My Internship Is Over, Now What?

By Debbie Mitchell

As we move closer to the end of summer, students will spend the next few days reminiscing about their summer adventures. Some kids played, some worked for a wage and others worked for experience.  The experience came by way of their internship, which I've written about in the past and highly recommend for students interested in pursuing any career including television.  My internship changed my life.  We rarely get to see or talk to students after they've done an internship.  This year, a few CBS interns decided to say thanks to the  folks who helped them in their internship, by creating their own "Eye Opener", the daily montage used to open "CBS This Morning."

An internship is only as good as you make it.  Once the internship is over that's when the real work starts.  All the contacts and friends you encountered during your time at a company could be your life line to getting an actual job in the industry.  So here are five things to do to make your television internship count.

- SAY THANK YOU- It is a good idea to go to individuals who you met and worked for  and with during your internship to say a personal "thank you."  If someone was a personal mentor and took interest in you during your time in the shop, tell them how much you appreciated it. Ask them for a critique of your performance and advice for moving forward.

-COLLECT CONTACT INFORMATION- Once your internship is over and you are out the door, the chances are, your out of sight and out of mind.  So it is your job to stay in touch.  When you are taking time to say thank you, tell producers, editors, cameramen etc...that you want to stay in touch and ask if they are willing to sharing their contact information.  If they are open, ask what is the best way  and time to reach them.  Once you get the contact information, don't abuse it. Use it judiciously and be prepared when you reach them. 

-ASK FOR A JOB- If you are graduating and know that you want to get into television begin to tell folks that your are looking for an entry level position before your internship ends.  If there isn't a job in the shop where you are working, someone might know of another job opportunity.  Keep your resume updated and ready.  Talk to the person who is in charge of the internship program, talk to the Executive Producer, Senior Producer or anyone who will listen.

-READ TRADE NEWS- You need to know what is going on in your industry.  Also,when someone leaves a job or there is a new show launching, it is a chance for you to be the first in line to be hired,

-STAY IN TOUCH- It is important to stay in touch.  People change jobs and when they do, it means a position is open in the old shop and your contact is moving to a new place that might also have a position.  Producers are busy so it might be hard to get someone on the phone, so send an email or a card in snail mail but  keep them updated on your professional changes.   Trust me,  I did it and am still friends with my television mentor over 25 years later!

And finally, always be nice to everybody not only the big wigs on staff who you think can help you.  It's a small business, people talk and an intern or BA today could be your boss tomorrow!

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TV/Social Media Producer Debbie Mitchell is an Emmy nominated producer who is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA)  and  is currently a member of the James Beard Broadcast and New Media Awards Committee.  If you are a brand interested in blogger outreach campaigns, a blogger or personality interested in television placement follow Debbie Mitchell @TVProducerDeb or contact TheBloggerConnection.com.

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