This week’s Tip Jar comes from Elisa Tang, a recent Hofstra University graduate working as a Production Associate for the Today Show. You can view her online portfolio here: etang1.wordpress.com 

How did you end up at the Today Show? What’s your story?
I interned at Today during the 2014 Fall semester of my senior year. I worked really hard while I was there, even if it meant getting up at an ungodly hour that I was definitely not used to! It was worth it. I would go into the Today studio or newsroom everyday, and constantly ask the producers and staff, “How can I help? I am open to working on any project.” I stayed in touch with my supervisor and some producers, and when a Production Associate position opened up just a few weeks shy of my graduation, I jumped on the opportunity. While at college, and through my internship experience at Today, I learned that I wanted to produce not just news stories, but human interest features, and entertainment stories. That’s why I felt that the Today Show would be the best place for me to grow.

The entertainment industry is all around us. Whether we’re watching the latest season of “American Horror Story” or listening to a Spotify recommendation, entertainment influences us in ways we don’t even realize. This influence however, doesn’t come out of nowhere. There is immense brainstorming, planning and coordinating that brings our music, television and film desires to life.

This is the first of a series of posts dedicated to getting a behind-the-scenes look at professionals in the communications and entertainment field. Every few weeks, I’ll be interviewing a range of communications professionals and getting feedback on their lives in the television, music and film industries.

Jade Williams is a recent graduate from Hofstra University and is currently working at Total Assault, a digital and social marketing company located in Los Angeles, California. She specializes in digital marketing and public relations for different musical performers around the United States. Here is Jade’s story:

Let’s talk about the subject that inevitably brings stress to the average college student: Internships.

Graduation seems to be just around the corner and you’re wondering what the hell comes after that $200,000 degree is in your hands. Trust me, I get it. These are the fears that nightmares are made of, but it is possible to line up something great before that day comes. For the aspiring professional, getting a foot in the door to a field of interest means everything. Unfortunately, this task can seem somewhat daunting in the beginning. So here are a few interntips to keep the real-world boogeyman away and to get the most out of your college life.