How to Write for Hallmark & Get Paid

Get hands-on experience for 12 weeks as a paid intern at Hallmark.

Listed as one of the 2009 Working Mother Best Companies, the privately-owned, family-owned Hallmark Cards employs almost 15,500 people globally. Hallmark is also the largest greeting card producer in the U.S. Although Hallmark has work-at-home positions in merchandising, writing for Hallmark requires you relocate to its headquarters in Kansas, Missouri, as of 2010. As a Hallmark employee, you will receive several benefits, including health care and a 401(k) plan. Hallmark's writing and editorial team includes copywriters, screenwriters, novelists, journalists and lyricists.

Things You'll Need

• Cover letter Résumé Professional writing samples Hallmark Writing and Editing Portfolio responses Adobe Acrobat Reader Microsoft Word 4.0 up through 6.0 Windows 7 Website (optional) Blog (optional)

Instructions

1. Check the Hallmark website regularly for writing and editorial job openings.

2. Fill out the online application and upload your cover letter, résumé, professional writing samples and your Hallmark Writing and Editing Portfolio responses to apply for a writing or editorial position. If you speak and write fluently in Spanish, add this information to your cover letter. You must copy and paste the Hallmark Writing and Editing Portfolio into a separate document, in a single, multi-page PDF file or as a document file. Use Microsoft Word 4.0 through Microsoft Word 6.0 for your documents or use Adobe Acrobat Reader for your pdf file. As of June 30, 2010, Hallmark does not accept Windows Vista and XP files.

3. Post your website or blog address online at the Hallmark website. Hallmark has an interest in online work. Also, add your website or blog to your application to show Hallmark your writing experience and skills. Hallmark requires you upload individual 20 MB jpg files only.

4. Apply for an internship at Hallmark and get hands-on work experience in writing. Hallmark offers full-time job positions to 79 percent of interns. Click "Search Jobs" on the creative internship on the Hallmark website and apply from late December to mid-March. You will work 12 weeks with pay from May through August, including two paid summer holidays, and receive a discount on Hallmark products. Creative interns help produce the Hallmark products using the latest multimedia and digital technology. You must be a college sophomore or junior with a 3.0 GPA pursuing fields such as writing, business, accounting, design, computer science and finance.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit Hallmark's contest page for upcoming contests, if you believe you have some terrific greeting card ideas. If you are age 15 and older, you can create and submit a greeting card on the contest topic and win money if Hallmark selects your card. If you win, your card may also show up in stores.

References

• Hallmark: Hallmark Benefits
• Hallmark: Careers Home
• Hallmark: Search Jobs
• Hallmark Cards: Vault Guide to Top Internships, 2010 Edition
• Hallmark: Contests

Resources

• Hallmark HR Direct: Jobs
• Hallmark: Search Jobs Creative
• Hallmark: Hallmark Writing Editorial Portfolio