Students share advice on job hunt

The+NYU+Spring+Job+%26+Internship+Fair%2C++held+on+Jan.+29%2C+is+an+opportunity+to+hear+about+available+internships+in+the+New+York+area.

Mathilde van Tulder

The NYU Spring Job & Internship Fair, held on Jan. 29, is an opportunity to hear about available internships in the New York area.

Tejas Sawant, Contributing Writer

If the career advisers, professors, and parents are to be believed, internships are now a necessary first step for students planning to pursue careers in almost any field. But given the competition for internships, the process of getting one is often stressful. Luckily, some NYU students have mastered the art of securing stellar internships and are eager to share what they have learned.

Gallatin junior Lisa Vedernikova worked as a political fundraising intern  for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s re-election campaign last fall. Her tasks included aiding the team in fundraising events, securing contributions, compiling briefings for meetings and events and conducting extensive research.

“On one of my first days at work, a boss was giving us his advice for our term and he said, ‘If you’re asked to staple something, it should be the best staple job you’ve ever done,’” Vedernikova said.

When it comes to applying for internships, Vedernikova advises students to apply to both high-profile and low-profile internships and be willing to start out small.

“Apply to 100 internships — and then apply to 10 more,” Vedernikova said. “It is important to have options, considering that only five will call you back. Also, be comfortable with starting small. Never think that you are above anything.”

The fashion industry in New York City attracts hundreds of interns every year. CAS junior Banu Ibrahim gets to live out her dream as a editorial design intern at Harper’s Bazaar. After a stint as an editorial intern at Refinery 29, Ibrahim is now involved with Harper’s Bazaar’s e-commerce site, ShopBAZAAR. She creates social media posts, writes blog articles, researches designers and helps manage logistical operations.

“It’s the kind of job where you really have to be very aware of everything you’re doing because one small mistake gets blasted to a few million people,” Ibahim said. “But the work atmosphere is actually really nice. It’s definitely not a ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ situation.”

In an industry as cutthroat and intense as fashion, it is easy to forget how to utter the word no. But according to Ibrahim, a huge part of the job is being able to remind herself that saying yes is not the only option.

“You can turn down or ask for extensions on some projects if you feasibly don’t have time for them,” Ibrahim said. “You need to remind yourself that you’re a student first and that doing everything is impossible.”

Ibrahim also recommends getting to know mentors and supervisors on a more intimate level.

“A lot of editors really love talking about what they do,” Ibrahim. “Ask them if they could have an informational meeting with you or offer to meet for coffee, rather than bombarding them with internship inquiries.”

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Feb. 2 print edition. Email Tejas Sawant at [email protected]