I know I’ve gotten a lot of responses to many of my previous posts about how ridiculous my questions are, but what the hell..
When it comes time to get an EA position, how important are big name internships? Is it quality or quantity? Would a hiring editor prefer someone who’s had one internship at, say, Seventeen, or a few internships at large, national publications that aren’t part of any of the big publishing houses(Hearst, Meredith, Time Inc, etc)?
I’ve had plenty of experience in interning at mags but am afraid the kind of experience I’m getting isn’t “big” enough and won’t distinguish me enough from the competition in the future.
Sorry for the dumb question. But any editors and/or people in similar positions who can shed some light on this, that’d be great.
:)
big names help...
If you’re applying to big-name places, then yeah, they’re going to want to see big names on your resume already. But if you’re applying to lesser-known titles, then I don’t think big-name places are necessary.
If you decide not to go for an internship with a well-known mag before you apply for EA jobs, make sure it’s crystal clear on your resume (and in your cover letter, too) that you’ve gotten amazing, relevant experience from your internships.
It is what it is
You only have the resume that you have, for better or for worse. It sounds like you have had several internships but none at any big-name magazines. I don’t know how old you are, or if you have time to acquire a big-name internship, but assuming you do, of course it’s an attention-getter and worth having for that reason. But if you don’t have time, do you still have a future in magazines? I imagine you could. If reading this site teaches you anything, it should teach you that there’s no magic formula for success—most of it is about connections, timing, and sheer dumb luck. So at this point, rather than worrying about whether you have the “right” kind of experience, whatever that is, worry about making your resume and cover letter the best they can be and working with what you’ve got.
Good question
That’s not a dumb question at all.
It all comes down to how you sell yourself on a resume. Editors know that smaller publications usually have the interns doing the real work, not just being a gopher. If you list all of the great skills that you’ve acquired on your resume, you will be fine.
That being said, yes, I agree with the previous post. Sometimes it is connections and luck, and some editors want the big names. But you never know where an editor got her start, right?
All the best.
Poppy : )