Tag: senior

Montreal Summer Housing Guide

There’s a good reason Montreal is bursting at the seams with artists, musicians and all manner of vagrants: cheap, cheap living. Even at the heart of the trendiest neighborhoods with the best restaurants and the loveliest cafés,
there are beautiful three-bedroom walk-ups available for less than a thousand per month. In other words, intern paradise.

Depending on where you live, how many people you’re willing to live with and how much compromise you’re willing to make on location, this rate could drop even lower. If you’re set on living alone, Montreal is the place for you. There’s a neighborhood for every budget, a café for every type of music, a fresh bagel or smoked meat sandwich to suit any palate.

A Few Must-Knows

You’ll be expected to sign a year-long lease. Damage deposits of any kind are not allowed in Quebec. For this reason apartments always come with a lease, no exceptions. They run almost uniformly from July 1st to June 30.

  • How to get around it? If you’re on a short internship for several months, subletting is very common during the fall and winter semesters as well as the summer months. If you’re renting an apartment with several other people, the landlord will probably prefer only one person signs the lease for reasons of liability.
  • Lease Transfer is always on the table. It’ll be your obligation to find a new tenant to take over your lease but your landlord has very little right of refusal. Find someone cleaned-up and articulate who can pass a credit check and you’re golden.

Look for ads in both languages. In general, “francophones” (French speakers) use Kijiji while “anglophones” (English speakers) tend to prefer Craigslist. Forget the newspaper: the cost far outweighs the benefit of advertising in print. Occasionally there are deals to be had; no one is looking there, after all, but for the most part the local paper is a barren land.

  • Another tip: almost everyone is bilingual–as are their ads–so don’t be shy. Both Kijiji and Craigslist will have different listings so be sure to check both.

Neighborhoods To Look At

Trendier ‘Hoods on the Cheap:

Mile-End: This is the neighborhood where everything is happening. You’ll need to hunt a little for a good bargain but you will never lack for interesting adventures. The heart of the ‘hood is Café Olympico and Club Social, where you can find the best coffee in the city at the cheapest prices. A great place to people watch on a warm summer afternoon. The city’s most interesting music venues are almost all to be found in this area. It is also home to the world’s best bagels, which you can buy fresh from the oven twenty-four hours a day. A popular hang-out at 4 a.m.

Parc Ex: Many trend seekers and trend makers who’ve grown frustrated with the rising rents of Mile-End are seeking refuge in Parc Ex, which has better access to the Metro and an abundance of low-priced accommodation. The neighborhood has a bit of a colder feeling since streets are wider and the traffic is heavier. This is a popular area for new immigrants so the selection of cheap and exotic food is some of the best in the city. If you like, you can compromise on the in-between area people are starting to call “Mile-Ex.”

Budget ‘Hoods:

Verdun: Several decades ago Verdun was home to the Irish Mafia. In effort to staunch some of the criminal activity, the city revoked all alcohol permits and refused to issue any more until just recently. As such there is not a single bar in this neighborhood, which has stunted its growth considerably and made it a haven for all manner of vagrants. With three metro stations, Verdun has extremely easy access to any neighborhood in the city and some of the cheapest rents you can find. Also a popular neighborhood for new immigrants, it offers a large variety of interesting restaurants and independent grocers.

St. Henri: In the last decade this neighborhood has seen loads of growth and activity, while rents have been raised only a fraction. It’s full to the brim with enormous artist lofts at varying prices. The loft parties of St-Henri recall the speakeasies of the depression era. Expect live music, ultra cheap beer and well-dressed hipsters of all ages.

‘Hoods for the “Money-Is-No-Object” Intern:

Plateau Mont-Royal: Fifteen years ago the Plateau was no more than a ghetto. As artists began to flock here, so did the rents begin to rise. Today almost all accommodation has been rendered unaffordable for the very people who gave it its value. Despite the gentrification, the main drag is still one of the prettiest streets in the city. The neighborhood has quieted down considerably though as much of the action moved north. Beware, because property is so valuable, many stretch the Plateau’s boundaries in online advertisements, referring to cheaper, outlying areas also as “The Plateau.”

Old Port: Anyone interning in law, business or banking would do well to rent a place in the old part of the city, if you can afford it. It’s a hop, skip and a jump from the business district, it’s classically beautiful and also home to some of the best (and most expensive) restaurants in the city. If you can live with the tourists and you’ve got cash to burn, this is a great bet. You’ll find plenty of good company in this neighborhood, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find one person of modest income.

Cheap rent isn’t the only attraction. If you love music and culture of all sorts, Montreal is definitely the place for you. Public transportation is excellent and also very inexpensive. If you’re still a student, a monthly pass is just $45 and includes all metro trains and buses. You’ll need at least a working knowledge of French to score an internship, though most businesses will expect you to be perfectly fluent, both written and spoken.

* This article was written in partnership with Amy Knapp at InsideTrak.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What is an Internship? and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

New York City Summer Internship Guide

Congratulations on making the big move to New York—one classic crooner tells us that if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. You’ll be strutting on the same streets as some of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and entertainment icons. There’s a lot to get up to speed on if you want to succeed at your internship in the city that never sleeps. Thankfully, we’ve put together this city guide to help you cut through the red tape to becoming a New Yorker. Pretty soon, you’ll be crossing city blocks in a New York minute.

Students coming to NYC may think there is a perfect apartment waiting for them, but the reality is that the apartment hunt is incredibly competitive. Sadly, few of you are going to find that Sex in the City apartment within a student budget. So keep your options open!

Where to look for an apartment

Despite the ugly interface, Craigslist is still the best way to find housing in New York City. However, due to the fierce competition for apartments, we also recommend that you reach out to your network, as seemingly everybody has a friend of a friend who lives in NYC. If money is no issue at all, you can hire an apartment broker (buyers beware: typical fees include 15 percent of the annual rent or 1.8 times the monthly rent). Additionally, some brokers will offer discounts to students – it never hurts to ask.

Neighborhoods

Financial District (Manhattan)

  • $2450 Non-Doorman Studio
  • $2792 Doorman Studio

If you are interning on Wall Street, there is no place more convenient that the Financial District (FiDi). Relatively more affordable in comparison to some of the hipper places in Manhattan, the FiDi offers newer buildings and more modern amenities. The benefits of better living conditions are a tradeoff for the lack of nightlife: most restaurants in FiDi typically shut down around 5 or 7pm, though it’s a good neighborhood for interns who want a quiet place to live. Good for interns who want a quiet place to live and a short commute to downtown offices.

Greenwich Village + East Village (Manhattan)

  • $2466 Non-Doorman
  • $2953 Doorman

Originally a neighborhood for bohemian artists, Greenwich Village today has developed into a hip neighborhood that no starving artist can afford to live in. The neighborhood is a popular hangout for NYU students and features many budget friendly bars. Apartment rent is another matter, though the buildings are older than the ones in FiDi and often come with no doorman or air conditioning. The trendy, young atmosphere drives up prices for the neighborhood.

Upper East Side + Upper West Side (Manhattan)

  • $1971 Non-Doorman
  • $2495 Doorman

The Upper East and West sides are a lot more family oriented than the other Manhattan neighborhoods that were listed. As a result, these neighborhoods feature quieter streets and more green space. Although home to the extremely wealthy, the fringes of these two neighborhoods offer affordable rents albeit at the cost of easily accessible transportation.

University Housing (Various)

  • $1100 for a shared room

University housing in the city often opens up to all students in the summer. This housing is relatively cheap and in centrally located in the city. However, spaces are extremely limited, so be sure to apply on the day applications open up. Schools with summer housing include New York University, Fashion Institute of Technology, Columbia and Polytechnic University. Also note that most university housing requires you to share a room, so it’s helpful to have a roommate in mind to sign up with, or prepare to make some new friends.

Transportation

In New York City, the subway is king and it will take you almost anywhere you want cheaply. It is highly suggested that you buy a Metro card as soon as you get to the city. If you take the subway more than 10 times a week you should buy an unlimited monthly rider plan (see www.mta.info for pricing details). In a rush, take a cab which starts at $2.50 plus $.50 for each additional mile or minute of idling. Beware, the cost of taking cabs adds up fast.

Places worth visiting such as Washington DC, Boston and upstate New York are only a short bus or train ride away. These destinations make for some affordable weekend trips. Alternatively, splitting a Zipcar with friends is also an affordable way to escape the city. For trip ideas check out offMetro.com’s Weekend Getaways.

Dining on an intern budget

Belgian fries from Pommes Frites and pizza from Artichoke are popular late night student snacks after a night out on the town. For unique and tasty lunch options, head down to Num Pang for some Cambodian sandwiches. If you think you have seen all there is to Chinese food, go to Xian Famous Foods in Chinatown for dishes not often seen outside of China. Hankering for a good ol’ American burger? Look no further than the nearest Shake Shack, NYC’s answer to In N Out. Brunch is all the rage for newly christened New Yorkers, and you cannot go wrong with Café Condesa. Feel like splurging? Drop by the famous Gramercy Tavern for an updated American tavern experience.

Entertainment

During the summer there are a number of free concerts and movie screenings that take place al around the city. To never miss an event, check Time Out New York’s constantly updated event calendar and a “Best things to do this week” list that will keep you in the loop.

To watch a Broadway show on the cheap, grab some student tickets. Student tickets sell out almost as soon as the theater box office opens, so make sure to arrive there an hour or two before the opening time. If you are feeling lucky, many theaters run a raffle for discounted tickets a couple of hours before the show. Your odds of winning are much better than the lotto, but still far from assured. Same day tickets are also sold at a discount at TKTS booths
(the one in the Financial District is typically less crowded than the one in Times Square). TKTS also sells off Broadway show tickets, which are slightly less expensive than Broadway shows but still of the same quality.

There are a number of comedy clubs in the city. Expect a two item minimum along with the price for admission for each of these shows. Avoid the “free” shows being offered at Times Square, as they are tourist traps. Frommers has a good guide of the top comedy clubs in NYC that you can check out for guaranteed laughs.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What is an Internship? and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

How to Get A Great Letter of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation can make or break your ability to get hired. Even if your qualifications are excellent, if your referrals are non existent or negative your chances of finding employment are slim. That said, there are several things you can do to help insure that good references follow your employment trail, and are accessible to potential employers.

1.Identify the right references

If you have no work history or if you are asked for personal references, do not use family or peer group friends. If you feel that one of your parent’s friends knows you well you might consider using them.  Teachers, councilors, TAs and coaches could make strong personal references. But, don’t forget to ask them first.

2. Always ask permission of the person you hope to use as a reference.Never just assume they will say yes.

They may feel uncomfortable talking about you for reasons you may not even guess at. Some companies even have policies that prohibit their employees from saying anything but a confirmation of your employment and the dates of your employment.

3. Help them out.

You may want to list some skills, accomplishments or character traits that you think would apply and send the list to your references for their use. Also include the dates of your employment. Sometimes, people can be busy or distracted or forgetful and it is helpful for them to have a list in front of them when they write or talk about you. If they disagree with something you have put on the list, they can always leave it out.

4. If possible, obtain a letter of recommendation before you leave your internship or job.

You can ask for the referral during the all important exit interview or anytime before you leave.  What you don’t want is for your boss to move on from the company and disappear into the mist at some later date without a way for you to contact them.

5. Conduct an exit interview.

(See the section on how to conduct your exit). The exit interview will be a good opportunity to go over the company’s expectations and how they were met or exceeded by your accomplishments. You, also, will have refreshed their memory about how wonderful you are so they can say some very nice things about you.

6. Don’t burn any bridges upon leaving.

If you want to leave recommendations for change then do so carefully and with tact. Limit your discussion to issues that might make the next intern’s experience even better. Never, ever complain about any individual or incident, and make sure that you make any suggestions positive in tone and content.

7. You might consider having your boss’s recommendations posted on a professional networking site or on Facebook.

Such a site allows you have the references for public view for all of posterity. If you don’t like what someone says about you, you can simply erase it.

8. You do not need to say “references available upon request” on your resume or cover letter.

Employers know they can ask for them. If the references are available on a professional network, however, you could mention that in your cover letter and supply the specific link to your specific reference page.

9. Keep in touch.

If you worked for a company that refuses to give a reference because it is against company policy, do not despair. It is often possible to contact an employee after they have left the company and get a reference then.  Make sure you keep up with your boss or colleagues so you know where and when to reach them.

10. Don’t ask for references from someone who may give you a negative review.

A negative review from a reference can look really bad. This is someone you have hand selected as able to attest to your strong characteristics as a worker and a person. Make sure your references are coming from someone you can trust, who has openly commended you in the past, and ideally someone who has willingly offered to be a reference

11. Keep a list of five references handy so they can be quickly and easily emailed to a prospective employer.

Most interviewers want a list of three but you don’t want anything held up if a reference is out of town or for some reason is unreachable. Include in the list:

  1. Their name
  2. Their position (and current position)
  3. The company  (and their current company, if they have left)
  4. Their professional relationship to you (ex. The person you reported to.)
  5. Their contact information…email and phone

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 6 Do’s and Don’ts of Video Interviews and find answers to common interview questions such as Tell Me About Yourself.

San Diego Summer Housing Guide

In your summer housing search, we highly suggest you use PadMapper because it allows you to see all the listings on a map and avoid the ugly Craigslist site. Start looking for housing sooner rather than later and respond to as many listings as possible, as short term and sublet listings are snatched up quickly by summer school students.

Below is a list of San Diego’s most popular areas for sublets. Remember to do your own research and if possible, pay a visit to the area before firmly committing to a lease.


La Jolla
$450-500 Double
$650-$700 Single

Many UCSD students live in the UTC area due to the proximity to campus and relatively affordable rent. There are a number of bus routes that run near the major housing complexes including an express line that runs to downtown San Diego. La Jolla is a quiet suburban setting with a small mall and grocery stores within walking distance or a short bus trip. There are a lot of college students who stick around to take summer courses and chances are your roommates will be college students as well.


*Local Tip: The UCSD area has the highest concentration of Zipcars.


San Diego State University (SDSU) Area
$450-500 Double
$600-650 Single

A more rowdy and slightly cheaper college town compared to La Jolla. Friday nights at SDSU can be quite happening, but during the summer it calms down as students head home. Nonetheless, there is still a sizable student presence during the summer. Being close to SDSU, the area features a number of bus routes that will take you to wherever you need to go.


Pacific Beach (PB)
$750 – 850 Single

If you want to be close to the party and be able to walk to the beach, there is nothing better than Pacific Beach. PB is the largest nightlife hub in San Diego, home to many young professionals and even a few students. In addition, there are a bunch of amazing and affordable restaurants in the area. The downside is that it can get pretty noisy, particularly Thursday through Saturday night. Also, traffic on roads leading out of PB can get pretty bad during rush hour and public transit is limited.

*Local Tip: Living in PB will allow you to surf before heading off to work

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What is an Internship? and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

San Diego Summer Internship Guide

Settled on San Diego as your summer internship destination? That’s great because you have chosen to be in one of the most beautiful cities in America. San Diego is the land of sun kissed beaches, surfer dudes and some of the most laid back people on earth. It’s the California that everybody dreams about.

Of course, just because the beach is always at most a 10 minute drive away doesn’t mean San Diegans are all slackers. Quite the contrary, as the top biotech and life science cluster in the country and home to the largest naval fleet in the world, San Diegans embody the ethos of “work hard, party hard.”

At WayUp, we want you to get the most out of your summer in San Diego so we took the time to create an Internship City Guide that gives you a crash course in navigating the city. The guide covers everything from transportation and networking opportunities to things that only seasoned locals would know.

See our housing guide for a full breakdown of neighborhoods and summer housing resources.

Exploring San Diego

The hardest part about going to the beach in San Diego is deciding which one to go to as there are just so many. Always wanted to learn how to surf? Head on to Pacific Beach to grab some waves and maybe a beer afterwards at one of the area’s many bars. If you prefer a quiet beach, check out Black’s beach where there are tide pools to explore and play in, however, beware of wandering too far north as it becomes a nude beach.


*Local Tip: High above Black’s Beach is a place UCSD students refer to as “the cliffs.” Boasting magnificent views of the coast below, this is one of San Diego’s best kept secrets. The hard to spot entrance is on Whitecliff Dr. and La Jolla Farms Rd.

In addition to the beach, San Diego’s outdoors also offers great hiking trails. The Mount Woodson Trail
or better known as the “Potato Chip Rock Hike” offers great views and a photo opportunity at the summit. For something less strenuous, take a walk along the Sunset Cliffs at Ocean Beach, rumored to be the best place to watch the sunset in San Diego.

If you are in the city, the world famous San Diego Zoo is not to be missed. After the zoo, check out the surrounding museums in Balboa Park. Head to sea and climb aboard a decommissioned aircraft carrier at the USS Midway museum. If you time it right, you can catch a Padres game after all that museum learning before ending your day at a classy restaurant in the historic Glasslamp Quarter.

*Local Tip: On your way out of the city, consider attending a late night improv show at the
National Comedy Theatre.

Getting Around San Diego: Transportation

San Diego, like all of Southern California is an automotive city; expect your mobility to be severely limited without a car. Parking in San Diego is a pretty easy affair, there is a lot of parking and the lot prices are affordable.

Public transit in the form of buses is slow and often not on time. The trolley system is better than the bus system but mainly serves downtown San Diego. For frequent users of public transit, a prepaid Compass Card is a must and can be easily bought in a variety of ways.

Local Food and Drink Spots

San Diegans take food very seriously and it shows by the large number of world class restaurants in the city.

A short list of must try places include Truluck’s, a seafood restaurant in La Jolla that was named the “Best of the best” by San Diego magazine. Normally, it’s a bit pricey for an intern’s salary, but if you go during happy hour it’s quite affordable. If you want a great view with your meal go to George’s at the Cove in downtown La Jolla, where you can look over the beach while enjoying a reasonably priced lunch that serves the best that California farms have to offer. A stay in San Diego is not complete without a visit to Phil’s BBQ, hands down the most famous restaurant in San Diego.

Taco Tuesday

Every Tuesday, Mexican restaurants in San Diego offer highly discounted tacos. $2 can get you a fish taco, the local favorite and if you feel like splurging a little, give the lobster taco a try. The most popular destinations for Taco Tuesday are World Famous and South Beach Bar and Grille. Arrive early at (around 5pm), if you do not want to wait 30 minutes or more to be seated.

*Local Tip: Oscar’s Mexican Seafood, a hole in the wall taco shack in Pacific Beach serves a better fish taco than any of the previously mentioned destinations. In addition, it’s located near Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, which serves the best coffee in San Diego.

Breweries

San Diego has perhaps the largest concentration of independent brewers in the country. The most well-known brewery in the area is Karl Strauss, which has multiple brewery restaurant locations. Every Thursday is cask night at Karl Strauss, where you can try an unique cask conditioned ale that is not available at any other time, in addition, the ale changes every week. Craft beer enthusiasts will need to head over Stone Brewing Company and
Green Flash Brewery, both well-known San Diegan brands. All the beers at these breweries are reasonably priced, and even more so during happy hour.

*Local Tip: Though you can usually get these brands on tap at a local San Diego bar, it is highly suggested that you go visit the brewery because they have a unique atmosphere, knowledgeable bartenders and a much wider selection on tap.

Asian cuisine

Hampering for some Asian cuisine? Head down to Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa where pretty much all of San Diego’s notable Asian restaurants reside. Grab a bowl of delicious ramen at Tajima (open
till 3am!), or hot pho at Phuong Trang. Avoid the Chinese restaurants as they tend to be expensive and quite bad. Wash that meal down with a cup of boba milk tea at Tea Station.

Staying Fit

Keeping in shape to look good on the beach is a must for many San Diegans. No surprise that there always seems to be some local gym or 24 Hour Fitness nearby. Yoga has taken San Diego by storm and there are probably just as many yoga studios as there are gyms.

For the more adventurous, San Diego hosts some of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) schools in the country. University of Jiu Jitsu and Andre Galvao San Diego Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
are just two of many schools in San Diego that are taught by BJJ world champions. If you want to train like and with professional MMA fighters, pay a visit to The Arena, Black House or Victory MMA.

Entrepreneurs Wanted!

San Diego has a fast growing startup scene and there is at least one networking event or workshop a week. Most of the events are free and provide a chance to learn valuable skills. In addition, it’s also a great way to meet interesting people over some great and oftentimes free beer.

*Local Tip: See all upcoming startup events at sdtechscene.org. Sign up for the San Diego Startup Digest
and Ansir Innovation Center newsletter for curated lists of events.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What is an Internship? and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

San Francisco Summer Housing Guide

Whether you’re an intern looking for a quiet place in the hills or a street bustling with coffee shops, boutiques, and pubs, you’re sure to find a place to call home for the summer. But figuring out where you want to live in San Francisco is a lot easier than actually finding a place to live, competition here is fierce and you have to be on top of your game when contacting landlords and tenants searching for a new roommate. Not to mention SF is one of the most expensive cities in the country with rent typically starting around $1,050 per month.

A great resource to use for finding summer housing in San Francisco is PadMapper. PadMapper eliminates the hassle of digging through rental listings on craigslist by providing a map that shows the location of each rental listing that’s on craigslist. Remember, competition is tuff in SF, so treat your house search just like searching for an internship, respond to as many ads as possible to make sure you have plenty of options when it comes time to choose.

Below is a list of San Francisco’s most popular neighborhoods to help you get a feel for each when deciding where to live. While we did our best to accurately reflect each area, we still encourage you to research each location thoroughly — considering things like cost, proximity to public transportation and safety.


South of Market (SoMa)
Price: $$$
Walking score: 94
Weekend: Quiet

During the week you can find this neighborhood bustling with employees from top tech companies like Zynga, Dropbox, Klout, Foursquare and Wikipedia, which makes this place a dream come true for someone interning at a startup. But more than just a tech hub, baseball fans will be excited to know that the San Francisco Giants are right in their backyard. SoMa also boasts tons of other perks like its central location to public transportation (Bart, Muni, Caltrain) — and major intersections like Van Ness, Mission and Powell Streets.

While there’s no shortage of bars and restaurants in SOMA, you can’t call yourself a local without visiting 21st Amendment — a popular brewery, famous for its local ale, energetic crowds, and SF Giants Preparties.


The Marina/Cow Hollow
Price: $$$$$
Walking score: 91
Weekend: Busy

If you have a soft spot for amazing views and architecture, then the Marina is the perfect neighborhood for you. With its panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, chic boutiques, expensive restaurants, countless spas and small dogs, people often refer to the Marina as the “Beverly Hills of San Francisco” — and the rents live up to the nickname! This neighborhood is all-access. Spend the morning jogging along the harbor followed by a fancy mimosa brunch or shopping on nearby Union Street.


Noe Valley
Price: $$$
Walking score: 86
Weekend: Quiet

Cancel your gym membership if you decide to live in Noe Valley, because you will get plenty of exercise from walking up and down the hills of this historic neighborhood. With its tree-lined streets, quaint cafes and Victorian homes, Noe Valley is a mixture of families and young professionals. This charming neighborhood is ideal for someone who wants peace and quiet after a long day.


Nob Hill
Price: $$$$
Walking Score: 96
Weekend: Busy

Nob Hill is one of San Francisco’s signature neighborhoods. Originally the home of wealthy tycoons like Leland Stanford (founder of Stanford University) and The Big Four (entrepreneurs of the Transcontinental railroad), Nob Hill is now the home to young, hip professionals. Very close to the Financial District and Union Square, its
location makes it a highly coveted place to live. The neighborhood boasts lots of fun cafes, vintage shops and most notably — the cable car!


The Castro
Price: $$$
Walking Score: 95
Weekend: Busy

One of San Francisco’s most popular neighborhoods, the Castro District is well known for its LGBT activism. Because of its rich history, busy nightlife and quirky stores, it’s a favorite stop for many. Notable landmarks include the Castro Theater and Harvey Milk’s campaign headquarters.


The Mission
Price: $$
Walking Score: 97
Weekend: Busy

The Mission is considered the melting pot of San Francisco. With young hipsters, activists, immigrants and working class families calling this area home, it truly lives up to its rep as one of San Francisco’s most diverse neighborhoods. Follow the savory smells and you won’t have to walk very far to find great food in The Mission. Tacos are rumored to be $1.50.


The Haight
Price: $$
Walking Score: 95
Weekend: Busy

This popular neighborhood should really be known as “The Hippie” because it was here that birthed the 1960s-70s Peace-Love movement, that’s most often associated with San Francisco’s culture. These days the area consists mostly of retail shops and restaurants. However, there are still plenty of mural-lined streets, quirky shops, and alternative clubs and bookstores, so that students choosing to live here can still enjoy remnants of the era.


All walking scores are based on ratings from Walkscore.com which is a great tool when searching for housing.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What is an Internship? and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

San Francisco Summer Internship Guide

Congratulations on landing a summer internship in San Francisco! SF is one of the most eclectic and beautiful cities in the US; offering everything from national parks, to niche art communities, and a bustling downtown. Historically, San Francisco has been home to risk-takers and independent thinkers, from the frontiersman of the 1800’s to the counter culture movement of the 1960’s and the tech visionaries of today, who are re-imagining the way we interact with the world.

At Looksharp we want you to get the most out of your summer in San Francisco so we took the time to create an Internship City Guide and give you some broad stroke ideas on how to navigate the city and maximize your time here. The guide covers everything from transportation and networking opportunities to how to avoid some of the many San Francisco “gotchyas” such as the absurdly high parking meters.

See our housing guide for a full breakdown of neighborhoods and summer housing resources.

And don’t worry about finding the time to meet other interns, all you have to do is sign up for the Summer Internship Program and we’ll connect you with other students in the city and keep you aware of cool intern-centric events!

Enjoy!

Exploring San Francisco as an Intern

There’s never a shortage of fun things to do in San Francisco or the Bay area. From hunting down the best dumplings in Chinatown to heading over to UCSF for a tech talk, San Francisco has something to offer everyone.

For a truly unique experience make sure to enjoy the food trucks. Seriously, they’re everywhere, impossible to resist, and your rite of passage from summer transplant to local. Whether you like chicken masala, red velvet cupcakes, pulled pork sandwiches or bbq tofu burgers, you’re guaranteed to find your flavor.

If you’re looking for something a little lighter than bbq and cupcakes, then spend the afternoon at the Japanese Tea Garden. Tucked away in Golden Gate Park, it’s often overlooked by tourists, despite being the United
States’ oldest public tea garden. For $7 you can zen out amongst the lush gardens or enjoy traditional ramen, tea and pastries in their small cafe. Or for another version of a relaxing day, head over to Dolores Park for an outdoor treat. It’s a San Francisco jewel known for it’s unique mix of eccentric people and is also home to some of the
city’s best views.

Known for more than just great food, San Francisco’s location makes it the ideal place to spend the summer. Be sure to set aside some time to take a trip with friends, maybe drive an hour or two north for a day of wine tasting in
Napa Valley or Sonoma County. Or if you prefer fun in the sun, then drive an hour south (along Rt. 1) and enjoy the breathtaking views of California’s coastline.

A city with so many options can be overwhelming, so check out Meetup.com or Eventbrite and impress your friends by customizing your weekend plans. Featuring exclusive deals to restaurants, festivals, networking opportunities, concerts, and lectures, these sites provide some great ways to have an authentic San Francisco experience with opportunities to meet new people.

Need a lift? The Need-to-Knows About SF Transportation

One of the best parts of San Francisco is how easy it is to get around. If you’re tempted to bring your wheels, don’t. Parking in San Francisco is very limited, which makes it difficult to find and very expensive. Most of the city’s available parking requires meter fees Monday-Saturday, with lofty fines for expired meters. Daily parking in the city will cost around $20 a day; meanwhile, garage parking costs $150-$200 per month on average.

So how do you get around? Public transportation! Muni which includes busses, light rail, and trolleys has over 80 routes and will take you almost anywhere in the city (but beware bus stops are marked with a large yellow stripe on utility poles and can easily be missed). Also, Muni transit has some punctuality issues, so take advantage of NextBus for more accurate scheduling or use the city’s Trip Planner to figure out the best means of transit.

If you’re looking to branch out and explore the South Bay (including Palo Alto, Mountain View and the rest of Silicon Valley), Caltrain is convenient and runs regularly every day until midnight. Last but not least, for getting out to the East Bay, including Berkeley and Oakland you can hop on the Bay Area’s second major commuter rail system, BART.

When it comes down to paying for public transportation in San Francisco, it’s all about the Clipper Card.
Using their online payment system, you can load your Clipper Card with cash, individual rides, or monthly passes to save money on fares and add ease to your commute.

Think you might need a car for a special occasion or event? Then take advantage of several Zipcar lots located throughout the city where you can rent a car for a single ride.

Keeping in Shape and Looking Good in SF

Incase the hills, outdoor parks, rock climbing gyms, and numerous bike trails don’t fulfill your cardio fix, there are plenty of gyms to choose from throughout the city. Local SF gyms provide unique atmospheres such as Equinox, a higher-end workout facility, or Crunch Fitness, known to be a gym for the less serious fitness fiends.

In addition to these options most summer interns tend to be on the cost-conscious side and look to big chains like Gold’s Gym or 24 Hour Fitness that offer cheap monthly plans that can give you a place to stay fit during the summer without all the amenities.

Friends and family coming to visit?

If you have friends or family coming to visit, they’ll most likely either drive or fly into one of the three major airports in the Bay Area: SFO, SJC, or OAK. From there they can either foot a $50 bill for a cab ride into San Francisco or hop on Caltrain or BART. If there isn’t room at your place for them to shack-up, they can always find a great place to stay in the city using Airbnb.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Finding medical attention in a new city can be difficult, especially when you’re sick and need one most. ZocDoc
is a great tool to find a doctor based on your location and insurance provider and also to book an appointment online. If you’re in need of any serious help, you can always visit one of the main hospitals in SF such as St. Mary’s Medical Center or the UCSF Medical Center.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What is an Internship? and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

How to Stand Out with Student Business Cards

At WayUp we believe every student should have amazing business cards. They are one of the easiest and most effective ways to stand out at zoo-like career fairs and to remain at the top of a recruiters mind after an interview.

Get A Leg Up:

A good business card says I’m a professional.

It helps recruiters put a check mark next to your name and says this student is ready to work in an office, meet with executives and contribute to our team. It’s an action that is worth a thousand words to most employers who are constantly afraid that after making their student hires, they are going to spend the next month teaching interns professional basics rather than getting work done.

Aside from being an in your face way of telling interviewers that you are better equipped and more ready to begin working in the professional world than your peers, a good business card makes you memorable.
Every person you meet at a career fair or job interview, is talking to tons of students.   They are taking down mental notes of who is a good fit and who isn’t but, it is easy for those notes to begin to blur together.  These recruiters are begging for a sign that helps them make a more informed choice on who to select.  When they open their pocket or look down at their desk and see your business card, with your picture or favorite quote on it, you will have just made their job a whole lot easier.

Personalized Design:

I’m a student, not a business, what should I put on my card?

Business cards are relationship builders, they are ways to stay in touch and build your personal brand.
The golden rule is that when an employer looks at your business card the day after you meet, they should instantly remember you.

So if you are interested in marine biology, then perhaps put your favorite whale on the front of your card.  If you are interested in finance, make a clean, professional card with a quote from Warren Buffett on the back.  Or if you are an art major, you can put your favorite Picasso on the front! There is a no limit to what you can do, but the best cards are typically both subtle and personal.

If you’re running out of ideas or don’t want to pigeon hole yourself with a single design, then a great fall back design is to place your college crest on the front of your card with your name, contact info, and school email address.  A college crest on a mono-colored business card is a simple and professional way to show pride in where you go to school.

Business card etiquette!

Knowing when and how to hand out business cards is a whole skill in itself.  The general rule is that in networking situations you want to give out your business card at the end of the conversation.  For example, when wrapping up a conversation, you can say, “It was great speaking with you, here is my card, let’s stay in touch.”  The other person should also give you their card and that way you too can follow-up with them as well.

In an interview or meeting setting you want to give out your business card at the beginning.  You might say, “Thanks for taking the time to meet with me, here’s my card to hold onto.”  If they give you their card, proper etiquette says you want to place it squarely on the desk in front of you, facing you for the remainder of the conversation.

Business Cards from Moo.com!

Whether you need business cards for an upcoming career fair or want them because they are a lot of fun to make and to hand out to friends WayUp has you covered.WayUp recommends Moo.com for a pack of professionally designed business cards from Moo.com. Moo is one of the leaders in business card design so whatever you decide is just about guaranteed to look great.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What is an Internship? and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

Advice for Starting Your Entry-Level Job Search

Knowing where to start the search for your first job after college and how to refine the numerous options available is half of the battle. Intelligently planning out your approach can save you precious time and energy. Here are a few pieces of advice to get you started on your search.

Understanding Yourself

The first task you should tackle is getting familiar with yourself. Knowing your desires, strengths, and weaknesses will enable you to narrow your search process from the get-go. If you’re an exceptionally strong writer and outgoing, social individual, you might make a great marketer. Analytical thinker and problem solver who loves to tackle problems on your own? You might make a great data analyst or engineer. Not sure about your strengths or what type of position you’re looking for? No worries, you can easily start by looking at all of the positions available in a particular location.

Knowing Where to Look

The internet is full of resources to help you find jobs. There are hundreds and hundreds of search engines for jobs. How do you choose the right one?

The good news is that there are two primary strategies for job searches on the internet. Searching on Google will often lead you to the largest job search engines and often some search engines that specialize in what you’re looking for (like WayUp). These larger search engines will often have many positions from the largest companies and most prolific brands in the world. Searching on the specialty job boards is the other primary strategy. If you know exactly what you’re interested in doing, job boards with a narrower focus often have high quality postings from very desirable small companies.

You can also start looking locally by getting in contact with your career center (even if you’re a recent grad). Local employers often post jobs with the local universities knowing that students will come to the career center for help finding employment. If you’d like to remain near your university, the career center can be a fantastic resource.

Searching for Entry-Level Positions by Keyword

If you opt to search for jobs on a larger search engine, you will likely lose the ability to easily search for entry-level positions only. In that case, here is a list of job title keywords that can help you narrow the results down to entry-level positions:

“Junior”

is a very common entry-level term for technical jobs or design related jobs.

“Associate”

is another commonplace title for recent graduates. Many marketing and business roles have the associate title.

“Entry-Level”

is a term primarily used by the job seeker. It’s not common for employers to post positions with this term in the title. However, a few will, so you might get lucky and find a position if you search by this term.

“Recent Graduates”

is a term you won’t find in many job titles, but it’s often in job descriptions for entry-level positions.

“Graduating”

is a much broader search term, but one that will also often be prevalent in the descriptions of entry-level positions.

Look Outside of Your Major

It’s becoming more and more common for recent grads to land their first job in a position completely unrelated to their major. Just because you chose to major in psychology or english doesn’t mean you have to only look for jobs in psychology or english. There are plenty of junior or associate-level jobs that aren’t directly associated with a common college major. Keep your eyes open for things like coordinator or volunteer management roles at non-profits, account management positions, and operations roles.

This isn’t just the case for non-technical majors either. If you majored in Computer Science or Mechanical Engineering, you don’t have to go straight into an engineering role. You might make a wonderful Product Manager or Data Scientist.

Interested in stepping outside of your major? Here are 5 tips to help you get a job that is unrelated to your major.

Be Aware of Scams and Advantageous Employers

It’s incredibly sad, but recent graduates are often taken advantage of in their first job. Many positions that sound incredibly appealing and promising are actually terrible jobs or scams. Here are a few things to watch out for:

Jobs That Seem Too Good to be True

Pro tip: they probably are too good to be true. If someone is offering you a large signing bonus or an unbelievably high salary for an easy position, it’s best to steer clear. Scammers often masquerade as employers hiring recent graduates for positions like Office Manager, Customer Support, Front Desk, Assistant, etc.

Ambassador or Campus Rep positions

These positions are common part-time roles for current students but aren’t the best options for recent graduates. They often pay a meager commission for each student you get to sign up for their service. When you’re in school and can easily network with your classmates, these positions can help pay the bills bit-by-bit. However, once you graduate, it’s extremely difficult to make enough money to live off of.

Be Diligent, Daily

Employers post new entry-level roles constantly. It’s important to diligently stay on top of your job search. Here are a few tips for doing that:

  1. Sign up to receive job alerts by email from any of the entry-level specific job boards (i.e. WayUp).
  2. Search for positions on your phone while you’re commuting (please don’t do this if you commute by car). Use Google to find entry-level jobs near you.
  3. Create a daily calendar reminder to check the major job boards for any recent positions that might be of interest to you.

Finding the right entry-level jobs to apply to is not an easy task. However, taking your time to do some introspection and plan out your search process will make your process far less painful.

Start Your Entry-Level Job Search Now

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What is an Entry-Level Job? and find answers to common interview questions such as Tell me about yourself.

The Art of Networking Offline

The experts will tell you networking is the key to success in obtaining any internship or job, but where do you start and how do you manage those relationships once established? There is only so much time in the day that you can devote to attending networking events and social gatherings, so the art of networking comes into play when you begin to use every interaction and encounter to meet new people and build your network. In this video resource from WayUp’s Internship Hangout on Google+, you’ll learn how to find networking opportunities and how to develop relationships giving you insight on the art of networking in person.

How to Network In Person Video Transcription


Nathan Parcells, CMO, Looksharp:

And I think it’s interesting to kind of figure out and close the gap between how the networking that initially happens then leads to the relationship that leads to, you know, a better interview and a better understanding of them as a candidate, that might eventually lead to an internship. Or not. But, I think students hear networking a lot, but then they don’t always understand what do with it.


Jessica Safir, University Programs Coordinator, Google:

I think the thing about networking is it’s just sort of magical. This isn’t me whitewashing over the answer, but I think that you don’t truly understand the value of it until you’ve seen sort of like the end-all outcome.

Like when I graduated, I went and did this internship and really hated what I was doing, but just like really tried to focus on building this network of people I worked with. And then sooner or later when the internship ended, a woman who I was working with, who came to Google, referred me to Google. And it was like I went through all that, and that’s sort of how I ended up here. So at the time, it seemed like, okay this is really pointless, I don’t really want to keep doing it, but like things ended up working out.

And that’s why I think just like, you kind of never know how beneficial it’s going to be until you see it truly happen. It sounds cheesy, but.


Jeff Moore, Lead Engineering Recruiter, Google:

It ‘s magic.


Jessica Safir, University Programs Coordinator, Google:

It is magical. You’re not gonna listen to me.


Jeff Moore, Lead Engineering Recruiter, Google:

No, I’m gonna make fun of you.


Jessica Safir, University Programs Coordinator, Google:

That’s fine.


Jeff Moore, Lead Engineering Recruiter, Google:

No, I mean think that, you know, I look back at my career and I did an internship in college, and I got that because a friend of mine knew the company that was looking for an intern. So, you know, hired there. First job out of college was working with another friend in college, you know, referral there.

Networking, right? Lame 1996 networking before the internet even did anything, but it was networking. And through the course of my career most of my jobs or opportunities have actually come from friends, former colleagues, you know, people I’ve met along the way. And it’s one of those things that when you’re doing it in the moment it seems magical and stupid. Right? Oh, I just talked to this guy. That was useless.

But then you realize that it’s not about that conversation. It’s about the longer term conversations. And I’m like flailing my arms. You can’t see it. So that as you, you know, as you evolve through your career, there’s more and more opportunities that are there for you because you know more people in different places, and people know you, and so I probably do at this point about three or four networking calls a week, where I’m just talking to people about what they’re trying to do, what I’m doing, what’s going on, who do you know.

And you know, lot of times end up getting jobs because I refer them to so and so and tell them I said so and so sent you and vice versa. And so I think that it’s intimidating, right? The sooner you start it and the more comfortable you get with it, it’s not that hard, right. If you’re networking with people that you had classes with in college, you can go complain about how hard that homework was, and everybody’s gonna respond back, and you’re gonna have something in common.

It’s not like blind dating or anything crazy like that. It’s really straightforward.


Jessica Safir, University Programs Coordinator, Google:

Yeah, and I think a lot of what students struggle with is how to start the networking. And one of the best tools that I found, or sort of like methods of networking when I was in school was just doing informational interviews. So, reaching out to my professor and saying, “Hey, I’m interested in going into advertising. Do you know anyone from my school who works in advertising?” “Go meet up with them for coffee, pick their brains about what job they like.” Maybe I’m like, “Oh, gosh. That’s sounds nothing like what I wanna do.” And then at the end of the conversation, “Hey, do you have anyone you could refer me to, who you used to work with at X company?”

And that’s an easy way. It just gives you an excuse to talk to someone. Because I mean if someone from my college emailed me and just said, “Hey, I wanna hear about what you do at Google” it seems like a very, it’s not an awkward like, “Hey, just want to talk.”

It’s like, “Hey. I wanna know what you do. What’s your job like? What kind of things do you do on a day to day basis? How did you get there?” And it gives you a reason to sort of meet up with them, and I think that’s a huge tool that students can use as like a way to sort of kickstart building their network.


Jeff Moore, Lead Engineering Recruiter, Google:

And it’s easy, right? Schools, you know, sororities, fraternities, clubs, sporting teams. And everywhere else but they are all low hanging fruit for networking opportunities.


Nathan Parcells, CMO, Looksharp:

Yeah and you come in with that purpose and you at the very least, you’re getting drain information that you might not lead you to a job, maybe just leads to you being more knowledgeable about the process.


Jessica Safir, University Programs Coordinator, Google:

Exactly.


Jeff Moore, Lead Engineering Recruiter, Google:

Exactly.

For me, I love the students that are engaging all over the place, right. So the person that sends me an e-mail, or responds to a tweet, or comes to one of these hangouts and sends a Picnote after, that, you know, maybe they’re not a fit today. They may not even be looking for a job today, but that’s okay but they’re trying to build that network and those connections.

Because at the end of the day that’s really what getting a job whether it is an internship or a full time job is all about having that network and building connections. And so I really, I really like when people are sort of building those relationships over the longer term to make things happen that way.


Jessica Safir, University Programs Coordinator, Google:

So it’s all about just sort of like putting your feelers out and just getting in touch with as many people as possible. And sort of taking those risks, like I said if you’re a freshman and you don’t think there’s a right fit. You’re probably the only freshman who’s gonna show up then, which is great. Like what if there is a company looking for this brand new freshman program they launched.

So I think it’s definitely about being on all those networks and sort of using your own network to meet those people who could sort of get you in the right place. ‘Cause it’s definitely all about sort of those relationships that you’re building.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 6 Ways to Impress Your Boss and find answers to common interview questions such as Tell Me About Yourself.