Q&A With a Community Manager

Learn how incredible internships, vibrant communication skills, and unshakable confidence led Ashley Mosley to become a Community Manager at InternMatch.

Alma Mater: Howard University
College Major: Film
Current Job: Community Manager at InternMatch
Favorite Musician: Michael Jackson

1) What are the most important lessons you’ve learned from the internships you’ve had in the past?

When I interned with the Federal Communications Committee (better known as the FCC), I got hands-on experience with customer service and learned how to communicate with people from all different backgrounds. I also gained skills in networking and public communication.

My internship with Bigfoot Entertainment in the Philippines allowed me to work in the niche market of Asian independent films and sparked my interest in digital media and target marketing.

I was an intern for the Global Solutions Manager at one of largest media companies in the world, MEC in New York City.  At MEC I participated in events with MTV and lots of other exciting companies and learned how to use social media to promote a brand.

2) Tell us how you arrived at InternMatch.

When I moved to Silicon Valley I said, “When in Rome, do what the Romans do; I want to work at a startup.” Initially, I spent a lot of time learning about startup culture through TechCrunch and other similar websites.

Through this process, I found Nathan Parcells, CMO and co-founder of InternMatch, and tweeted at him saying, “I wish there had been something like InternMatch when I was in school.” He responded by asking me, “What would you recommend we do more of on our site?” I told him that I would like to see a Housing Guide and later sent a short email introducing myself. I mentioned again that I liked the company and that I’d love to chat more about how InternMatch could do more with its social media sites, listing 3 ideas for growth. Nathan then offered to meet up and asked to see my resume. I read about the history of InternMatch online and learned more about startup culture so I’d know what questions to ask. We met for half an hour the next day, and the day after that he offered me the job.

3) Describe how the InternMatch team has improved (and is improving) its social media sites since you’ve been on board.

InternMatch has certainly developed more of a voice by adding style to the internship culture. We’re constantly trying out new ideas to figure out what our community is going to respond to. Our goal is to meet the needs of our students by engaging them with fresh content, and it’s clear that we’ve done that because our community has more than doubled in size over the past year and is still growing.

4) What’s your favorite thing about social media?

I’m a huge people person, and social media is a great way to connect with people on a broader level. Often, you may think you know a person, but social media provides a more nuanced view into their life.

5) What advice would you give students on networking professionally through social media?

Know the differences between each site.

• On Facebook, make sure to be genuine and continue to foster common connections with people. Suggesting articles/content they may like and commenting on things they post can go a long way to build those relationships.
• Twitter is less personal and much more public.  Sharing their content, responding to questions they ask, or simply finding unique ways to share information (i.e.: if someone wants  restaurant suggestion in your hometown, etc..) are all great ways to build community on Twitter.

For every site, ask yourself how you can offer valuable information to the community, and have something to bring to the table. I think of it as a potluck.

When you’re reaching out to specific people ask, “Is this the only person I can contact to solve this problem and what can I offer”

Customize your message by writing to that person’s voice. Your tone is going to be different if you’re writing to a 23-year-old as opposed to a 45-year-old.

Compliment whoever you’re writing to. A little flattery can go a long way.

Clean up your profile. Everything on your profile should be a good reflection of yourself and should be up to date.

Make sure you’re not only making connections, but also that you’re  staying up to date on the latest information in your industry. 

***This is an installment from the series, Mastering Summer Internships. These articles will show how to make the most of your summer internship experience and be a rockstar intern in your company.