Imagine you’re sitting at your desk, taking care of a few odds and ends – homework, updating your Facebook page – and you come across a really cool listing. Better than even the most awesome “obey this rule” advertisement promising 8-pack abs or a 20-inch waist, you’ve found an actual job opportunity: In this case, a chance to intern at brass|MEDIA.

This moment came for me in late January. After writing an email of polite tone and tenor, I was offered an equally professional response. The gist was this: “Sorry, we don’t need anyone… ”

Ouch.

After struggling with what to do next, I decided it would be worth trying to get my foot in the door as a contributor. Opportunities came and went without any of them being assigned to me.

And who could blame them? What did I have to offer besides a thin portfolio and my boyish charm?

Left to marinate for a while, I was contacted by brass a few weeks ago and they asked if I was still interested in an internship.

“Well, I have offers from the New Yorker and Rolling Stone, so I don’t know if I can find time to… nah, I’m just playin’! Hook me up!"

And here I am. I have  an office with real walls and a door that opens and shuts, and a window that offers a generous smathering of sunlight to permeate the fogged lenses of my tired 8AM eyes.

If anyone asks, there’s really only one rule to “obey” when trying to further your career: Don’t give up.

--Brandon