Internship, freelancing and a winner!
So I haven’t really talked much about my internship. Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile know that I was big-time stressing out about it a few months ago though! So, here’s a little rundown. Basically I originally was doing and unpaid internship for the month of May at a local marketing/PR agency and it was going great, I LOVED it. The end of May was approaching and I still felt like I had SO much to learn so I approached my bosses about staying on for a few days a week. Well, they talked about it and decided that they wanted me to stay on full-time and I would be getting paid part-time.
So even though I’m there 30-40 hours a week, I only get paid for about half of that because I only get paid when I am working on projects that benefit the company. When I’m doing learning experience stuff or training, it’s unpaid. This set up is totally find by me because I am learning A LOT and it’s going to look great on my resume. Honestly, getting paid is just an added perk. I already mentioned how super-cool and flexible they are. If I’m not going to come in until 10 or 11 one day then all I need to do is fire off an email that morning saying what time I am coming in, I can leave whenever I want and I can work from home if I want. Tomorrow I have a four-hour layover and I plan on doing some work while I’m there! Not to mention that this is an award-winning agency and they’ve done some huge projects, one that brought millions of dollars into the City of Kamloops. If you want to learn more about where I am at and what I’m doing, check out their website: www.solutiongroup.ca.
I’ve also been doing some freelancing work on the side to make some extra cash. Well, yesterday I got an email from the editor of a local magazine asking me if I wanted an assignment. I of course said, YES. This was my first time getting an assignment from her and I want future work so there was no way I was turning it down. Turns out the assignment involves me going to a house in Kamloops, profiling it, and writing an article about it. Not something I can do over the phone or email. The biggest catch, it’s due next Friday, the day after I get back from FSJ. SO, I called the guy to see if I could check out his house this morning before I catch my flight at 1:30 and he says sure, if I come at SIX a.m.
Did I mention the house is 40 minutes out of town? Ugh.
I debated whether it was worth taking the assignment or not and decided that it was. I want to make a good impression so that she will think of me for future freelance work. So, as you guys are reading this I’ve already been up for about an hour or two and I’m probably out at the house right now. Wanting to die because then I have to go into my internship and work for a few hours before catching my plane at 1:30. With my long layover and the fact that I’m flying into Grande Prairie, not FSJ, I won’t be home until late tonight.
I also didn’t even look at google reader yesterday because I was so busy getting caught up on things at my internship (at work? can I call it “work” now?) and the one time I did look at it, it was at 74 new posts and I got scared and X-ed out the window. I plan on catching up on it during my layover.
OK, now for the part you’ve all been waiting for, we have a winner of Outlander by, Diana Gabaldon…..
……….LISA from Knitting Yarns!!! Lisa often posts book reviews on her awesome blog so I can’t wait to read what she thinks about this one! And, even if you did not win this giveaway, you should go buy this book. It’s only like $13 and it’s such an AMAZING read, you will NOT regret it!!! Lisa, send me an email with your address and I’ll send you this book right away 
Today is the last day to enter to win a DATE NIGHT to the movies. If you haven’t already, go here and enter asap!
Ugh. I just re-read this post and I feel the need to do some editing, I use WAY too many exclamation points when I’m typing!!!!!! (Haha.)
Update: I wrote a blog post for work on whether or not Twitter is an effective business tool or not. Check it out here and let me know what you think! Is Twitter an effective tool for businesses?
Good luck with the freelance project!
WOO HOO!!!! I squealed when I read that I was the lucky winner!!! I can’t wait to check this book out & will DEFINITELY review it on my blog.
Thanks Amber – you are thebomb.com
Wow, what a busy day for you. You are going to CRASH when you get home tonight!
Isn’t it kind of funny how seeing so many unread posts can make your heart go kind of pitter-patter?
I feel the same when and then I’m like – wait, self, you read this stuff because you enjoy it!
Have a fabulous trip home! I’ll send you an email w/ my info!
I felt that way when I got back from NYC….and I don’t feel like I can skip any of them (mostly because I’m interested in seeing all that’s happened
Your internship sounds AMAZING! You are going to have an awesome summer!!
Your internship does sound awesome! You’re a busy lady! I hope you find sometime for yourself this summer
I just placed a hold on that book at the library, it’s been check out but once it comes back in I’m reading it, it sounds really good!
Have a safe trip!
It sounds like the freelance writing job will be a good experience, even if it’s a total bust. I hope it went well for you, though!
Wow, Amber, that sounds like a very EARLY morning, especially considering I can’t even convince the boyfriend out of bed before 7am. Hope the interview went well! And safe travels!
Well first, travel safely and enjoy your time in FSJ!
Second: congrats on the staying on longer at the internship. that’s a huge tribute to how awesome of a worker you are =)
Hope you can get some R&R soon!
The internship sounds great! So does the freelancing, that seems like a great way to make extra money on the side.
And I feel the same way when my reader had a million things in it, it’s definitely overwhelming…it’s fun to catch up on, though!
I think you’ve definitely earned the right to call it work. You are doing work there after all?
And last week after my computer died, my reader was just as stressful. It seemed like for every entry I read two more appeared!
Congrats girl!! You’re obviously doing a lot of things right, and doing them Well!
making an impression now, networking, and getting your name out there – sounds like you’ll have NO problem when it’s time for the “real” job search! It’s definitely fun and Wayyy worth it to do writing on the side, whether it’s paid or not.
Huuuuge props for catching up on all the blogs AND doing work during a layover! I usually do one or the other, then find a magazine store and browse til I’m bred of that. haha
hope you had safe flights!
oh! aaand YES I think Twitter CAN be a very effective ‘business tool’ when used the right way – add a little personality to your theme/expertise!
Good luck with the project!
I love your twitter article! I think I may show it to my boss and see if I can convince him to let me twitter for them on my down time at work
That is so awesome that you have an awesome internship / job, and that they are so flexible! I had a really flexible internship last Fall and I am really missing it as I’m working Retail.
Good Luck on your project!
I suppose Twitter COULD be useful for business, definitely.
But it wouldn’t be half as much fun if I had to censor…
That sounds like an awesome job! I will check out the website to learn more about it. I totally want to check out your articles too. Also – so sad I didn’t win the book. I’ll have to get it on Amazon.
You sound like you are doing SUCH great things with your life. Congratulations at negotiating your position at your internship. I currently work at Career Services at my University and am thrilled to see young people take their employments and learning into their own hands. I’m an avid twitterer and I will go and read your article when I get back from lunch.
Also, since your blog is AMAZING, I gave you an award today! =)
Hi my dear, this is Sarah from Vitamin G over on Glamour.com. Thanks for all your thoughtful comments there–I always appreciate hearing from you and your opinions! I just found your blog–which is so cute! (I also use Thesis on my personal blog, which I just redid). Anyway, I just wanted to encourage you in the freelance writing arena. You’re fab for taking on tough (and early a.m.) assignments. I did a ton of stuff like that before I started doing bigger stuff for magazines. You’ll get there! Just be determined! xoxo