Author: wayupstudent

How to Get Into Advertising

If you’re a marketing or advertising major you’re likely thinking about your career path after graduation. To find out more about what it’s like to work in advertising, we visited the New York offices of McCann Worldgroup, one of the oldest and largest advertising agencies in the world and talked to Cristina Pansolini, one of the agency’s brand strategists. During our chat, Cristina shared her insights about the advertising world and offered some helpful tips for how students and recent grads can get started in the industry.

Here are some of the things you need to know about working in advertising.

What is an advertising agency?

“All the ads and commercials you see have an advertising agency behind them,” Cristina explains.“The agency basically helps a brand decide how they want to look to consumers out in the world.” From brainstorming ideas to implementing campaigns, ad agencies are responsible for helping brands discover their unique value and put their best foot forward with consumers.

What are all the different roles at an ad agency?

According to Cristina, there are three main client-facing positions: account executives, brand strategists and creatives. Account executives are responsible for managing the day-to-day relationships with clients, including making sure that timelines and budgets are adhered to and that clients are happy with the results of their campaigns. Brand strategists like Cristina also interact with clients and they’re responsible for helping brands determine how they want to represent themselves to customers. “I help determine the strategy for brands to come to life,” Cristina explains, emphasizing that the process is all about taking ideas and executing them in an engaging, effective way. Lastly, there are creatives, the people responsible for writing engaging copy and designing graphics to capture a brand’s look and feel. Although each of these positions plays a unique role in how campaigns come to life, the interaction between them is what allows agencies to consistently deliver effective, creative solutions to their clients.

What is the culture like at an ad agency?

“It’s pretty casual,” Cristina explains, emphasizing that working at an ad agency is definitely not as fast-paced or exciting as a show like “Mad Men” makes it out to be. “There are definitely no suits and ties though a lot of people care about fashion and are trendy.” As far of the atmosphere of the office goes, that’s pretty fun and casual too. “Socializing is definitely big. We have a ping-pong table and a pool table. And it’s definitely very young. Even the older employees have a young spirit,” she says.

How does a recent grad or college student get a job at an ad agency?

According to Cristina, most advertising executives land their jobs by going the internship route. “I would say that 90% of the people who work here got in through an internship,” she says. The key is to find a good internship and then capitalize on the opportunity by working hard and going the extra mile.

Pro Tip: Timing is also important. Ad agencies like McCann recruit full-time employees from their crop of summer interns and they make sure to hire interns who are recent graduates. “It’s kind of a trail run and they’ll be able to determine if they’re going to hire you by the end of the summer,” Cristina explains. Her advice: Take your internship seriously and make the most of every moment you have there.

Working in advertising is an exciting chance to come up with creative ways for companies to connect with consumers. It’s also an opportunity to work as part of a dynamic team like the one at McCann. If you think a job in advertising might be for you, take Cristina’s advice and test it out by applying for relevant internships in the field. And who knows? One of them might just get you your dream job after graduation.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Write a Resume That Stands Out and find answers to common interview questions such as What Gets You Up in the Morning?

How to Become a Social Media Manager

 If you spend hours crafting your Snapchat story and have an interest in capitalizing on media trends, becoming a social media manager might be the job for you. What is a social media manager? It’s a role that allows you to be the voice of a company on social media, building the brand and the personality of the organization. Sound good? Before you start looking for a social media internship or entry-level job, here’s what you need to know about working in this industry.

What is a social media manager?

A social media manager manages social media accounts for a company. This can include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Pinterest. They are responsible for growing and maintaining engagement by posting on different channels, analyzing metrics and optimizing media strategies.

According to Juliette Dallas-Feeney, Senior Social Media Manager at Birchbox, the role is “the perfect combination of storytelling and analytics.” Social media managers are all about engagement, which means that their primary focus is to create social posts that will resonate with audiences across multiple platforms. Day-to-day, this involves staying on top of media trends and making sure that marketing messages are consistent across all channels. Another key part of the role is building a community around a brand.

What skills do you need in order to become a social media manager?

Social media management requires creativity and an analytical brain. The type of person who does best in this role possesses the following skills.

Communication

Crafting engaging posts is a key part of this role. This means writing copy that resonates in the brand voice and adapting that copy to fit different platforms. Whether it’s a tweet or a Facebook post, your writing should appeal to as many users as possible.

Creativity

Being creative and taking chances is also important. “There is a ton of room for experimentation in social media. The key to being successful is trying anything and everything and understanding what sticks,” Juliette explains. This means brainstorming new strategies and testing them out to find the ones with the highest impact.

Analysis

Social media managers also have to be analytical. “You have to understand metrics and be able to see what’s working and what’s not,” Juliette says. This is because social media relies heavily on analytics in order to test different ideas and find the best ways of communicating with users. You’ll also need to have experience with programs like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets to record and analyze the metrics provided by each of the channels you manage.

Customer Service

Last but not least, social media managers have to be well-versed in customer service. Social media platforms are often the first point of contact for many customers of big brands like Birchbox, so finding ways to address problems and highlight successes is one of the key parts of this role.

Pro Tip: Graphic design is another key skill for social media managers and knowing your way around Photoshop and Canva will make you stand out from the pack. If your design skills could use some help, try taking a free online class at places like Khan Academy or Open Learning.

How do you get started in the industry?

One of the key steps to landing a job in social media is to build your own social media brand. “Having your own social media presence is really important,” Juliette explains. This is something she looks for when hiring new members of her team at Birchbox. Your social accounts will serve as your digital portfolio, showcasing your creativity and communication skills for potential employers. To build your social media brand effectively, make your accounts public and make your voice a mix of professional and fun. Above all, be authentic. This is one of the key tenets of social media and something that companies strive to do when developing and maintaining their brand voice.

Once you’ve established a social media presence, offer to help businesses with their social media accounts. Start small and focus on building a portfolio and tracking success by measuring engagement and growth across platforms. After you have some experience under your belt (and some impressive numbers to share) apply for paid and unpaid internships or freelance projects within the field. These roles will give you the hands-on experience you need to land your first entry-level job, and will help you determine whether a social media job is a good fit for you.

 

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Answer Top Interview Questions and find answers to common interview questions such as What Gets You Up in the Morning?.

What is it Like to Work at an Ad Agency?

If you’re an advertising major or a “Mad Men” fan, you may be wondering what it’s like to work at an ad agency. To find out, we visited the New York offices of McCann Worldgroup, one of the largest and most established advertising agencies in the world. While there, we sat down with Brand Strategist Cristina Pansolini to find out what an ad agency does and talk about some of the most common facts and myths of advertising.

Here’s what it’s really like to work at an ad agency.

Is working at an ad agency a fun and glamorous experience?

According to Cristina, there’s definitely some truth to the “Mad Men” representation of the industry. “I would say the socialization is pretty accurate. Everyone’s hanging out all the time and there’s definitely a creative, fun vibe like there is on the show,” she says. This vibe helps the team come together to brainstorm and develop innovative campaigns for their clients. For a big agency like McCann, this means working on campaigns for clients of all sizes including corporations, startups and everything in between.

How long does it take for a campaign to go from inception to implementation?

Because each campaign is different, it’s important to distinguish the type of campaign you want to create before you can identify the timeline for implementation. Cristina explains that “A brand campaign (which is related to what the brand stands for) can take six months from start to finish.” This includes everything from establishing the look and feel of the brand to creating ads designed to increase the brand’s presence. Product and social campaigns however, are faster to develop. “A product campaign, which is a focus on something specific the brand sells, that can take three to four months to launch, and social campaigns can take anywhere from a week to three weeks,” Cristina says.

How does the team brainstorm new campaigns?

Brainstorming is one of the key parts of advertising and finding ways to do it effectively is really important. According to Cristina, a lot of what makes brainstorming such a fun process at McCann is the layout of the office itself. “We have whiteboards and corkboards across most of the walls and most of the meeting rooms. If inspiration strikes, we just start writing down ideas,” she explains. This makes the process a collaborative one and ensures that brand strategists and account executives are able to work through ideas and presentations as a team, coming up with the best possible solution for each client.

How do you balance working on multiple accounts at once?

One of the challenges of working for an ad agency is balancing multiple accounts at once while ensuring that senior leadership is happy with the results. “Most people work on two to three brands, depending on the size,” Cristina explains. Delivering successful campaigns is all about listening to what the client needs and being able to offer them solutions that will help them put their best foot forward with consumers. Although this may sound challenging, Cristina emphasizes that it’s been a great learning experience and one that has helped her learn the ins and out of the advertising industry very quickly.

Working for an ad agency definitely has some glamorous perks but it’s also a great place to develop new skills and take on interesting challenges. If you think an ad agency job might be right for you, be sure to test it out by applying for paid and unpaid internships in the field. These roles will give you the hands-on experience you need to land your first entry-level job, and will help you determine whether an advertising job is a good fit for you. And who knows? You might just land a job at a great agency like McCann.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What is a Chronological Resume? and find answers to common interview questions such as If I Asked Your Friends to Describe You, What Would They Say?

Types of Internships for Global Studies Majors

With its strong focus on political science and economics, a global studies major can help you develop a broad range of research and critical thinking skills. It can also open up the doors to many exciting career opportunities in fields such as politics and the nonprofit sector. To find out which of these opportunities matches your skills and interests, we recommend taking on an internship.

Here are some of the most common internships for global studies majors:

Political intern (with the State Department or with a congressman)

Political internships with the Department of State or with congressmen and women are extremely prestigious and competitive. From conducting research on elections and specific candidates to drafting outreach materials and providing administrative support, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your skills while learning a lot about the field of politics. You’ll get an insider’s view of various campaigns and government activities, and have the opportunity to network with others in the field.

NGO/Nonprofit intern

While interning at a nonprofit, you’ll be working to support a cause or community. This role will give you hands-on experience working in a cross-functional capacity as well as the flexibility to gain expertise in different roles. From doing research to helping with logistics, marketing and operations, an internship at an NGO or nonprofit will give you insights into all of the trends and issues you’ve studied in your global studies classes.

Journalism intern

If you plan on branching out into digital or broadcast journalism, an internship for a newspaper or news channel is the way to go. As a journalism intern, you’ll get to research stories, observe the editing process, manage social media accounts and attend media-related events. You’ll also get to network, pitch ideas and possibly write your own articles on some of the important national and global issues you’re passionate about.

Public relations intern

Since public relations is a vital component of fields such as politics, government and entertainment, global studies majors wishing to specialize in PR can get much-needed experience through an internship. During this internship, you’ll promote the brand behind a product or individual. You’ll also get a feel for what the PR work culture is like, while learning how to develop and manage social media and publicity campaigns.

Public policy intern

From assisting with the collection of legislative research to researching and analyzing various areas of public policy or even attending conferences as a representative of the organization, a public policy internship gives students a solid understanding of how policy is enacted. Whether your internship focuses on educational reform, economic development or a humanitarian division or organization, you’ll get wonderful exposure into the procedures that play a major role in facilitating change.

Business internship (sales, marketing, operations) for a global company

Another common internship for global studies majors is a business internship with a global company. By giving you exposure to different areas of the business—like marketing, sales and operations—this type of internship will help you learn more about patterns and trends in the global market while also giving you a chance to apply what you’ve learned during your time in college.

More than anything, an internship gives you much-needed insight into the aspects of your major that you are most interested in. This is especially essential for global studies majors, given the fact that the major opens up so many possible doors.

Next, learn more about this college major such as What is a Global Studies Major? and get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as Top 10 Things You Should Look For In An Internship.

How to Answer: What’s Your Dream Job?

 Chances are you’ve asked yourself this question at some point. Even if you haven’t figured out all of the details, you might have a sense of what you’d like to do. Like the related question “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”, this question is designed to give the interviewer a sense of how your goals align with those of the company you’d like to work for. They want to see that you’re ambitious and that the position you’re interviewing for fits into your long-term plans.

The best way to prepare your answer to this question is to spend a few minutes writing out a description of what your dream job might look like. Be sure to include things like what you’d like to do and who you’d like to work with. Then compare that description to the description of the job you’re interviewing for. Focus on the things that show up in both lists and talk about why those things are exciting to you.

Here are some tips to help you prepare your answer.

Explain your dream job.

This is a great way to start your answer because it will give the hiring manager some insight into your long-term goals and help them understand why you’re applying for the position in the first place. Keep this part of your answer short (one sentence is fine) and be sure to give some context by explaining what part of your dream job appeals to you.

Say something like: “My dream job is to one day be a lead product manager, creating and scaling innovative tech products.”

Mention how your values align with the company’s values.

While your skills are definitely a key part of landing the job you want, your values also play a significant role in showing how the position you’re interviewing for fits into your goals for the future. What are “values”? They can be a lot of different things, including work-life balance, salary, vacation time and company culture. Having values that overlap with those of the company you’d like to work for is especially important for entry-level jobs because hiring managers are looking for candidates who are committed to sticking with the organization.

Say something like: “Because of my passion for digital platforms, I want to be involved in working on projects like the ones your company is working on, especially because I love working in places that put an emphasis on collaborative environments and teamwork.“

Connect your future goals to the position.

Letting the interviewer know that you’re ambitious is great, but in addition to talking about the kind of position you want to have in the future, you should also talk about what you can learn from this role and how this will help shape your career path within the industry. Be sure to mention that you’re interested in the position for the long term. This will show employers that you’re committed to them and will be sticking around.

Say something like: “I know being a Lead PM is a big goal, so I’m ready to do everything I can to develop my skills and work alongside talented people.”

Here’s how to bring it all together:

“My dream job is to one day be a lead product manager, creating and scaling innovative tech products. Because of my passion for digital platforms, I want to be involved in working on projects like the ones your company is working on, especially because I love working in places that put an emphasis on collaborative environments and teamwork. I know being a Lead PM is a big goal, so I’m ready to do everything I can to develop my skills and work alongside talented people.”

Pro tip: Although you may be excited about the job you’re interviewing for, unless it really is your dream job, don’t say it is. Interviewers are much more likely to be impressed by a sincere response related to skills or values that are in line with the position.

Answering “What’s your dream job?” is a great chance to show the interviewer that you’re ambitious and forward-thinking, while also having the skills and values that will make you a great employee. By highlighting your great qualities and giving a thoughtful answer about how the position you’re interviewing for will help you achieve your long-term goals, you’ll really impress the interviewer and get one step closer to landing the job.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What to Do After You Get a Job Offer and find answers to common interview questions such as How to Answer: Tell Me About a Time You Made a Mistake.

How to Answer: What Motivates You?

 Some of the most common interview questions can also be the most challenging to answer. “What motivates you?” is a deceptively simple one. It can give your future employer a sense of your aspirations and long-term goals. It can paint a picture of why you get up in the morning and what makes you tick. How you choose to answer this question can either give a hiring manager a compelling reason to remember you or it can unintentionally leave you looking uncertain, or worse, indifferent.

This question can make or break your job interview, so here are a few key insights to consider as you prepare to answer: What motivates you?

Reflect.

If you try to come up with an answer to this question on the spot, you’ll likely sell yourself short. This is an opportunity to demonstrate strong self-awareness and it requires thoughtful reflection to get the answer just right. A helpful strategy can be to think about the times in your life where you felt the most driven and inspired, whether in a previous internship, in your classes, on a sports team or as part of another extracurricular activity. Personality tests like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator can also illuminate new ways to identify and articulate your passions and strengths. For example, if you find that you are most motivated while prepping for final projects or getting ready for a championship game, you can share that having clear and ambitious end goals is important to you.

It can be equally essential to reflect on what activities or spaces leave you feeling discouraged or unmotivated. Taking the time to identify these energy-drainers can help you avoid work settings that may not be a good fit, particularly if you’re looking for your first entry-level job and are still trying to understand type of job will work best for you.

Be authentic.

Hiring managers can quickly tell if you’re being genuine about your motivations. Generalized responses like “I love working with others” tend to be easily forgotten. Overly catered responses could look insincere. You are most compelling when you are authentic. Look at the job description and pull out what you are genuinely excited about. If you’re eager to work on a close-knit team and you see that this role has highly collaborative project management, that’s a great place to dive in. Alternatively, if you get energy from being around others, but this job has you doing predominately independent work like data analysis, that’s something you need to consider carefully.

Keep it concise, positive and connected.

“What motivates you?” is a broad question, so it can be tempting to rattle off a long list of things that get you excited to wake up in the morning, but a compelling response will be succinct, grounded in previous accomplishments, and connected to the job at hand. Curate a list of two to three key motivators accompanied by 1) a specific example of when this motivated you and 2) how you see this playing out in the job that you’re applying for.

Say something like: “I’m very motivated when doing work that positively affects others’ lives. As part of the community service that I do on campus, I had the opportunity to come up with a service project with other team members, and I found that I’m at my personal best when I have the chance to be both creative and service-oriented. I’m excited to see that this job also focuses on fostering a service-oriented mindset.”

Pro Tip: Whatever you say, don’t say money. Salaries are certainly important, but money should never be the primary motivating factor that you share in an interview.

Below are some potential motivating factors and ways to connect what motivates you to job descriptions:

Bringing out the best in others → Example: Laterally managing teammates to their greatest potential
Creative expression → Example: Innovating new solutions to complex problems
Working in teams → Example: Encouraging collaborative practices across teams and departments
Making a difference → Example: Upping the standards for inclusive processes
Winning or competing → Example: Setting and achieving ambitious goals in ambiguous contexts

Self-reflecting on the front-end and identifying what truly motivates you will not only narrow down your job search to a list of more meaningful opportunities, but it will also help you feel confident walking in on interview day. For other ideas on how to get noticed by hiring managers, check out our advice on how to stand out during a job search.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as Advanced Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out and find answers to common interview questions such as What Was Your Favorite Class?

How to Answer: Are You Willing to Travel?

“Are you willing to travel” is a common interview question, especially if the company you’d like to work for has multiple locations or you’re applying for a sales or consulting position. When a hiring manager asks this, along with related questions like, “Are you willing to relocate?” it’s to determine your level of flexibility and your commitment to the position and the company.

Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing your answer.

Do your homework.

If the job description states that the position requires travel, apply only if you’re willing and able to do so. Do some research about how much travel is typically required for the position you’re applying for so when the interviewer follows up by asking how often you are able to travel, you can give an appropriate answer. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a campus recruiter for a particular company, you should know that you’ll be traveling quite a bit during the academic year when you attend college career fairs and major industry conferences.

Find out the details.

If the job description and interviewer don’t outline the travel requirements, you should be prepared to ask. In fact, asking questions will show your prospective employer that you’re really interested in the role and invested in making it work for both parties.

Tell the truth.

Be upfront about how much you’re able to travel during any given timeframe. Even if you’re willing to travel every week, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can take off for London at a moment’s notice. Be sure to frame your answer in terms of what you’re able to do, demonstrating flexibility and wrap up by asking the hiring manager to offer more details on the travel requirements.

Say something like: “I’m definitely willing to travel, and actually love traveling! I’ll admit that I have some prior commitments that prevent me from traveling every weekend, but I’m more than happy to travel every week if necessary. Do you know how much traveling would be expected of me?”

Above all, make sure to focus on what you can do for the company and not the other way around. By doing your homework beforehand, asking follow-up questions and being honest, you’re positioning yourself as a strong and memorable applicant.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Deal with Multiple Internship Offers and find answers to common interview questions such as How Have You Displayed Leadership?

Types of Internships for Health and Medicine Majors

Pursuing a health and medicine major is a great way to develop your knowledge of the healthcare industry and learn the skills you’ll need to succeed in the field. The best way to put those skills and knowledge to use is by taking on an internship in a healthcare-related field and figure out what career path really fits your interests. From a healthcare-focused education internship to an internship at a public policy organization, there are a lot of options you can explore to determine what works best for you.

Some of the most common internships for health and medicine majors include:

Clinical lab intern

As a clinical lab intern, you’ll work at a lab where you’ll be involved in a number of administrative and research-related tasks. It’s a great opportunity to keep up with the latest research trends and methodologies while learning how to test, analyze and discuss your results with the world at large.

Pre-med summer intern

Another great option is to apply for pre-med summer internship programs in hospitals and universities. This can be especially helpful if you’re a pre-med student who is interested in going to medical school since it’s the perfect opportunity to get a handle on the medical environment and the responsibilities that come along with it. This type of internship involves hands-on experience with the functioning of different departments as well as the potential to shadow a doctor in their everyday duties.

Policy intern

If your passion for healthcare extends to facilitating change through healthcare and mental health policies, a policy or advocacy internship with a prominent healthcare organization could be a great choice. From keeping up with legislative changes to attending conferences and drafting and researching topics related to specific healthcare policies, you’ll get hands-on experience into the procedures required to facilitate policy reform.

Education intern

If you’re looking to put your healthcare major to use in an educational setting, interning at a school, a university or an ed-tech company can give you the exposure you need. In this role, you could be coordinating training programs in a school or writing content for adaptive learning apps. This type of internship will give you hands-on experience with the learning methods and technologies you’ll need to make learning interesting and engaging to students.

Nonprofit intern

If you’re interested in working in the nonprofit sector, you might consider interning at a nonprofit healthcare organization, a role that can offer you a great all-around experience while also giving you a sense of what it takes to fund and sustain such an organization. Whether you’re assisting with grant writing, organizing training sessions or coordinating outreach programs, you’ll get a broad range of experience in the healthcare field and beyond.

Healthcare administration intern

As an administrative intern in a healthcare setting, you’ll gain familiarity with the operations of a hospital or a healthcare organization. You might be assigned to a specific department or gain experience across multiple departments in areas such as data gathering and report writing.

Whether you’re on your way to medical school or looking to branch out into a healthcare-related occupation that does not directly focus medical care, an internship will give you the hands-on experience you need to develop your skills and find out what type of career is right for you.

Next, learn more about this college major such as What Types of Skills Are Best for a Health and Medicine Major? and get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as the Top 10 Skills Employers Want in an Intern.

How to Become a Trend Forecaster

Few things have had as big of an impact on business in recent years as the concept of trend forecasting. With its ability to analyze fashion, technology and cultural trends, this key area of the media and marketing industries is dedicated to spotting patterns in consumer behavior and leveraging those insights to help brands connect with their audiences. To find out more about the ins and outs of trend forecasting and get advice on how to land a job in the field, we sat down with Sara Radin, a youth culture editor at WGSN, a trend forecasting company.

What is a trend forecaster?

A trend forecaster is responsible for identifying new trends and predicting how those trends will shape a certain industry. Usually based at a trend forecasting agency such as WGSN, trend forecasters are responsible for analyzing consumer data and coming up with recommendations based those insights. They also often travel to different cities across the country and around the world to spot new trends and get a sense of the broader impact of a product or idea.

Equal parts creative and analytical, trend forecasting relies on data analysis to uncover consumer patterns and then synthesizes those findings into reports. For some trend forecasters, like Sara, the reports take the form of articles that her clients can use to adjust their strategies when marketing to specific audiences. “Our clients use our guides as a resource for inspiration and research when designing a fashion collection,” she explains, emphasizing that the information they glean from her content allows clients to make informed decisions about their work.

What skills do you need in order to become a trend forecaster?

Since trend forecasting is both an analytical and a creative process, having a broad skill set is important for anyone interested in working in this field. Some of the most common skills for trend forecasters are:

Analytical skills

Being able to analyze trends is a key part of this role and having strong analytical skills is the best way to ensure that you’re successful in this position.

Creativity

In addition to strong analytical skills, trend forecasting also requires a sense of creativity. This is because you’ll need to be able to think outside the box when predicting the next big thing.

Knowledge of one or more industries

Since most trend forecasters are focused on multiple industries, being an expert on those industries is an incredibly important part of this role. The best way to get this knowledge is by doing your research on a particular industry and finding out what trends are currently showing up in news coverage and on social media.

Media savvy

Media savviness is a key component of any media or marketing role and it’s especially important when it comes to this field. This is because so many trends are shaped through the use of traditional and social media, so knowing how to spot those patterns in media coverage is a crucial part of staying ahead of the game.

How do you get started in the industry?

Since trend forecasting is a fairly new field, there aren’t really any long-established strategies for getting involved in the industry. However, doing a media or marketing internship can go a long way toward helping you develop some of the key skills required for the role. Beyond that, it’s about the projects and research you pursue on your own. “There are ways to get experience in the role, even if it isn’t part of your major,” says Sara, explaining that they key is to identify your passions and find a way to make marketable. For example, if you’re interested in fashion and have your own fashion blog, you can use your content as a portfolio when applying for a trend forecasting position. This will show employers that you’re already a player in the field and that you’re knowledgeable and passionate about sharing your insights with others.

For those who are interested in staying on top of the latest trends, trend forecasting can be an exciting and challenging career path. If you want to learn more about this role, we recommend taking on an internship and getting some valuable hands-on experience in a trend forecasting role.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 6 Things to Do in Your First Week at a New Job and find answers to common interview questions such as Are You Willing to Travel?

How to Answer: Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

The key to answering “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” and related interview questions like “What’s your dream job?” is to show potential employers that you’re thoughtful about your career path and your future ambitions. When employers ask this question, they want to know that you’re motivated by success and that you’re going to stick around.

While you don’t have to have an exact answer about the path you want your career to take, your answer should convey what you enjoy doing and what you’re good at. It’s also important that at least one component of your answer relates back to the job you’re interviewing for.

Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing your answer.

Be honest but don’t go into too much detail.

While it’s important to be honest in every part of the interview process, if the real answer to this question is “Not at this job,” or “Winning my first Oscar,” then we suggest focusing instead on what you can learn from the position and how those lessons will fit into your long-term career goals. Start by outlining a goal you’ve set for yourself and then explain why the role you’re interviewing for is an important part of your personal and professional growth.

Outline the steps you plan to take to reach your goals.

Once you’ve established your ideal career path, briefly outline the steps you intend to take to get there. For example, if your goal is to be a sales manager, explain how you plan to advance from an entry-level role to a more senior one.

Pro Tip: Keep your answer focused and concise — ideally no more than 1-2 sentences.

Show that you’re committed to sticking with the company.

Interviewers hiring for an internship or entry-level job are aware that you’re not going to be in that position forever, but they want to know that you’re committed to doing a good job while you’re there. The best way to convince them of that is to paint a picture of how the position aligns with your other goals and to show that you’re committed to making the most of the experience in every possible way.

Say something like: “In five years I see myself in a sales manager position where I am directly responsible for strategizing and implementing ways to increase my company’s annual revenue. I plan to start by working on small business sales and building my way up to mid-market sales within two years. My five-year goal is to move into enterprise sales and manage my own accounts with big companies. The most important thing though, is that I want to work for a company where I can really build a career and learn.”

Although you may not be sure of your long-term professional aspirations, answering this question is a great opportunity to show that you’re thoughtfully considering your future and looking for a role that will align with your goals, while also helping to shape those goals. This kind of thoughtfulness is likely to not only impress potential employers but to convince them that you’re worth investing in as an employee.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as A Job Guide in Psychology and find answers to common interview questions such as What Makes You Uncomfortable?