Gennifer Delman

It’s the 21st century, folks: We all know companies are scoping out the World Wide Web to determine our online behavior. From Facebook tags to our YouTube channels, everything we do is out in cyberspace for anyone—including potential employers—to observe. You may be more careful about what’s on your Facebook page these days, but what about Twitter? According to careerbuilder.com, 45 percent of employers use social networks to research job applicants and 7 percent of them are following said applicants on Twitter. We filled you in on how to keep your virtual presence clean and how to use Twitter to get a job, and now we’ve gathered ways for you to use Twitter in a professional manner so you won’t embarrass yourself before you even get the job—read on!

Do share—this is social media, after all! 

When it comes to Twitter, it’s all about authenticity. “People want to share with a real person, not a bot or a mindless program,” explains social-media researcher and adviser Mo Krochmal. So when it comes to sharing your daily adventures like hanging with your boyfriend or catching a movie, go for it! But as Krochmal suggests, you should make sure you feel comfortable having anyone read your words. “This tool is a very public sharing platform—so if you don't want to see your words on a billboard, or the top story in the Daily News, keep it to yourself,” he says.

Bundled in a chic jacket and a killer pair of heels as she hails a cab, you see her. Eyes wide and strutting with a purpose, she looks like she’s on her way to one of the most important appointments of her career. In reality, she’s a whippersnapper just like you, running an errand for her supervisor. She’s one of many college students who choose to spend their winter break exploring internship opportunities rather than lounge at home watching “True Blood” marathons (though that does sound enticing). What kinds of opportunities exist for a wintern in the making? Read on for the deets:
 
WINTERNSHIPS 101

Serena is the most stylish intern around.

Full-Time
As opposed to interning for a company during the summer or a full semester, some students will take on an internship during their winter break to give themselves that extra edge. Many will crash with friends or family in major cities like New York or Los Angeles just to make some additional contacts and learn valuable skills. Many will work full days a week in order to fully maximize their experience. “I chose to do a winternship not only because it’s my last chance to intern before I graduate, but I had a really wonderful experience during the summer at the same company,” says Kayla*, a Her Campus staffer and student in Connecticut. “Sure, I thought about staying at home, but I’d much rather be learning new skills, making more contacts, and gaining more experience in the industry where I hope to one day have a career.”

Name: Heather Lapham Duque
Job Title and Description: Momba, Co-Founder & CFO / VivaKi (a division of Publicis Groupe), North American Financial Monitoring Control Director
Education: Cornell University – BA, English / City University of New York / Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business – MBA, Finance & Investments
Website: http://momba.me
Twitter Handle: @HeatherLDuque

Her Campus: What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Heather Lapham Duque: As Momba’s co-founder and chief financial officer, I provide leadership and guidance on all financial matters. Getting Momba going has been an all-hands-on-deck experience, and there’s no such thing as a typical day. One day I’m designing a financial projections model based on our current and future aspirations as a company; the next day I’m packaging products in our inventory storage space.

At VivaKi, I provide financial monitoring and control oversight of Publicis Groupe’s wide variety of digital advertising and media agencies in North America, which generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue every year. My daily responsibilities consist in deep dives into these agencies’ financial statements, and identifying areas where they can improve their efforts. While my core focus on financial monitoring and control remains constant, each agency is different, posing unique challenges from agency to agency.

Name: Viki Merjos
Job Title: Designer and owner of Goddis knitwear
College/Major: Business major at the University of Virginia
Website: www.goddisknits.com
Twitter Handle: @goddisknitwear

Her Campus: What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Viki Merjos: There isn’t really a typical day at Goddis; it’s always a combination of business and creativity. I take inspiration from the beauty of the world outside, to create the bright colorways I use in my collections. Inspiration can come from anywhere—recently I was at Bimini in the Bahamas and swam with dolphins, which inspired a lot of new colors in my collection. Aside from design, my job is also a lot of business. Whether it’s paperwork, phone calls, or emailing, the biggest thing for me is to keep organized and follow through with every little detail. Through the years, I found this to be the most crucial point in running a business.

HC: What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
VM: I started working in retail at a very young age. I worked hard and always helped style the shop. My bosses ended up liking my portrayed style so much that they let me become an assistant buyer, and eventually promoted to buyer. From there I learned everything about the industry, from designing, to advertising, to sales. By the time I was ready to start my line, I was equipped with a strong set of skills and experiences.