Internships at Barnard: From Bears to Penguins

Perhaps since watching The Carrie Diaries, I have been infatuated with the idea of working in New York City. I watched in awe as she donned stylish blazers and professional pumps and headed off to work at a fashion magazine, completing mundane intern tasks like fetching coffee, but also learning how to be a compelling writer and build a network of connections within the city. 

I imagined myself within this fantasy, and since my first semester at Barnard, I have aspired to find an internship in New York City. I’ve always felt torn in several directions for career interests—one day I want to be a journalist, the next a professor, the next an editor. I’ve learned the most effective way for me to narrow this search is by exploring positions in these industries. 

That said, there is no immediate rush to take on an internship after arriving at Barnard. I chose to wait until my sophomore year so I could find my footing academically and socially on campus before exploring outside it. By the end of sophomore fall, I was anxious to seek career opportunities. This is one of the privileges of attending Barnard—you do not have to wait until the summer to find your dream internship. 

So in November, I haphazardly applied to a listing at Penguin Random House—the world’s largest book publisher. I reviewed my resume and cover letter with Beyond Barnard, our career services office, and sent it in, not expecting a response. Less than a week later I had a voicemail from an HR representative requesting an interview. 

It’s true that positions with large, well-known organizations in the city can be longshots due to the heaps of qualified applicants they receive. But most corporations do not expect you to have years of experience in their industry—rather, they want to know you’ve gained important skills in past positions you’ve held and will be an asset to their team. These skills can be gained from extracurriculars, on-campus jobs, or in the classroom. 

I later received placement as a Marketing and Publicity intern in their Avery and TarcherPerigee imprints, which specialize in nonfiction and lifestyle novels. I work with two supervisors who are eager to hear my feedback on the tasks they have given me—whether I feel they’ve been productive, educational, or a waste of my time. The department is entirely female, collaborative, and close-knit—everyone looks for ways to help each other—and there were two Barnard alums there. There is a coffee machine, so I never have to fetch coffee. 

A lot of my time is spent doing research and pitching books to influencers, podcasts, journalists, and TV shows. I’ve learned there is an influencer for everything—even real estate. My supervisors taught me to write these pitches and allow me to send them myself so I get a sense of the entire marketing and publicity process.  

Under this new normal, I’ve transitioned to working remotely, most likely for the remainder of my internship. I miss being surrounded by my favorite books at all times (there are display cases everywhere), but my supervisors have tried to make my transition as smooth as possible, making sure I’m prioritizing my wellbeing and checking regularly to ensure I understand my tasks. On top of all this, the internship is paid, so I know my time is being adequately valued. 

Working with Penguin Random House has taught me, for lack of better words, to always shoot your shot when it comes to careers you’re passionate about—you never know what could happen.

-Audrey Pettit
Audrey is a Sophomore from Missoula, Montana studying English and deliberating over what she should minor in. On-campus, Audrey is an RA, sophomore class president, admissions representative, and active in ballet groups. Otherwise, you can find Audrey snatching books from one of Penguin’s many take shelves.