5 ways to smash your internship!

I get so many emails and social media tags from young ambitious girls asking to either intern with Girls Talk London or for me to mentor them. I decided to write a short post with a few tips for anyone who is starting out in their career as a recent graduate or school leaver and is working the internship circuit. I have seen so many make simple mistakes, and quite frankly mess things up! So I have some advice for anyone that is either currently interning or looking for one: please make sure you take a screenshot of this post!

 
1. Don’t cancel an interview or meeting
I understand that some things come up at the last minute or you could be genuinely sick but quite frankly your potential new boss will not see it that way. Your interviewer is probably someone quite senior and busy and if it is a start up- the Boss. They are busy, and probably had to turn down a meeting with a client or something important to interview you. If you cancel for whatever reason they will see it (the interview) and you as a waste of time! If you are ill, then just go, you can explain to the interviewer that you are feeling very ill and they will bare that in mind. They may even send you home and reschedule because you made the effort to come in and will be impressed by your dedication and enthusiasm. I am coming from experience, I have never cancelled an interview and there have been times when I thought I would drop down and pass out but there is a saying that says when in doubt ‘Get up, shower, get dressed and show up!’

 
2. Don’t be late
This is a short one. Just don’t do it. Don’t be late to an interview. Don’t be late for work. Don’t be late for an event or meeting at work. Arrive super early.

 
3. Attention to detail
You may be set simple tasks like sending an email or updating a spreadsheet. These are tasks which give you the chance to really show that you have great attention to detail. I can’t believe how many times I have witnessed people mess things up by not manually spell checking an email or document. Don’t rely on spell check. I personally love people that can send me a document without a typo or something wrong. They become useful, trust worthy and an asset. I then will be more confident to give them more responsibility and then this is a chance for them to really show what they are made of.

 
4. Do even the smallest thing well
Some internships can be quite boring for example, I know a lot of fashion magazines get their interns to clean out the fashion closet or fetch coffee. Not the most glamorous of tasks, and you may be thinking ‘I am not studying my arse off at university to come here and clean a Gucci stiletto! ‘ However, this is all a test really! They want to see your attitude and if you are a hard worker. Whatever task you are given, do it to the best of your ability, with the best attitude as if it is the most important thing in the world. Trust me people will notice and they will want to keep you on or offer you more opportunities.

 
5. Humble yourself
I hate to break it to you but just because you have a 1st class degree does not mean that you are going to be sitting in the corner office at your first job. Everyone has to start from the bottom-even the most successful people. Even Oprah’s first job as local reporter was paid so poorly and she is now a Billionaire! So just remember that we all have to put in the work and prove ourselves as unfortunately just having a degree is not going to impress anybody!

Vanessa Sanyauke, CEO and Founder, Girls Talk London

@vanessasanyauke

Six ways to get a promotion

12 ways to get your dream job

My Biggest mistake, Vanessa Sanyauke

 

 

Monday Motivational Video: Change your mindset

Happy Monday!

We want to help you kick the ‘Monday Blues’ in the butt!

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We have something for you that will make the commute to work/college/university that bit less painful-our new feature: Monday Motivation. Every Monday we will post a short motivational video to give you that push to be a total badass this week!

Our first is below and focuses on changing your mindset-please do let us know what you think and if you have any suggestions for future posts.

Have a great week! xoxoxo

https://youtu.be/fviFNrWKzZ8

 

Six ways to get a promotion

Have you got your eye on that promotion?

Are you ready to climb the corporate ladder and take yourself to the next level in your career?

Often it is not luck that determines our success, but hard work.  Have you heard the saying ‘the harder you work the luckier you will become’? – this is one I have heard a number of times, which leads me to believe that there must be some truth in this.

Here are some tips to help you work towards winning that promotion:

1. Perform at the level you aim to win – it’s about deciding where, outside of your current role, you also need to have impact. It is also about who you need to influence and working on those key relationships. You need to work at the level you wish to aspire to-a great way could be taking on a project or responsibility that a Senior colleague does not have the time to work on.

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2. Share your success – women are often less vocal about sharing their success however this is a great way to vocalise your value and position yourself at the forefront for upcoming opportunities. In addition to this don’t wait for formal reviews to share your success and review your progress.

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3. Find a mentor – Find a senior mentor, ideally someone in the role that you aspire to step into.

4. Be Visible – We often expect people to just notice us and acknowledge how deserving we are of a promotion – this doesn’t work! In addition to performing your role it is also crucial to be present, get involved and speak to colleagues outside of your team. Internal PR will ensure that you are seen and recognised by the right people.

5. Position yourself as an expert in your field – Gaining a deep understanding of your role and business is key in creating a strategic plan to win that promotion.

6. Make yourself invaluable – This is individual to each role/industry however becoming a valuable member of your team/business is a great way to be seen and considered.

Remember ‘Promotions are WON, not given!

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Go forth and get that promotion!

Joanne Green 

Girls Talk London Ambassador/Recruitment  Account Manager 

Follow Jo on Twitter @justask_jojo

Want to find out how to create your own network? Check out this post here: https://www.girlstalklondon.com/how-to-create-your-own-network/

3 face brushes you must try this winter

During this time of the year we  can suffer from dry skin due to a number of factors.  The weather, low humidity, not drinking enough water and central heating. Other factors to consider are age, family history, personal history, genetic and also medical conditions. One way to avoid dry skin is to stay clear of strong cleansers and to opt for mild cleanses and rich moisturisers.
Another way to improve on the condition of your skin is to ditch the flannel in favour of the current trend, the electric face brush. These give your face a super deep clean, and most skin experts do agree that face brushes can be good for the skin. A deep clean can assist deeper penetration of moisturising creams and other products leaving your skin looking fresh and flawless.
I would advise not to use this as part of your daily routine, but more once or twice a week, as over use can be more harmful as your skin can become sensitive and breakouts could occur-which is the opposite of what we are trying to achieve for this new year.! After a few uses you’ll discover a reduction in pore size, so your skin will appear smoother and brighter. Most electric face brushes also come with additional attachments for a complete beauty routine, including a pumice stone for your feet. I’ve bought one of these and I’m using it religiously twice a  week and I’ve seen a vast improvement with the condition of my skin. Give one a go and start the year off right with a new you!
Here are some of my favourite brushes to test out:
Elle Macpherson
Elle Macpherson Wet & Dry face & Body Exfoliation Brush – This has 4 attachments, battery operated, with a rotary action. Approx £19.99
spin for perfect skin
Spin for perfect Skin – This has 4 attachments for a full body routine. Battery operated, with rotary action. Approx £60
magnitone full monty
Magnitude Full Monty – This has 3 attachments for a complete body routine. This is a chargeable unit with a rotary action. Approx £100

 

Denise Campbell
Make-up Artist
Follow Denise on Twitter here: @BeautyanBeats

Meet our Girls Talk London Squad!

We are delighted to announce that we have recruited our first co-hort of amazing ambassadors for Girls Talk London who are our official SQUAD! Keep an eye out because you will be seeing a lot of these girls as they will be an integral part of spreading the word about our work around the UK. You will see them hosting events, representing our brand and writing stories for our website and much more!

Get to know these lovely ladies below and watch this space!

Bunmi Jenfa

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Bunmi is a student studying Law at the University of Westminster and describes herself as a “self confessed Suits( TV Show) addict, collector of Black Hair & Beauty magazines and a strong advocate for women being the best they can be. I am determined to succeed in every aspect in life but also a lover of fashion & all things sweet! “ Bunmi’s interests include Travelling, Creative Art and Fashion.

You can connect with Bunmi on the social media tags below:
Instagram– @x.ms_bee
LinkedIn– Bunmi Jenfa
Facebook: Bunmi Jayy
Snapchat: msbee_95

Whitney Joseph

Whitney

Whitney is a trainee Lawyer and describes herself as someone who never has regrets because at one point in time everything I did was exactly what I wanted to do! Whitney loves to get involved in giving back to the community and is a dedicated volunteer for several charities and social enterprises. She loves the theatre, music and the arts

Connect with Whitney on the social media tags below:
Facebook: Whitney Chevonne,
LinkedIn: Whitney Joseph,
Instagram: @whitneywantsitall

Ruby Andrews

Ruby
Ruby is studying Fine Art at Chelsea College of Art and describes herself as an extremely driven and ambitious individual with a creative and adaptable approach to all areas of my life.She enjoys running and staying active, cooking and discovering new spots in London

Follow Ruby on Twitter @rubysdandrews

Amaka Uche

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Amaka works in Graduate Student Recruitment at EY and describes herself an optimist & lover of good vibes who desires to live an epic and awesome life! She is interested in personal development, travel and fashion. Amaka also has her own blog here: epicawesomelife.wordpress.com

Follow her on her Social Media Tags below
Facebook (Amaka Uche)
Twitter @epicawesomelife @amakauche_ey
Snapchat: amakalove

Shannie Mears

Shannie

Shanice is 21 and studied dance and performance at university and is now working at a digital marketing agency in London. Shannie is very chilled, loves the arts and young people but most of all loves learning about what’s great in the world. She LOVES dance and all styles but hip hop is her favourite. She also loves fashion. Shannie is an avid believer in the potential of helping young people to strive for what they believe in, and in the coolest way possible.

Follow her on the social media tags below:
Instagram, Twitter & Snapchat: @Shannieloves
Facebook– Shannie Mears

Katherine Parry

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Katherine is a photo desk assistant at an image keywording company and also is a freelance music journalist. She describes herself as a strong independent woman who sometimes cries during romantic comedies and likes to pet dogs. In her spare time she loves going to concerts and music festivals, photography and travelling.

Follow her on Instagram @twerk4coco

Joanne Green

Joanne
Jo is a Recruitment Account Manager and Framework Implementation Coordinator for a recruitment agency in London. Jo describes herself as passionate, focused and fun. Jo loves Fitness, Food (cooking, eating and learning) and Traveling (would love to do more of this)

Follow Jo on Instagram: @jojo_blessing

Judite JR

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Judite would describe herself as somewhere between the Beyonce and the Michelle of the group! She loves music, presenting and spoken word. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram on @whoaskedJU

Holly Palmer

Holly

Holly is a Second Year Broadcast and Communications Media Student at College. She is a part time presenter on videoblogg, an online platform based in London. Holly would describe herself as brunette and Bubbly! (I am always the one making people laugh ) She is really interested in Presenting as, this is something that she would love to do one day. As well as this she loves music and everything related to the radio excites her! She loves FOOD! She says ‘I love trying new and vibrate dishes although, sometimes its all about enjoying something calorific and covered in cheese!’

Check out her radio/media based blog here: https://hollydaydream.wordpress.com

Follow her on Twitter: @hollypalmerxxx and Instagram: @holly__palmer

Margaret Muberekwa

margaret
Margaret describes herself as a resilient and driven young lady who believes as ladies, we can all succeed. Her interests are beauty, skin care and fashion

Follow her on Instagram @mstanaka800 and on Twitter @mstanakam

Check out her blog :http://www.t-anaka.blogspot.co.uk/

Oreoluwa Esther Akinola

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Oreoluwa Esther is a student studying Food & Nutrition at Teesside University. She describes herself as a Lover of people and all things beautiful, hardworking, positive thinker and doer! She thrives to make a difference in people’s lives. Her interests are in writing, watching the sun rise and set and reading!

Follow her on Twitter @oreesther18 and Instagram @oreesther18
Check out her blog: www.oreoluwaesther.wordpress.com

Christina Okorocha

Christina
Christina is currently at university in Coventry and she loves everything digital and is passionate about change. Her interests are in technology, music and social Media.

Follow Christina on Twitter: @ChristinaOk and Instagram: ChristinaOk

Jessica Grogan

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Jessica is an advertising degree student at Edge Hill University and a lover of all things creative! She is a Peggy Olson wannabe, complete chatterbox, super ambitious about future projects and passionate about women’s potential in the media industry. She loves immersing in story (films, books, music), Interior design, food, health & is a spinning addict

Follow Jessica on Twitter: @jessicagroganx and Instagram: jessica_grogan17

Want to join our Squad? Find out what we are looking for and apply now! We recruit on a rolling basis: https://www.girlstalklondon.com/join-our-girls-talk-london-squad/

 

 

 

 

 

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