“CHAPTER XXII — CONCERNING THE SECRETARIES OF PRINCES

The choice of servants is of no little importance to a prince, and they are good or not according to the discrimination of the prince. And the first opinion which one forms of a prince, and of his understanding, is by observing the men he has around him; and when they are capable and faithful he may always be considered wise, because he has known how to recognize the capable and to keep them faithful. But when they are otherwise one cannot form a good opinion of him, for the prime error which he made was in choosing them.” – Niccolo Machiavelli

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Even as far back as the Renaissance — and probably before — people have known that good people attract other good people while evil, avaricious, greedy, mean people attract those with the same failures and vices. You can be, and will be, judged by the company you keep, but few people seem to understand or remember this very useful part of human nature. Worse still, even when people understand that the company they keep is damaging their career and life, they remain in their company simply because leaving it — quitting a job, finding another, moving schools or homes — is simply too much trouble. This column is a reminder that the damage you do to your career by associating with the wrong people is far worse than the inconvenience you will face in trying to change it.

When my wife and I hold our annual parties, one comment we hear again and again, is about the friendliness of the people we attract to us. No matter how old or young, what they do for a living, how rich or poor they are, our friends all have a certain quality that makes it fun to be around them and share their lives and engage in conversation about the world and our place in it. Over our 26+ years together, my wife and I have often commented on how lucky we are to have found such a wide variety of amazing friends. Then again, perhaps it isn’t just an accident that this happens.

We, like I would advise you, are very careful to bring a particular type of person into our lives and into the life of our son. Like us, they should be marginally optimistic. They should love a good conversation, regardless of what the topic might be or where it might go. They should be as comfortable grabbing a quick bite at Henry’s Tacos as they are attending a concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown LA. They should have hobbies and interests that they like sharing with others like our friends who belong to the local geology club, are docents at the LA Zoo, share the archery field with us or those who get a kick out of camping at the beach.

Why do we look for people like this? Because they are the people we are ourselves — or least, strive to be. We look at our friends and hope that others see us in the same light. Our friends are a reflection of ourselves and over the years this has proven to be a very good thing. We have developed many deep and long standing relationships based on our underlying — even unspoken — methods.

Now, take a look at your friends, your co-workers, your business partners. These people are a reflection of you, your dreams, your values. Do you see in them what you would most like to see in yourself? If not, why not? If you are surrounded by those who skirt the law, take advantage of others only to better themselves, or abuse those around them, why are you there? Surely you must know that when seen from outside, these people reflect directly on you. You become one of them, whether you like it or not.

Surround yourself with those people you respect and you will find the respect of others. Find those people that are successful without being evil and you will find the same path for yourself. Seek out those people who reflect the “better angels of your nature” and you will find long term abiding friendships that accurately reflect who you are and what you want out of life.

***

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Recorded at Tuesdays with Transitioners in Northridge, California. (http://tuesdayswithtransitioners.ning.com)

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Perhaps you could put together a regular meeting of some like-mined folks to help you think some new thoughts, too, or help you better understand a topic you are all learning for the first time.

Do you have a “study” group or just an informal gathering of folks on a regular basis? Tell us about it in the comments.

Continue Your Education the Easy Way by Finding a Discussion Buddy

Sometimes the act of learning something new can be a bit difficult on your own. You can read all the books or articles you want, but it doesn’t always sink in completely. Productivity blog Pick the Brain has a really simple solution borrowed directly from the education system: find a study buddy to talk it out with.

Read the entire article

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Funerals have a way of sharpening your perspective on everything. The father of friend died unexpectedly this week. He had also become our friend over the years, helping us with legal and corporate issues in our small company. I also worked for him, providing computer assistance. As I talked with his wife after the services, she related how I would need to stop by soon to help her sort out all the information that was stored in their computers and help her put things in order. What’s even more striking is, this is not the first time I have had this discussion with someone.

Now available from Douglas E. Welch and Amazon.com

Cultivating Your Career Opportunities by Douglas E. Welch

11,000 Words

While we often talk about having one, monolithic, Reputation – with a capital R — I believe that there are a series of reputations that combine to create the whole. It is often said you can’t “do” projects, you can only do the individual tasks that make up the project. The same can be said for reputation. You don’t build your reputation as a whole, you cultivate the smaller reputations that create it. Each individual action builds your reputation in unique ways and each requires some thought as to how they relate to the whole. Cultivating Your Career Reputations examines each of these reputations in detail and helps you find specific areas where you can improve your work, your actions and your thoughts so that your overall professional reputation can grow

Buy Now

Working in high-tech often means working very closely with people and developing relationships that go far beyond the usual situation of employer and employee. Over the course of your career, many people will become family. You need to be prepared for the eventualities of life, in both your own life and the lives of those around you.

As we grow older, we all prepare for the day when we die. We create our wills, buy insurance, and create Trusts, all in an effort to make it easier for our family and friends when we pass. In addition to all the usual arrangements, though, all of us need to consider the new, computerized world in which we live. In the past, our children may have sorted through paper documentation, but now, more and more, of our lives are bound up in our computers, our email and many other personal and business-related documents.

Computer issues might seem a shallow thought compared to the other issues surrounding a funeral, but in today’s world, it is very important. In the last 2 years, I have faced this issue with several clients and, as I work with many older people in my consulting work, I am sure to face it more as the years pass. To that end, I am developing plans for all of my clients that can help make computer issues less of a concern when the time comes.

First, every member of the family should have some concept of where family data is stored, passwords needed for access and backups in the event that anything happens to the family home. Too often, I find myself digging for passwords or even attempting to crack passwords in an effort to access data. Data could be scattered among several directories or even several computers. None of us likes to think about death, but I try to keep, in the back of mind, the old adage, “I could get hit by a bus tomorrow.” We never know what is coming and the only way to insure that our families can continue with as little trouble as possible is to prepare today.

Next, insure that backups of data, even if they are relatively old, are placed in several locations. Family members should share backups with other family members and friends. You may never need this information, but if you do, it will be extremely important to access it easily.

Clean out your paper files and label everything religiously. It should be obvious where to find a variety of information no matter who might be searching. If your son or daughter can’t find the deeds to property, life insurance policies and more, get to work today. They won’t need further difficulties at an already difficult time.

Have I prepared enough myself? Probably not, but each passing funeral brings more urgency to the task. My own wife jokes of how she will have to call in a close friend to sort out my hard drive when I am gone. In making my own preparations, though, I can learn to develop systems and advice for my clients.

As I see others struggle through their times of loss, and how our computerized lives can make it more difficult, I am re-dedicating myself to removing as many obstacles as I can, both for my clients and myself. I hope you will use these guidelines as a start for your own preparations. No matter what your age, you need to consider how your high-tech work impacts those around you at one of the most stressful times in their lives.

***

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Our third CareerCampSCV (Santa Clarita Valley) is happening on July 14th, 2012 and tickets are available starting today. We hope to see you there!

Unemployed? Underemployed? New college graduate? Considering new career options?

Join us for CareerCampSCV 2012!

When: Saturday, July 14, 2012 9AM to 3:30PM

Where: 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91355

FREE Admission • FREE Parking

Directions

College of the Canyons Career Center presents CareerCampSCV, a FREE hybrid conference/unconference dedicated to helping you build the career you deserve. The day will include scheduled speakers, ad hoc presentations and breakout ses- sions on all aspects of building your career. CareerCamp is FREE for all adults who want to build or improve their career. Space is Limited. Register for FREE today. For more information, a list of scheduled speakers and additional career content

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Telling the truth, especially in situations that require it, is important to every career. The truth can be hard. It can be dangerous to your job. It can also raise you above others who have decided to ignore the problems that are right before them. Sure, we all tell little white lies to smooth our interactions with others, but in the end, the truth is usually the most powerful tool we own.

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The scary part is that we humans have a great ability for ignoring the truth even when faced with it. Worse still is our ability to lie to ourselves. Most of us are great at ignoring the truth in our lives, our relationships and our work. We can go through great gyrations to ignore that one, large, inconvenient truth and when we do so we damage everything around us. This is why it is so important to learn to tell ourselves the little truths we face every day. In our hearts and minds we often see things exactly as they are. When that happens we need to acknowledge those truths, not ignore them.

What sort of little truths do we face in our career each day? Sometimes we can know in our hearts that we are not that good at our job. Maybe we lack skills. Maybe we lack training. Maybe we lack the right environment. Some people will lie to themselves and think they are doing a great job, even though evidence to the contrary is right in front of them.

It is far better for you to acknowledge your limitations and then work to remove them rather than trying to hide them from yourself and others. This doesn’t mean you have to go around the office explaining to your manager and co-workers just how lame you are at your job. You only need to tell yourself this little truth — acknowledge it fully — and then figure out some way to improve your work. This is where the power of little truths can be deeply felt and used.

Perhaps you know that one of your teammates, your manager, your CEO, simply isn’t up to the job they have been given. Maybe some form of substance abuse is involved. Maybe they are involved in illegal business practices. You can lie to yourself — and them — and explain it all away. It isn’t embezzlement. It’s just creative accounting. No one will find out those parts are sub-standard. What does it matter? Maybe Bob is just having some health problems. He can’t possibly be doing drugs in the bathroom.

Lies like these are convenient to you. They let you get through the day with less worry and anxiety. They can also lead to your greatest and easiest downfall. Each of them could bring your job, your company and your career to an end with a short, sharp, shock. While these truths are often the hardest to face, they are also the most important. If someone is embezzling, you want to make it very clear that you had nothing to do with it and, more importantly, brought it to the attention of someone in charge. This is the clearest way of protecting yourself from prosecution, even if it does mean the end of your job.

If someone is abusing drugs, and you do nothing, you are enabling their abuse. You may even be enabling their death if the situation is serious enough. You can try small interventions first, but in the most dangerous cases you may have to face the issue head on. It could be that your co-worker is endangering your life and the lives of your co-workers. To stand by and do nothing is facilitating your own injury and perhaps death. In a situation like this, you should see how important the little truths can be. If ignored long enough, by enough people, these truths can turn into dramatic situations.

What are some truths that you need to tell yourself right now? What have you been ignoring in hopes that it might just go away? Who is in danger because of your willful ignorance? Yourself? Those around you? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to ignore these little truths and let them get worse until a crisis occurs or are you going to face them — in large ways and small — and seek a solution that benefits everyone. I hope you can see the paths that the truth puts before you. It should shine clear and bright if you only make the effort and have the courage to see it.

***

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My first and most important rule is…pay them something, anything! It really makes a difference.

Only slightly less important, second, the intern MUST learn something immediately useful to them once they return to school or to the job market.

Treat your interns as you would like your children treated if they were interns somewhere. Think of yourself as a teacher who is getting some assistance from a student, not simply someone to answer the phone.

How to Legally Work With an Intern

School is coming to an end for another year, and many students will be participating in internships for the summer. An internship can be a real win-win situation—the hirer (you) gets low cost or even free help while the intern gains valuable work experience.

I did a number of internships in my college days. I’ve also managed interns in my professional days. When I worked for a small, post production company in Boston, we had an intern in our office every day of the week. They helped us with tasks such as blacking out tapes, burning DVDs and videotapes for our clients, assisted in shooting projects, and brought a great, young energy into the office.

What did they get out of it? They got to use state-of-the-art professional shooting and editing equipment for free. Many of these students couldn’t even get their hands on stuff this awesome at their colleges. Plus, they were encouraged to create their own projects when the equipment was free, which happened often since we were such a small shop.

Read the entire article at FreelanceSwitch.com

** Looking for a job? Visit Jobs.WelchWrite.com for a host of job listings in your area of expertise. Search by keyword and geographic region.

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Can’t see the video above? Watch “Production, Promotion and Proactivity in Your Career” on YouTube

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Enter the keywords you are searching for and your location to get fresh and focused listings.

Jobs.WelchWrite.com

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Can’t see the video above, watch “Career Tip – Stop adversarial hiring practices” on my YouTube channel.

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Visibility and Your Career was presented at LaidOffCampLA on May 1, 2009.

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Job title: Website Content Manager and Editor

Status: Independent Contractor- P/T equivalent

Organization Information: We are a new Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization, formed to create and maintain a free, publicly accessible website about Los Angeles’s children ages birth to 21. The site is in the final stages of construction and is envisioned as a comprehensive “go-to” web-source for information about the quality of life and wellbeing of Los Angeles children and youth with the goal of identifying need and empowering positive change in the lives of local children.

Job Description: Content editor will be responsible for managing the organization’s creation of compelling content for the services offered on the website. Selected applicant should be able to help build the organization’s vision and support the site voice, brand, and objectives. This position will have the primary responsibility for the polished quality of the site’s written product as well as overseeing interns, supporting bloggers and social media creators.  Proofreading and editing to ensure proper grammar, sentence structure, punctuation and technical accuracy and message consistency of all content is required.  Editor will also oversee regular content layout, graphics and headlines.

Qualifications: Applicant must have excellent written communication skills and experience in researching and writing content for a website, have excellent concepting, editing and copywriting ability, be innovative in content presentation, have strong organizational skills and be prepared to manage workflow and content maintenance.  A thorough understanding of how to be a team player is critical. A working knowledge of MS Office, PowerPoint, and Google Docs, SEO best practices, and best practices in effective communication in a digital environment are also needed.  The ideal candidate is passionate about children, positive, and is excited to join this effort to create an online community supporting all of the children and youth in Los Angeles County. 

Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Experience:  Minimum 2 Years writing and managing online content.  Journalism background helpful.

To apply: Send resume and cover letter to info@ourchildrenla.org

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A self-directed education is a wonderful and productive thing. Sometimes, though, it can be difficult to know where to aim your educational focus. To offer a bit of help with this, I have put together some resources around a particular topic to get you started. In this first “Career Opportunities Course of Suggested Study” I am focusing on creativity and innovation, two very important topics for any careerist.

Career Opportunities Course of Suggested Study

Creativity and Innovation

We all have in us the ability and the necessity to create. Whether we are working on the next great technology or the next great recipe, creativity allows us to combine old knowledge with our own experience and create something new and wonderful. In order to “build the career you deserve” you need to explore this creativity at every opportunity and in every way. Deny your creativity and you will lose it. Honor your creativity and it will honor you back with great ideas, innovation solutions and idea that no one has thought before.

Questions to Consider

• Why do we create?
• How do we create?
• Is every job a creative job? Why? Why not?
• Can creativity lead to a better life and career? How?
• Is creativity the gift of a precious few or is everyone creative?
• Can you set aside “creative time” in your calendar?
• What would you create, if you took the time and energy to do it?

Resources

• The Accidental Creative with Todd Henry – Blog | Podcast | Book
• Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney – Blog | Podcast | Book
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield – Web Site | Book
• A Whack in the Side of the Head by Roger van Oech – Blog | Books
• Goosing Your Muse with JoAnn Braheny – Blog | JoAnn’s Creativity Book Recommendations
• Video: Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity from Ted.com
• Video: Tim Brown on creativity and play from Ted.com
• Video: Charles Leadbeater on innovation from Ted.com
• Video: Gever Tulley teaches life lessons through tinkering from Ted.com
• Book: Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
• Book: Feel the Fear . . . and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
• Book: Flow – The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
• Book: If You Want to Write – A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland
• Book: Jumpstart your Brain by Doug Hall
• Book: Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon MacKenzie
• Book: Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg

*Many of these books are available at your local public library. Save yourself some money and look there first.

Share your thoughts!

What did you learn from this Suggest Course of Study? Do you have questions or comments? Would you like to discuss this with your fellow Career Opportunities readers and listeners?

You can create and continue the discussion on Creativity and Innovation here on the blog by posting a comment, or starting a conversation on the Career Opportunities Facebook page or the Career Opportunities page on Google+. You can discuss this topic in real-time on the Career Opportunities Work Room at Hall.com. This includes a chat room and video conferencing capabilities. Contact career@welchwrite.com for an invite.

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Kindle books are readable on nearly every computer platform using the free Kindle Reader software. You can also now read directly in your web browser.

From Amazon.com…

Is Your Life Filled, Yet Unfulfilled?

Do you feel pulled in a thousand different directions?
Are your days so busy you hardly have time to think?
Are you living up to other people’s expectations while your own plans and dreams go unmet?
In The On-Purpose Person you’ll learn how to discover who you are, where you are headed, what you should do, and what’s most important to you! That’s being on-purpose!

Tap Into Your Highest Potential With The On-Purpose Person

Nothing adds more fullness and meaning to your life than discovering your purpose and living it out every moment of your life. With The On-Purpose Person, you’ll be on your way to greater order and clarity within 30 minutes of picking up the book. This entertaining story format provides clear principles that are easy to apply to everyday life. You’ll put them into practice immediately. Regardless of whether you’re in your teens or well into retirement, being on-purpose will inspire and guide you to live true to yourself.

Download The On-Purpose Person by Kevin W. McCarthy

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Given my focus on computer consulting and writing, it always seems to amaze people when I tell them that my college degree is actually unrelated to either of these areas. I graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in — theater! That’s right, I did every possible job in the theater during my time in college. I was an actor, a dancer, a singer, lighting operator, stage manager and more. I think I spent more time in the theater than I spent in the classroom during my college years and even though I do not work in professional theatre now, I think that that time has had a direct and significant impact on my life and career ever since.

Now available from Douglas E. Welch and Amazon.com

Cultivating Your Career Opportunities by Douglas E. Welch

11,000 Words

While we often talk about having one, monolithic, Reputation – with a capital R — I believe that there are a series of reputations that combine to create the whole. It is often said you can’t “do” projects, you can only do the individual tasks that make up the project. The same can be said for reputation. You don’t build your reputation as a whole, you cultivate the smaller reputations that create it. Each individual action builds your reputation in unique ways and each requires some thought as to how they relate to the whole. Cultivating Your Career Reputations examines each of these reputations in detail and helps you find specific areas where you can improve your work, your actions and your thoughts so that your overall professional reputation can grow

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So much of your career — especially at the beginning — is about how you present yourself to others. If you present a confident, intelligent air, people will think of you as confident and intelligent. If, on the other hand, you enter the office for an interview staring at your shoes and mumbling, you set the wrong expectations from the start. No matter what you may be feeling — fear, anxiety, lack of confidence — you can and should “act” like you are fearless, calm and full of confidence.

Acting taught me how important it is to stand up straight and speak clearly so that the person in the last row can hear you. It taught me how to look someone in the eye and actually listen to them, as if I was hearing the lines for the very first time. Stage management taught me the importance of organization, working with others and managing them. I never realized how important this would be to my career outside of the theater.

Acting the part

Presenting yourself well isn’t about any sense of arrogance or excessive ego or pretense. Rather it is about presenting the best image of yourself possible. You shouldn’t necessarily believe that you are the perfect candidate for a job, but you can act like you think the perfect candidate would act. You can present your credentials and experience in the best light possible, even if you are just getting started in your career. You can give yourself every advantage in the interview process.

Later in your career, you will also see when acting the part can make a significant difference. There are days when the thought of training another person or troubleshooting another computer wears me down. Still, when I meet the client, I know that I need to “act” like the confident and friendly computer consultant that I am. What’s odd is that after a while, I find that I am no longer acting the part, but I have moved my thinking and my actions into a better place. Before I know it, I am no longer acting, I am simply working at my best.

There are many other areas when “acting the part” is especially important. Through the years in your career you will be asked to present on some idea, topic or project, though many people greatly fear public speaking. You see them every day literally shaking as they try to announce some new project or initiative at their company.

If you act the part it becomes much easier, and much more engaging, when you speak in public. I think this is one of the biggest advantages my theater experience has given me. I can stand up in front of people and talk on any number of topics off the top of my head without suffering the fear and anxiety that most people experience. This single ability has greatly helped me to stay employed, develop organizations and lead people for over 25 years. To be able to speak clearly in a situation where others would be fearful is greatly respected by others. It gives you an immediate advantage. You are seen as someone who has conquered a fear that most people have themselves and that raises the esteem of others. They can see that they would be scared in such a situation, so when you are not scared, they respect you all the more for that.

So, should all of you head over to the local acting school? Well, I certainly don’t think it would hurt, if my career is any indication. We can all use a bit of help in learning how to present ourselves better and communicate our ideas more clearly. Another option would be to find your local Toastmasters chapter. They approach public speaking a bit differently, but the results are much the same — presenting yourself well in public.

Communication is one of the most important aspects of any career and any skills that help you communicate more clearly would certainly be an advantage. “Acting the part” could be one way to raise yourself above the average careerist and give you one more important advantage in building the career that you deserve.

***

Acting and your career – Podcast is a post from Career Opportunities

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After listening to this episode — Fighting The Corporate Anitbodies — I had to pass it on to you. This podcast comes from McKinney’s  new book, Beyond the Obvious, which includes many of the ideas he has discussed in his podcast over the years.

When we are trying to innovate, there are many different types of corporate “antibodies” that use their tried and true methods to prevent that innovation from happening. McKinney gives us some methods for counteracting these antibodies and, hopefully, move our innovations forward.

I hope you enjoy this podcast. Please share your comments and questions in the comments area. I think this is a great topic of conversation for career builders of all types.

Fighting the Corporate Antibodies by Phil McKinney

The antagonist of the innovator is the corporate antibody.

Download audio file (KI_2012_02_Fighting_The_Corporate_Antibodies.mp3)

Much like antibodies in our immune system attack and destroy foreign objects that might harm the body, “antibodies” in your organization identify and neutralize forces that threaten to destabilize a company. And in much the same way as antibodies can damage the very thing they seek to protect — for instance when they cause the body to reject a transplanted organ — corporate antibodies can stunt a company’s growth (and not address the innovators dilemma) when the shut down the fresh ideas and unconventional thinkers it so badly needs.

Some of the types of corporate antibodies are:

• The Ego Antibody

• The Fatigued Antibody

• The No-Risk Antibody

• The Comfort Antibody

Antibodies are the roadblock to innovation.

So how do you fight the corporate antibodies? Listen to the podcast …

Note: This podcast presents the highlights from Chapter 3 from the book, Beyond The Obvious.

Killer Innovations: Fighting the Corporate Antibodies by Phil McKinney is a post from Career Opportunities

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Here is the original blog post that started the conversation.

ROBBIE ABED’S PERSONAL BLOG: Fire Me Now, I beg you!

In every situation I ask myself two questions:

• What do I want the outcome of this situation to be
• What do I secretly want the outcome of this situation to be

For example, at one of my previous jobs, my boss setup an emergency meeting in her office. The title of the calendar invite was “catch up”. It was one of those vague meeting titles that meant one of two things: 1) She wanted to catch up or 2) She was going to lay me off.

Read the entire article here

More importantly, here is a great discussion thread on Hacker News that that blog post generated.

YCombinator: Hacker News Discussion Board

There are some great thoughtful and insightful comments there, including…

This is actually a great mental exercise for determining if you’re fundamentally unhappy at your current job. Just try and imagine your boss calling into a meeting like the one the OP describes and giving you some sort of, “your work has been good, but unfortunately we have to make some changes, and this will be your last day” speech, and imagine how you would feel.If your reaction is something along the lines of relief, then you are fundamentally unhappy at your job. You have not only concluded that it is not a good situation, but that the situation is incapable of improving. It’s likely only artificial mental restraints keep you from doing anything about it (“oh man I may have to move, moving is annoying… and I guess I get paid pretty well, most of my friends are making half what I do… and my boss said some things would change, although he said that months ago…”) and those restraints aren’t even that strong, otherwise you wouldn’t be relieved if you got laid off.

It is very worthwhile to look through this thread no matter where you are in your current job.

Fire Me Now, I beg you! – great blog post and discussion is a post from Career Opportunities

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Goodwill Southern California

Veterans’ Employment Program

1 Year Anniversary

and

Job Fair

Tuesday, April 17th

9am-11:00am

Goodwill Southern California

342 San Fernando Road

Los Angeles, CA 90031

All Veterans Welcome

RSVP Required: Yvette Cowans, USN (Ret.) ycowans@goodwillsocal.org

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

For more information, call (323) 539-2000. Goodwill Southern California provides, upon request, reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities.

The TTY/TTD phone number is (323) 539-2057 Please contact our staff 72 hours in advance. – Equal Opportunity Employer/Program

Event: Goodwill Southern California Veterans’ Employment Program – Apr 17, 2012 is a post from Career Opportunities

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I just received this in my Inbox. Machine Project is a cool place where cool people do cool things. (LAUGH) I have enjoyed quite a few of their events in the past and I think it could be a unique opportunity for the right person. Even better, IT’S PAID! I don’t know how much, but I think paying interns is very important, so this seems a good sign.

Here is the info…

Machine Project Summer Intern 2012

A 10-week internship, June 1st to August 10th, 2012.Machine Project is searching for a full-time paid intern this summer! (Thanks to the Getty Foundation’s Multicultural Undergraduate Internship Grant.) We’re seeking someone who is interested in event production for a small + feisty non-profit arts and educational space.

The internship is a full-time (40 hours/week) position, for a consecutive ten-week work period between June and August, 2012.

It is a REQUIREMENT that you’re already familiar with Machine and have attended events here in the past. It is also imperative that you own a vehicle.

HOW TO APPLY:

If you’re interested and eligible, email a cover letter and your resume (mandatory) and a brief description of a favorite artwork, film or piece of music & why it had a profound impact on you to machine@machineproject.com by Saturday April 30th, 2012. Applicants must be available for an interview the first week of May 2012.

REQUIREMENTS:

The Getty will support the hiring of an intern who meets these basic parameters:

- Be of African American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander descent;- Be a currently enrolled undergraduate. Intern must have completed at least one semester of college by June 2012, and those who will complete their degree by September 1, 2012 are also eligible to apply; (Students who are enrolled in a second BA or BS program are not eligible.)- Reside or attend college in Los Angeles County; and

- Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.- Be available all day Monday, June 25th, 2012 to attend a mandatory Getty Intern Arts Summit at the Getty Institute.

ADDITIONALLY, a Machine Project intern should:

- Be able to work a flexible schedule. Most of our events happen on weekends or nights, so you MUST be available to work on most weekends and nights. In general, your week will often include extended workdays on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and occasional hours the rest of the week.

- Have reliable access to a car. Part of the job will be going on runs for materials & equipment for events, as well as running office-related errands, so access to your own transportation is a must. If you don’t have reliable access to a car, we cannot consider your application, unless you own a fully beta-tested human teleportation device.

- Be responsible and punctual.- Be comfortable working independently.- Graphic design/web skills a definite plus!- Enjoy coming to events at Machine (and have come to at least one or two in the past).

LOCATION: The intern will report to Machine Project in Echo Park on a full-time schedule, and work side-by-side with staff in Machine’s office, gallery, and classroom.

EQUIPMENT: A workstation with an Apple computer can be provided, though interns are encouraged to bring their own laptops.

Los Angeles Machine Project Needs a Paid Intern for the Summer is a post from Career Opportunities

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