Amanda Nachman, English Language and Literature Alumna

Realizing as a college junior that I had no idea what I wanted to do after graduation was more than a little bit daunting. I soon recognized, however, that the best way to start my career search would be to get some real world experience. So, throughout the spring and summer of junior year, I took on three internships that I truly believe are the reason for my success today.

I started out at a small publishing company where I learned the ins-and-outs of the trade book publishing industry. I became an expert on writing press releases, had the chance to promote a new book and worked with an author to arrange book signings. I also had my fair share of stuffing envelopes, packaging books for our media lists and editing long chapters of academic texts with the power to put even the most academically-interested professor to sleep.

My second internship was with the University of Maryland Alumni Association as a communications intern. There, I had my first taste of being published in a beautifully designed and well-written publication, Terp Magazine. I experienced the process of interviewing, editing print and online text, contributing to the e-newsletters, and writing letters to alumni. Probably the least exciting task was answering emails?but I have to say, the formal responses I learned and used in my emails to alumni have found their way into emails I send to clients today.

During that same summer, I also held an editorial internship with Washington Spaces Magazine. This was where I fell in love with the magazine industry?the teamwork, the creativity, the fast pace, the photo shoots, the layout meetings?I loved it all. Not only did I work with the editorial team, but I also worked with the photographer and the Art Director. Every part of the magazine process was truly a team effort.

By my senior year, I had experienced three potential and very distinct career paths. Each of my internships left me with first hand knowledge of the industry and with new skills that have contributed to my current success. Today, less than a year out of college, I run my own start-up company?College Magazine, LLC, a publication that captures the college experience with entertaining articles written by students.

Since graduation, I established a core design and editorial team, launched two issues of College Magazine, and secured $150,000 of seed funding to continue business growth. The magazine has already gained reputable advertisers such as the Washington Capitals, TGI Friday's and Kaplan Inc, and 10,000 copies of the second issue have been distributed to three top universities in the DC area, including the University of Maryland. And I am proud to say that so far College Magazine has been a hit amongst students, with over sixty student writers and photographers contributing and already over 500 students signed up for our e-newsletter. My next steps are to launch a fully functional and interactive website and expand College Magazine to other universities.

The teamwork I experienced, the publishing knowledge I gained, and editorial and communication skills I learned from my internships have proved invaluable to my entrepreneurial endeavor.

 

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