Full Name: Claire Malone
Internship Company: Cosmopolitan Magazine
Internship Position: Sales and Marketing
Internship Location: Hearst Tower- New York City
While looking for your internship, what services did you use at the Center for Career Development?
Last Fall while researching summer internships I utilized the strong Holy Cross alumni network and identified the Cosmopolitan opportunity. While at the Women in Business conference, I was introduced to an executive from Cosmopolitan who is also a Holy Cross alum. She has worked at Cosmo for a number of years and always likes to hire an HC student for the summer. Before my Cosmopolitan phone interview, I spoke with Megan Chester in the Career Development Center who took me through a mock interview to help me prepare.
What skills did you gain from your internship experience and how have they added to your professionalism?
My experience this past summer at Cosmo has allowed me to not only further develop my knowledge of the sales and marketing industry, but also allowed me to sharpen my analytical and interpersonal skills. Throughout the summer, I was responsible for analyzing a number of competitor magazines in order to establish how Cosmo can differentiate themselves within the industry. Furthermore, collaborating with senior representatives in the development of sales presentations allowed me to establish professional relationships with those in the industry.
How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans / goals?
Working at Cosmopolitan Magazine allowed me to further explore my interest in sales and marketing, as well as develop valuable life skills. I was not only able to gain professional experience in the work force, but I also learned the ins and outs of New York City. In the future, I plan to pursue my interest in this field by hopefully either working at a magazine or at an advertising agency.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to the future intern?
It is important to make the most out of the internship. Cosmo has so much to offer and you will be working with so many interesting people on a daily basis. Everyone in the office is extremely open and willing to answer any questions that you might have so take them up on that opportunity. While my internship focused on sales and marketing, I encourage you to explore other departments such as editorial and layout in order to broaden your understanding of the magazine world. These opportunities can really allow you to discover which section of the magazine best suits your personality.
Overall, what was your most exciting experience at your internship?
Working at Cosmopolitan Magazine was a dream come true. The atmosphere of the office and the employees that I was surrounded with made each and every day new and exciting. One of my favorite parts about the internship was the Cosmo U program. Every Wednesday, the Cosmo interns would team up with the interns from Redbook and Seventeen to meet with people from the various departments within the magazine. This was an amazing opportunity to not only meet new people, but to also see the different areas of the company. Additionally, on the last day of the internship, the interns were invited into the Cosmo beauty closet to help themselves to the extras from the photo shoots!
