The 4 smartest things I did for my career before I graduated from college

This is an obvious one, but I cannot stress enough the importance of interning while in school. Not only does an internship give you real, hands-on experience in your field, but it also shows future employers that you're serious about your future. You internship doesn't have to be at a well-known company — job experience is what many potential employers are looking for.

I interned with stylists and up-and-coming websites in LA starting the summer before my sophomore year so that my resumé showcased my interest in the industry. Down the road, my experience was enough for well-known magazines to consider my application when I was applying for internships and full-time positions.

I was lucky enough to intern for Allure in New York City one summer between my junior and senior year. There, I worked for two beauty assistants who I still consider my mentors today. We kept in contact after my internship ended and when I graduated, they would recommend me to people they knew were hiring and pass my info along to the right people so that I could be considered for the position.

Magazines is a small industry where everyone knows everyone, so it's helpful as a job-seeker to find people who will refer you. My mentors also helped me when I was struggling, whether I needed advice on an edit test or general emotional support.

I found that the best way to learn about job openings was through the connections I made by going on informational interviews. When an assistant or editor position opens up, the first candidates considered are usually recommendations from staff or contacts of the hiring manager.

To make connections, I cold-emailed editors to see if they would meet me for a quick coffee while I was interning in the city or have a phone call when I was back at school in LA. I did my research, studied the mastheads of my favorite magazines, and sent a personalized email to each editor.

In each email, I told the editor that I was a student who wanted to pursue a career in the magazine industry. I listed my internship and other experience and concluded the email saying that I would love to hear about their career path and any advice they may have for me.

I received at least one response from every magazine I reached out to. However, if you don't hear back from anyone, don't be discouraged. Review your email closely for anything that could be putting people off, then keep reaching out. You will eventually connect with someone.

Maintain the relationships you've established. The professionals you've connected with are likely very busy, so it's on you to make sure they remember you. Once a month or so, I would touch base over the phone with my contacts, email them about an article they had written, or send them something they might find interesting. Occasionally, I asked about job openings.

I was six months into my-post college internship when I emailed an editorial assistant I had kept in touch with back when I was in school and asked if she knew of any positions opening up at her magazine.

Turns out, I had emailed at the right time, as she had just put in her two weeks' notice. She told me to send my resumé to be considered for her position. After a few rounds of interviewing and an edit test, I got my first job as a beauty assistant at Vanity Fair. And the rest is history.