of my internship, it seemed really daunting. I found that the best thing to do was to just make a to-do list at the beginning of everyday, and I was able to stay focused and on-task without feeling overwhelmed. Of course I made mistakes, but I was blessed to work with a group of people that wanted to help me learn and it made going to work everyday so much fun.
HC Auburn: How do you apply for internships on campus?
Ellery: Within the Department of Communications, we have a special advisor that sends us information about internship opportunities throughout the area (usually locally and throughout the Southeast), so that’s how I found out about the internship within the CLA. For those who are within other majors or colleges, I would contact your advisors to see what kind of internships are out there! The Career Development Center is also a great place to start looking. I have found two out of my three internships online, so I encourage students- regardless of the career- to do as much research online as possible. You are your own biggest advocate, and it’s important to remember that an internship isn’t going to just land in your lap: you have to work for it.
HC Auburn: What are the benefits of interning on campus?
Ellery: After interning in NYC over Christmas break, I was certain that I wanted to intern at another major company in a big city… and of course I couldn’t have done something more opposite! As opposed to my time at Lucky, my experience within the CLA gave me a lot of independence. When I sat down at my desk the first day, my boss told me to just go ahead and begin my research about what kinds of articles we wanted to feature. Of course, I spent hours getting together information that I had to present at our weekly meetings and get approved before I could move forward, but it was very much hands on and I never felt like I couldn’t ask a question. I learned so much about the CLA, and could not have dreamed of a better experience to end my time at Auburn University.
HC Auburn: What advice do you have for those yet to intern?
Ellery: This summer, I wrote for the Intern Dairies section of Her Campus, so I could go on and on- but I will spare you. Being professional should go without saying, but the most important thing is to just be your-self. Internships can be stressful and nerve-wracking, but remember to smile and have fun! You are there to learn, so try to talk to everyone you can while you have the chance. Write down advice, and always be prepare to take notes!
HC Auburn: What resume/cover letter tips do you have for readers?
Ellery: Be concise. Everyone is going to have a different preference or option about what is right and wrong, but I would definitely find a format and stick to it. The most important thing when writing a cover letter is to find something that is going to grab the attention of your reader/potential employer. Think about what makes you unique, and don’t be afraid to sell yourself (in a professional manner of course).
HC Auburn: What do you want to tell readers about your time at Auburn?
Ellery: I always brag about Auburn for having this unique ability to make each and every student, faculty member, and alumnus feel like a family, thanks to the strong sense of traditions and values that are at the core of the university. I am so blessed to have had such wonderful experiences, and feel prepared to take on the professional world. Cherish the time you have here, because it really does fly by. I encourage every student to take advantage of all the university has to offer because it’s a great way to learn and grow as a student and you never know what you might learn about yourself!
Ellery in front of Condé Nast where she interned at Lucky.
Ellery and Summer at the Her Campus/Bing party summer 2011 in Atlanta