Interships are the New Black

In case you are keeping track I have been unemployed for almost six months, and my 30th birthday is looming oh so close. It is due to these factors, I have decided it is time to swallow my pride and do what I thought I was too old to do, find myself an internship.

I know, I know, it’s not that bad. Internships teach you a lot and provide real on the job training. My problem with this new venture, is that I view interns as being; very young and rather inexperienced. Which I know is a mind frame I need to change.

Last week, I had lunch with my snarky friend Alyson, whom I met while attending the UW PR Masters Certificate program. Alyson, at the young age of twenty four, is my current career inspiration; Beyonce and Kelly Cutrone seemed a bit out of reach. A few months ago, she finished a three month internship with a really great boutique PR firm Duo PR, where she learned everything and met what seems like everyone. When it ended Alyson, was temporarily out of a job. Don’t worry, Alyson’s story is not sad, she was able to use her internship experience to recently land a great position with Edelman.

As I said, Alyson is only twenty four, which is in the age category which falls within the range I have been an ageist with my feelings towards in interns. She knows this and has accepted the fact, but really she gets the last laugh. For she was only unemployed for one month and has now found a great job and I have been unemployed going on six months.

Thus to conclude, I have had an internship change of heart and must go out and find one knowing it will provide me with the skills and tools needed to find my true career. So to all of you businesses out there, I am ready to get coffee, file papers, organize, stuff envelopes, and do whatever else I need to do to propel myself in the right direction.

Besides, I heard internships are SOOO in for Spring, all the cool kids are getting one.