Ryan Paugh is one of the co-founders of BrazenCareerist.com, a professional online community that was named the No. 1 social network for Generation Y by Mashable. But he started off as an intern for Worrall Community Newspapers, Inc. In this interview, Ryan discusses which skills helped him become successful in the online startup world and the one thing intern hopefuls should never do in an interview.

Reporters need to be great at uncovering hidden gems.  It’s not easy when you’re working for a local paper and it doesn’t seem like anything is going on.  I spent a lot of time looking for happenings that I found interesting and then I would write about them hoping that my editors would enjoy what they read and publish it.  I think interns in any profession need to treat their experience this way.  Exert your energy seeking out opportunities that get you excited.  A lot of interns will just settle with what’s put in front of them.  Internships are about learning.  If you’re bored, you’re not going to learn anything.

2. What attracted you to the online startup world and social media industry?

People.  I like helping people and being a Community Manager allows me to do that every day.  It’s not so much online startups or even social media that’s appealing to me.  I would do this job at a Fortune 500 company if it seemed like an exciting opportunity (and they paid well).

3. What did you learn from your internship that helps you manage interns at Brazen? What qualities/experiences do you look for in hiring interns?

I like interns who make their own work.  When interns start asking “What do I do next?” every second, they become more trouble than they’re worth.  I look for people who have good ideas and will take initiative.  Especially in startups this is important because it’s always crunchtime.  Always.

4. How do you stay organized when involved in many different endeavors?

I force myself to make lists.  Although I hate paper, so I often use online tools.  I like TeuxDeux.  Try it.  It’s awesome.

5. What are some things that past interns hopefuls have done to distinguish themselves from other Brazen Careerist applicants?

Believe it or not, I’ve had a lot of interns come into Brazen for an interview and they’ve never even been on the site.  WTF?!  Are you guys mental?  Here’s what you need to do before an interview …

1. Read up on the company, join their site, follow them on Twitter, etc.
2. Write down 3 ideas for how you think the company could be doing something better that you could fix.
3. Share those ideas.  And be excited about it.  Enthusiasm is so important.

How can an intern become a brazen careerist online and offline?

Both online and offline you should be offering to help people that your think might be able to help you.  Seek out people who are doing something exciting and tell them how you can help make their life easier.  You can start looking for people like this on Brazen Careerist.  You can also use Twitter.  Try participating in a hashtag chat like #u30pro.  Think about starting a blog too.  I wish I had started a blog earlier than I did.  I owe everything I am doing now to blogging.  And do things that get you excited beyond all else.

To find out more about Ryan, follow him on Twitter @PaughGinney or visit BrazenCareerist.com.