Author Archives: Elena Nadtochiy

Spring 2013 TED Conference

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Our apologies for being silent about Spring 2013 TED Conference that happened 17 days ago in its hometown Long Beach, CA. We’ve just been busy a little bit, however, TED Conference is one of those events that cannot be missed or left uncovered.

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What is TED?

TED is a non-profit organization that nearly 30 years is bringing together the world’s greatest thinkers and doers. They present their ideas that are definitely worth spreading to more than thousand people who attend the event. TED Conference is the main event of the year, so if you consider attending it next year, you better hurry up, as it usually sells out a year in advance. But if tickets are far out of your budget, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to attend. There is no live streaming, however, all talks are recorded and shared on TED’s website within short period of time.

Spring 2013 TED Conference Overview

5 days and more than 70 speakers made this spring event an unforgettable one. People from 3 different worlds – Technology, Entertainment and Design gathered together to deliver their views and ideas on very diverse topics: from poverty and mental health issues in Ghana to eco innovations and school learning, etc. One blog post won’t be enough to mention all great research topics and presentations that have been discussed at the event. However, there was one special talk, so inspiring and brilliant, that it won TED 2013 Prize.  “To build a school in the cloud” was a wish of the TED’s prizewinner Sugata Mitra – an educational researcher, the author of “Hole In the Wall” experiments. His idea to design the future of learning by supporting children all over the world might change the entire education system to something very different and unusual.

In the meantime, while listening to great thinkers about their views on “future everything”, you can contribute right now by learning and expanding your knowledge on everyday basis. Our eco-friendly tip for you: try to take maximum from everything in life – college, professional internship or a presentation you attended few days ago. And remember that learning is a lifetime process.

Time to Apply for Your Summer Internship: Insiders Tips

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The clock is ticking and if you are in college it is time to think about your summer placement. These days, the Internet makes it much easier for job seekers to find an internship or a permanent position. There are many websites with advertising jobs available to graduates and experienced candidates. However, if you are a student with no or very little experience it might be a real challenge to “get in”.

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Internship programs are designed to help students to find their place in the sun and obtain a vital professional experience in order to build a future career. However, getting an internship is not as easy as you may think it is.  Krysia Hepatica, a Master student at Michigan State University and an eco-friendly intern at Ingenex, shared her secret of getting a good internship position. “Network. If you are keen to find an internship at a digital marketing agency in Ann Arbor area, check out LA2M first and introduce yourself to Derek Mehraban – it might be a good start to your career”.

Once you’ve got an interview, there are some rules, basic procedures and most importantly – deadlines you have to meet in order to make it a successful one.   So first of all, be prepared. Emily Walsh, our Spring 2013 intern, thinks, “Research is a key to the successful interview.” If you are applying for an intern position at a digital marketing agency, for example, make sure you’ve visited the company’s website, as well as social networks and blogs. Prepare a list of questions you have to the interviewer. Questions may vary: some can be related to the research you’ve done (this way you will show your genuine interest at the company) and some can be position related (daily tasks, personal schedule, etc.). Do not afraid to ask questions! However, if you do, make sure they are well phrased and to the point.

Second of all, it is also very important to know how to talk through your skills. When talking about your skills, achievements and past experience make sure you include relevant examples. Don’t give a “cliche” speech – make your story unique and interesting to listen to.

And last but not least, make a positive first impression. Dress smart, be at least 5 minutes earlier for your interview, be yourself! Here is a great tip from one of our Spring 2013 interns, Ashlie Forchione: “Smile. Even if you’re nervous. Even if you think the interview isn’t going well. A smile can go a long way. Every interviewer wants to hire friendly, happy employees. A smile will set you apart and make you look and feel more confident as you proceed in any interview. Grumpy Cat is great for laughs, but no one wants to work with him.”

Good luck in your job search! Remember these tips and hopefully you won’t even need it!