Current Progress

I have been searching for an internship for about six weeks now, and still have not found anything. Yesterday, I went back to WVU's Career Service Center to see they knew of anything available. I met with Toni Jones and she was much more helpful then the last person I spoke to.

She gave me the names of people at the Dominion Post and the Jeffersonian that may need help. I called up Isiah Richie, who is an accounting student currently writing for the Jeffersonian. He gave me the e-mail address of Krista Streisel, who is apparently in charge of their hiring. I sent an e-mail inquiring about interning for them.

After I composed that e-mail, I got a message from Dale Weaver. Mr. Weaver is head of Sports Weave and works out of WVU's Business Incubator. I had e-mailed him a week or two ago asking about internship opportunities. He wanted a copy of my resume and what my interest is in Sports Weave. I sent a cover letter explaining my situation that informed him of the internship program, my desire to work with student-athletes, and my experience in athletics.

I hope to hear back from both of them as soon as possible. If they say "No," I also have other names and places like the Center for Civic Engagement and Ron Jusice informed me of Chris Flecker who is Director of Planning in Morgantown. If I do not hear back from Streisel or Weaver in a day, I will try these other places.

Calling Back

Today I sent a few minutes doing follow up calls to places that I sent a cover letter and a copy of my resume to. The one place that e-mailed me back was Datacaster (a stealth mode company). However when I called the number from the website, I received your standard "I'm sorry the number you are trying to reach..." I had no idea that Datacaster took its 'stealth' so seriously that you couldn't even call the office.

I decided to send an e-mail off to Populore Publishing in Westover. I have interviewed the head editor, Mrs. Sielen, for my 301 project and hope she will bring me on as an intern.

The Business Incubator

Over the last week I have been trying to find a internship, which I can use my skill effectively while gaining valuable experience. It has been hard to send out e-mails, cover letters, and resumes and not get a "yes" or "no." My roommate is telling me that they wait to give a response, but I can't afford to wait much longer.

This week I attended a meeting with WVU Career Service Center to get some help. After meeting with their representative and gains some names and number, I preceded to try and contact some of the people they gave me. I have not had any luck reaching these people. The one internship I really want is with WV Writers Inc. We both share the goal of helping develop creative writing skills within the community. I know this will be a good opportunity, but can't reach their intern coordinator.

Running out of options, I decided to try the WVU Business Incubator. I have tried once already and was met with cold silence. This time though I decided to e-mail the individual heads of each business in the Incubator. I sent an e-mail to any name I can find asking about a possible internship. I am hoping for either Datacasters Inc. (http://www.datacaster.com/) or SportsWeave (http://www.sportsweave.com/) to respond in favor of my request.

Many of my fellow classmates have found their internship and are working diligently for success. I have been tracking the blogs and been gaining an understanding of how to write my own once I gain and internship. I am a little worried that I may be too late to produce enough material for a A+ final portfolio, but that only means I'll have to work twice as hard in half the time.

Getting the name out there

Over the last week I have been customizing cover letters and resumes in order to find a internship here at the University. I have written letters to The Alumni Magazine, The Career Service Center, and have inquired with a friend if they need a PWE intern with the U92.

I have doubts that the Alumni Magazine will get back to me, but so far I have not been contacted by anyone. I hope at least for a formal rejection so I know were I stand. My only option I see keep sending my literature to as many people I can research.

I am still hoping to find an internship within WVU. I know that someone will be able to utilize my skills and I plan to live up to everything I say I am.

Taking the next step

With my deadline of three weeks coming to a close, I have wrote a business letter. This letter will be sent to various people in hopes of gaining an internship.

This is an example of the letter I was talking about. I have cut out most of the address information for privacy sake.

My name is Jesse Irons and I am an undergraduate student in the English department here at West Virginia University. I am inquiring about a chance to intern at the Alumni Magazine for my English 491a class. I hope to start a career as an editor in publishing and have dedicated my four years in the Professional Writing and Editing program at WVU to reach my goal. If you accept me as an intern, this will be my first major step towards that goal.

Outside of formal education, I have experience helping friends and family edit and write various assignments in both MLA and APA style format. I have detailed knowledge of Microsoft Office and I am currently learning webpage design. I have worked hard learned what it will take to be a professional editor. All I need is more experience, which I hope to gain as an intern.

This internship will be given my upmost care and respect, with my schedule revolving around yours. My professor, Dr. @#$!@, is requiring that I complete 140 hours as an intern before the semesters up. I am more than happy to provide any information about myself or the class that may be a concern for you. I will organize the information into a web portfolio with my work and experience with the Alumni Magazine, which I will gladly share with you.

I hope that we can meet as so as possible. I do ask that you respond within one to two week after receiving this letter. I have learned so much at WVU, but nothing can compare to knowledge from experience. By working as an intern with the Alumni Magazine, I can learn how to truly be a professional editor. I hope you will respond favorably to my request, and please feel free to ask any questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Jesse Irons

The search is on

Today I took my first steps to find a internship that would interest me. I am looking for something along the lines of editing, to be within the University, and paid. I really don't think I can find a paid internship, but that's not a big deal. It is important that it be in Morgantown because I do not have a car and bus schedules are unreliable.

Internships for English majors at WVU include working with: the Center for Literary Computing, the WVU Alumni Magazine, the WVU Press, and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences College Relations Director.

The Center for Literary Computing sounds like it could be fun. I have experience with both iMac and PC, detailed knowledge of Mircosoft Office and Photoshop, have volunteered time teacher computers to elderly people, and I am currently learning how to build webpages in my 303 and 304 English classes. I can see myself editing things like manuals and webpages. The only thing I can't edit are lines of complex codes.

When I took English 302, one of the projects I did was to edit a newsletter for the WVU Alumni Magazine. The project taught me to check for consistency in both visual and within the text. I can continue to do that as well as edit anything else.

Its my understanding that the WVU Press isn't looking for anymore interns right now. I'm not sure I can see myself there anyway.

I couldn't find anything to specific about an internship at Eberly College of Arts and Sciences College Relations Director. I'm sure it's their but I could only find news about internships in Europe. I'd be all about going to Europe for an internship if I wasn't already taking other classes. I'm not too sure about what I would do their.

There is one other place; Populore Publishing. I interviewed the head editor of Populore for my English 301 class. Populore would allow me to edit in fiction and non-fiction, which I hope to do in the future. Im sure I can find an internship their if I ask, but I would like to branch out a little if I could.

The key to being good at an internship is to be practical and inovative. I know I have the skills to anything thats asked of me as an intern while still domonstrating my strenght as an editor.

First Day in 491a

This is the end of the of 301 and start of 491a

Today was the first day of my English 491a class. This class is my capstone and needed in order for me to graduate this semester. Basically, I have to complete 140 hours as an intern in an area that interests me. I'm a little nervous because many of my fellow classmates have already know where they are interning. However, I am confident that I can find an internship within the first three weeks of this semester.

The teacher requires me to keep up with the reading and careful keep track of what I learn. Pretty cut and dry, just like 301. I must keep track of everything I do and learn, then present my learning experience towards the end of the semester. As long as I keep track of everything I do, learned, and applied in the class. I should have plenty of meaningful content to present.