How to Land The Ultimate Summer Job If Your Name's Not Obama

While most American teens spend their summers working at summer camps or at McDonald's, Malia Obama went to Hollywood. According to TheWrap, Obama scored a summer gig working on Steven Spielberg's new TV series called Extant starring Halle Berry.

Malia, an aspiring filmmaker, loved her time on the set according to a source at the taping. The source also quoted Obama, 15, as commenting on the experience, "My first time. This is a big deal!"

Malia spent a day working as a production assistant on the summer sci-fi series premiering on CBS. Malia helped out with computer shop alignments and even slated a take for a scene. There's no word yet if the First Daughter will spend more time on the Los Angeles set the rest of the summer. The White House declined to comment on Malia's summer job in Hollywood.

So you (or your child) want to follow in the First Daughter's footsteps and apply for a gig as a PA? Here's what they really have in store:

Upside- You learn to be a Jack of all trades on a Movie/TV set by helping support the film crew. Chances are you'll be assisting sound, lighting, camera, director, actors, writers, producers or even craft services. Other pluses include getting two free meals a day, wearing what you want and seeing an all-star celebrity in action. More importantly, you figure out what department you want to specialize in. You also have the opportunity to make connections with film crew members in those areas.

Downside – Unfortunately the hours are long, don't expect health insurance and there's little job security since when the 3-month shoot is over you need to look for the next gig. You can also expect low wages, lots of travel and plan to work in all types of inclement weather. The show must go on.
What are some skills PA's need to succeed?– Flexible, punctual (time is money), adaptable, resourceful, professional (no selling actors' gossip or photos to TMZ).

Extant premiere's on CBS on July 9.

Which Interns are Most Likely to Get Fired?

Accounting interns have a much better chance of scoring a full-time gig than interns in any other industry. So if you're looking for stability and security, an accounting major (and internship) may be the way to go.

That's according to a study from LinkedIn, which analyzed its 300 million+ member profile and discovered interns in the accounting space had the highest retention rate (or chance of scoring a full-time gig) at 59 percent.

Accounting firms treat their interns well, too. For instance, Big Four firm KPMG LLP hosts a workshop for its 1,200 summer interns presenting the Dos and Don'ts of office wear. They then give each summer intern $200 gift cards from Men's Warehouse, and Banana Republic. They also toss in a tie for men and jewelry for women,

"Today's interns are likely to become tomorrow's full-time staffers. More than 90 percent of U.S. interns receive full-time offers, and more than 90 percent of them accept the bids," says Kathy Schaum, a national campus recruiting director and a former KPMG LLP intern told the Wall Street Journal.

Of the 65 industries in LinkedIn's study, other industries with high retention rates for interns include computer networking at 47 percent and semiconductors at 40 percent.

Industries with the lowest intern retention rate are non-profit management and travel and leisure both clocking in at 19 percent.

What do these numbers really mean?

For starters, internships are two-fold. Sure the idea is that you work 40 hour weeks (or longer) for several months of your summer in hopes that come graduation time you'll hear, "You're Hired!" from that company you toiled away at the summer before.

However, internships are also a learning experience. What if you took an internship gig at a law office, production company or publishing house and hated it? Chances are you won't want to return there after graduation. Also, what if you interned near home or school but are planning to move to a bigger city when you get handed your degree.

Wherever you intern – you need to learn how to strategize and network starting from your first day on the job. Showcasing your work ethic, personality and willingness to learn and communicate are all traits that interns in every industry need to have.

Video Block

Double-click here to add a video by URL or embed code. Learn more