Internships: Get the Inside Scoop
A Q&A with a student who got to work alongside Kelly Ripa, the Kardashians and Beyoncé at her dream jobs.by Caitlyn KaneWith summer just around the corner and the idea of getting an internship weighing down on you, the thought of applying and going through the interview process can seem daunting. But stress no more thanks to this inside scoop from someone you could call a professional student intern. Chloé Scretchings, a senior majoring in Advertising and Public Relations, has had four exciting (and educational) internships within the last two years at LIVE! With Regis and Kelly, Entertainment Tonight, The International Emmy Awards and Showbiz Tonight. Here, her advice on how can get your dream internship, too.THE CAMPUS: What would be your words of advice to students who are interested in applying for internships for the first time?CHLOE’: Apply everywhere you think you want to be. And try to contact everyone you can—the more referrals you can get, the better! I signed up for one of those job alert sites and got an email about the intern night at ABC, so I decided to go! The first interview was great. At the time I had no previous experience besides working at an ice cream shop as a birthday party host and in an African safari office as a production assistant, but I tried my best to spin it all into having some relevance. It was the best decision I ever made, I’m glad I trusted my instinct.THE CAMPUS: What would be your words of advice for students who are going to an interview for an internship?CHLOE’: Be confident and have a great personality. At this stage they don’t have experience on their side, so if they can charm whoever’s interviewing them with their brains then that should help get their foot in the door.THE CAMPUS: Have you met any celebrities?CHLOE’: Yes! I’ve met Ryan Reynolds, Donald Trump, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian, Bradley Cooper, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Lauren Conrad, and others! No one’s been incredibly mean or anything, they’re all normal and nice. It is mainly their “people” who speak up for them.THE CAMPUS: Was it easy for you to get along with your co-workers or other interns?CHLOE’: Yes. But when it comes to other interns we laugh and talk, but in my mind they are always competition. I kept to myself mostly and found projects to work on with the producers, because they are who I’m there for…not the other kids that are trying to get the same job as me.THE CAMPUS: What are a few of the biggest duties you’ve had? CHLOE’: At LIVE! every morning I loved to race downstairs and volunteer to do audience spotlight. It was when I got to talk to everyone that was in line for the show and find out why they were there and if they had any fun stories that might put them on television that morning. It was like I was a segment producer.THE CAMPUS: What has been your worst experience? CHLOE’: That was probably at a launch party for Beyoncé’s new perfume, Pulse. The party was great but when it came time for the interview with Beyoncé, I was standing with the crew to take pictures for the website. But once her people saw me they flipped out and told me to get out! And the PD (press director) didn’t like how they were talking to me so he got in a fight with them and it was such a big mess. It definitely brought me and the PD closer and I love him for standing up for me. I was scared that his getting upset could ruin a relationship Entertainment Tonight needs with Beyoncé’s camp, but everything turned out okay and everyone was on my side! Whew!THE CAMPUS: What are your plans after you graduate?CHLOE’: I want to start work as a production assistant on a show! I would prefer it to be in entertainment news, but we’ll see where the next 45 days take me!!
