Companies and internet marketers

[Jamie101]

I'm half way through my 2nd year of college at the moment, and starting to think that it's about time that I get some work experience under my belt during the summer.

Over the last few weeks I've been looking in to jobs as an intern in companies like Twitter, Facebook etc. but I'm starting to wonder whether companies like these realise how much work goes in to internet marketing and so on? Do large companies assume that us affiliates etc. are just people who spend an hour or so a week doing "actual" work?

I'd like to think I've a decent bit of experience online considering I'm quite young, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm right. At the same time, maybe I'm aiming too high trying to get a job (even as an intern) with Twitter and so on Put it this way, I don't want to be stacking shelves in a supermarket to get some "work experience".

 

[topcat]

I imagine they will be looking for people that code, and code well. They can afford to be extremely picky about who they hire. What type of role are you applying for?

 

[Murray]

Why do you need to work for anyone else? you seem to be doing alright making money on your own.

 

[Jamie101]

I imagine they will be looking for people that code, and code well. They can afford to be extremely picky about who they hire. What type of role are you applying for?

That's true if the role is code related, but most of the jobs for interns don't seem to be like that.

I'm actually studying software development by the way, still have a long way to go really but I know a bit.

I've applied for a few different roles, whatever I thought that I could do well in really - such as Spam Operations with Twitter. Only problem with this one was that it wasn't for interns but I thought it was worth a shot, especially since it was only during weekends which would've been good for me.

 

[Jamie101]

Why do you need to work for anyone else? you seem to be doing alright making money on your own.

True. I am doing alright making money on my own but I want to try something different this summer.

As well as that, working at home does have some negatives.

I'd love to have some work experience with a great company to put on my CV too.


Edit - Should've mentioned: I don't want a summer job for the money, I'd pretty much work for nothing if it was for a good company like the ones I've already mentioned. Might sound weird, but it's true.

 

[namdas]

Having looked at a number of Web jobs recently I think there are a fair few companies taking advantage of youth unemployment and aspiration and asking people to work for peanuts in exchange for 'experience'.

Having said that even if they end up giving you grunt work I think there is a lot of value in working in a traditional office for a while, especially If you plan to work independently for much of your career.

Much of the experience that will benefit you will not be online marketing techniques-you may find your firm is not strictly cutting edge-but more the understanding of how a business is run, costs are controlled, client issues dealt with etc that you may or may not have handled with your online marketing.

That said, I would take the time to really research the positions available and ensure your day to day work will be enough to motivate and engage you.

There Is also nothing to stop you continuing with your own projects in spare time and reinvesting your salary in your own sites to put yourself in an even better position should you later decide to leave.

 

[Blossom]

I would expand your search out a bit: big design/development agencies, web hosts, app people - businesses that generally get social media and have good reputations but who will give you the chance to do something interesting (and show your creativity/develop transferable skills) rather than doing tedious admin work.

 

[martin-s]

Where are you based Jamie?

 

[Systreg]

Where are you based Jamie?

@ Martin, Jamie is in Ireland.

 

[Jamie101]

Thanks for all the replies.

Agree that some companies take advantage of people claiming that it's good "experience" for them.

I remember hearing about Tesco (I think?) taking on people to stack shelves for 6 months or something (with no pay!) in order to get retail experience!

Probably true that I should extend my search out a good bit.

And yeah, I'm in Ireland (around an hour away from Dublin city).

 

[martin-s]

Sorry, can't help much then

 

[Jamie101]

Sorry, can't help much then

Please don't tell me you work for Twitter or something haha

 

[Jamie101]

Quick update:

Been a bit busy lately so haven't had the chance to apply to many places.

Over the next few weeks I might try to come up with something that could go viral, was inspired by phildub.com .

 

[retired_member32]

ask Kev for a job...he is loaded and lives in Eire