The End of the Road

by Emma / October 13, 2011 / 17 comments

I’m sure you’ve noticed that posts have been few and far between since I’ve returned from my trip and started my new job. I knew, deep down, that it would come to this, but I’ve been dreading writing this post and making it official.

After a year and a half of blogging, I’m going to call it quits. It’s been incredibly fun and rewarding. I just don’t have the time to do all the things I need to do — handle my new workload, spend time with friends and family, and have a bit of me time left over.

This blog has been an amazing creative outlet, and I’ve learned a ton. I’ve also enjoyed getting to know many of you, and I appreciate all the support that you guys have shown me.

It is a difficult thing to do, ending this blog, because I’ve poured endless hours and energy into it. But I enjoyed every second, and I know this is the right decision, for me, now.

“There’s a trick to the ‘graceful exit.’ It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, or a relationship is over — and let it go. It means leaving what’s over without denying its validity or its past importance to our lives. It involves a sense of future, a belief that every exit line is an entry, that we are moving up, rather than out.”

― Ellen Goodman

Thank you, all, and goodbye!

The Online Internship Search

by Guest Blogger / October 5, 2011 / 3 comments

The Online Internship Search

A new school year has begun and for many college students, it’s time to start thinking about internships. Interning can be the best way for you to get your foot in the door at a company or organization you’re interested in working for; it can also give you valuable work experience and a taste of life in the workplace.

Just as there’s fierce competition for jobs in the current economy, the search for an internship can be daunting as well. The key to finding the right internship for you often includes consulting your school program director and campus career center. But for students who are earning online degrees and don’t have immediate access to a career center, or for students want to take internship selections into their own hands, the Internet can be an indispensable resource.

Internship databases

Finding internships online takes work and attention to detail, but it can be done. Sites like Internships.com are designed to bring potential employers and aspiring interns together, similar to job search engine Monster. Interships.com also has a blog where interns and employers can write about their experiences, a Career Navigator to help students find the right fit for internships, and an iPhone app for students on the go. And One Day One Internship features a different company every day that’s looking for interns. They also allow students to sign up for a daily e-mail with internship opportunities.

Other internship search engines include InternWeb and Monster College, Monster’s comprehensive site that helps college students prepare for the workforce and features businesses looking for interns. You can find internship opportunities by searching mainstream job engines as well.

A day in the life

Sometimes reading the experiences of other interns can give you some insight into your own internship or search. Blogs like Teen Vogue’s Intern Blogger give readers a first-hand view of what it’s like to work for a world-class publication. Interns share their education histories, their favorite things about interning, and the challenges they face in the fast-paced world of fashion magazines. Indiana handbag maker Vera Bradleyalso has a blog for their interns, where interns and employees reveal the daily life in the office. Both blogs are rather specific to their industries, but they also give you a glimpse into how interns blend into company culture and make a real difference at the businesses for which they work.

Finding your own way

Landing the perfect internship for you should start with a self-inventory of your current skill set. Your current major may not lay a direct path to your career, but your internship will give you an idea of where you might best fit once you enter the workforce. So, before you begin searching for internships, make a list of your strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Doing this could save you the headache of enduring an internship you don’t enjoy, and it could help you discover new interests.

Internships are often challenging and rewarding—and they should be. But the most important part of doing an internship is finding one that’s best for you. Take the time to search for the right one, and it could also be the first step to a fulfilling career.

Jesse blogs at the Professional Intern, and she also shared with us her thoughts on going back to (grad) school. Thanks Jesse!

What are your tips for finding internships? I managed to land a great one by cold-emailing magazine editors. I’ll devote a post to that in the future! – Emma

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Back from Europe; Ready to Work

by Emma / October 3, 2011 / 6 comments

Back from Europe; Ready to Work

Flowers in Oxford, England

It’s been a whirlwind month. Seven cities, 30 days. Now I’m back home, and starting work at a new job tomorrow. Whew!

Some things I learned abroad:

1. David Hasselhoff was huge in East Germany.

2. Professional Londoners dress very, very well.

3. I like duck. To eat.

But now I’m back, and focused on work. As always with starting a new job, I’m looking forward to my first day with nerves and excitement. What’s your best advice for starting a new job?

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Inspired by… Stockholm Street Style

by Emma / September 29, 2011 / 3 comments

Here’s what I’ve pinned to my Workwear Board… and here’s how to make it yours.

Inspired by... Stockholm Street Style

I love this look. The billowy, wide leg trousers set in the simplicity of just black and white. You don’t need a ton of bells and whistles to look put together. For this look, you really can just shop your closet (if you have the wide leg pants, which make this look), but you can also see my suggestions below. I’m drooling over the Chloe pants.

Inspired by... Stockholm Street Style

Floral shirt, $70
Chloé flannel pants, $595
Zara leather pumps, $20
Ivanka Trump flap bag, $120
Vanessa Mooney wire bangle bracelet, $250

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Why Not?

by Emma / September 27, 2011 / 1 comment

Just a reminder to sometimes ask yourself this simple question.

Want to see more inspirational words? Follow me on Pinterest.

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Custom Address Stamps

by Emma / September 22, 2011 / 4 comments

I am obsessed with these custom address stamps from Etsy shop NoteTrunk.

They’re gorgeous.

Get a clean cut look for business correspondence, or a more flowery version for personal letters. A custom stamp would also be an amazing gift for a newly married couple, for your parents, friends… anyone, really.

The prices are extremely reasonable as well — just over $20 for a custom stamp.

Custom Address Stamps

Custom Address Stamps

Custom Address Stamps

Custom Address Stamps

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On Women Competing with Women, from Bossypants

by Emma / September 21, 2011 / 7 comments

On Women Competing with Women, from Bossypants

I finished Bossypants, and I laughed the entire way through. Mere pages in, I couldn’t get over how unbelievably funny it was. Tina Fey’s description of her childhood is very entertaining.

Bossypants also has a modern feminist viewpoint. A frequent theme is that, yes, there are still gender inequities in the workplace.

Fey has observed across her career an attitude that there are a finite number of spaces in a given workplace for women, and that women must compete with each other to get these spots. On that point, she has some words of wisdom for to offer:

On Women Competing with Women, from Bossypants

It’s a good lesson to take away.

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Inspired by… Olivia Palermo

by Emma / September 20, 2011 / 2 comments

Here’s what I’ve pinned to my Workwear Board… and here’s how to make it yours.

Inspired by... Olivia Palermo

Navy and gold is such a classic combination, and Olivia P. looks tres sophisticated pairing the colors with two more neutrals — tan and caramel. The leather paneling on her skirt gives it an edge. I managed to find a navy skirt with leather detailing that you could actually wear to the office.

There are tons of options if you want to replicate Olivia’s collar necklace, but I like this one: geometric and very art deco.

Inspired by... Olivia Palermo

Oasis sparkly top, $65
Raoul leather skirt, $335
Jigsaw satin flat, £119
Tory Burch tote handbag, £227
G by Guess gold tone jewelry, $90
TopShop necklace, $30
Bex Rox vintage cuff bracelet, $240

Psst… P.S. Follow me on Pinterest!

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The Past Ten Days

by Emma / September 15, 2011 / 1 comment

I’m smack in the middle of my big trip. It’s my last night in Dublin before leaving for Croatia tomorrow morning (4:30a wake-up call… ugh). I’ve been having an amazing time. I feel so lucky to be taking this trip between jobs, and I’m sure it’s the last time before retirement I’ll be able to make such a prolonged journey.

I’ve spent the past ten days in the British Isles and Ireland: London, Oxford, the Lake District of England, Edinburgh, and now Dublin. I’ve been consuming tea and scones as if my life depended on it, and I’m still not tired of that very British pastime. One of my favorite things to do is enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea at a hotel or tea room, and I’ve been able to do that a number of times.

Of course, it’s not all about food and lolling around. I’ve been to the Victoria & Albert Museum, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, Blenheim Palace, Balliol College at Oxford, Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland, and the National Library of Ireland. Whew!Dublin holds a special place in my heart because I spent a summer in college at Trinity College, Dublin, and had an incredible time. I’ve loved being back, seeing familiar sights and soaking up the city. I’ve been taking pictures with my schmancy camera, but for now I’ll post these pics of Dublin from my iPhone:

The Past Ten Days

The bell tower right inside Trinity College’s gates.

The Past Ten Days

The street performers on Grafton are incredibly talented. It’s the street featured in the movie Once.

The Past Ten Days

Merrion Park, where I’ve read my iPad each morning (about to finish The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter).

The Past Ten Days

The Oscar Wilde memorial in Merrion Park.

The Past Ten Days

Afternoon tea at the Shelbourne Hotel.

The Past Ten Days

The old Irish Houses of Parliament, before independence from Great Britain.

Blogger Lookbook: Shannon of The Modern Grad

by Emma / September 14, 2011 / 4 comments

Blogger Lookbook: Shannon of The Modern Grad

Shannon blogs at The Modern Grad about life after school — she provides great insights into the current job market and work options for recent grads, chronicles her own job search, and shares fun doses of art and style. Here, she presents her ideal work outfit, inspired by her former internship at the International Interior Design Assocation.

Job Description

Summer 2010, I had the opportunity to intern at International Interior Design Association headquarters in Chicago. The vivacious atmosphere made this internship far from ordinary. The women in the office always had fun with their business attire. They were not afraid to add color and an extra inch to their heels (but we always remembered our ballet flats and rain boots for the commute home). If I were to step into the office tomorrow, here’s what I would wear…

If you’re curious, here’s a photo of IIDA’s headquarters.

Why I Chose These Pieces

Limited Bow-front Shirt ($28 on sale). The brighter the better! The bow-front style works perfectly with the 60′s inspired skirt.

[Emma's note: My amateur Photoshop skills couldn't merge this image and the skirt in one picture, so I cheated and added this shirt as a stand-in. It's a bit more expensive...]

Banana Republic Mad Men Skirt ($110). IIDA introduced me to Mad Men. We used to watch it during out lunch breaks in the boardroom. So when I first laid eyes on the Mad Men collection by Banana Republic, it really made me miss IIDA.

Coach Organizer ($198). I finally have one of my own and I absolutely love it. For now, I carry my resumes in it for interviews. This would have been perfect for taking notes during meetings.

Urban Outfitters Earrings ($14). I like how simple they are. I have a tendency to play with my earrings when I’m nervous. These leave an impression, but not a distraction.

Aldo Pumps ($80). I’m a very petite girl, so I’m not afraid to add some height. Although, being the size I am, some pumps look way to bulky when I wear them. These give the perfect balance, I gain height with sophistication.

I’m currently looking for a writing gig in museums, art galleries, and studios. In those types of industries, it’s important to let your personality shine through what you’re wearing. Because of IIDA’s modern sense of fashion at work, I always keep IIDA in mind when dressing for the job.

Thanks Shannon!

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