Staying Connected: Networking Tips from NYC Editors

The summer may be ending, but my ties at my internship — and in New York City — are far from over. Interning at Hearst and Cosmo have allowed me to grow so much. From learning the subway system (express vs. local trains — it took me half the summer to get it!) to just being confident around the office, I've found that the more time I spent working, the more I fell in love with what I was doing and where I was doing it. My reservations and first day jitters? Far gone by the end of the summer. Instead I'm more confident that this is the direction I want to head in. This internship has been nothing but a positive experience and the people I've met during it — both in and outside of the office — I know will continue to inspire and help me as I pursue my dreams of being an editor in New York. I'm so thankful for everything.

And if there's one thing I learned above all, it's that fostering strong ties is so important. The one piece of universal advice editors gave me during my summer informational interviews was to network, network, network. But how do you maintain those relationships organically? Treat your magazine contacts like humans. Editors are more than a way to a job; they can become your friends and mentors if you take the right steps. The editors I spoke with offered these suggestions:

• End your internship off strong with bosses. Unsure where to take your relationship with your bosses now that your internship is over? Start by ending your time with them on a high note. Handwritten thank you notes make such a difference, and show you really care about the time your bosses invested in you. Be sure to get contact information that last day too — i.e., where they prefer you reach them. Let them know you'll stay in touch ... and actually do!

• Drop an email once in a while to keep ties fresh. Even if you're nowhere near graduating, don't be afraid to keep yourself on an editor's mind by updating them on something you've done (maybe you got published in a national magazine). Aim to email them once a semester — and more as you near graduation — so they don't forget about you. If you see something they've written that you really like, don't hesitate to email them and tell them that. Feedback means a lot to them, and those emails show that it's about more than you; you're interested in their career, too. In terms of overdoing it, as an editor told me, "you'll think you're overdoing it far before you actually are." Watch the conversation and their tone to gauge how often you should reach out and how receptive they are. And when you do send an email? Be sure you have a good purpose for it.

• Holiday cards are harmless. Hesitant over whether to send a card to an editor this holiday season? Rest assured: "Who doesn't like a Christmas card?" an editor told me when I asked about it. Send editors you've worked with or close network contacts a holiday card to their office address to show you're thinking of them. It might just make their day.

• When you have the chance, visit in person. Plan on going to NYC this fall? Let your editors or close contacts know you'll be in the city during x date and would love to see them. Seeing your face will help reinforce your relationship with them and give you invaluable time to catch up.

• Don't hesitate to ask questions when you have them. If an editor offers to answer any questions you have, take advantage of that help. Don't be afraid to ask them for feedback on your resume or any tips they have — especially editorial assistants — for applying to internships and EA positions. Remember, your editors do want to help. They've been there before themselves and know what it's like. You won't be a burden when you ask them for it.

Well, Cafme, that wraps up my advice from this summer. Thanks so much for following, and I hope it's made a difference! I hope all your internships have been amazing, and I can't wait to hear about them this fall. Keep your eye out on our Twitter and Facebook for information about our first meeting and Fall Fest too. I'll see you there!