Name: Katie Cook
Year: Graduate Student
Hometown: Windermere, FL
Relationship Status: Single
Courtesy: Katie Cook
Her Campus (HC): What did you study for your undergraduate degree and what are you studying now?
Katie Cook (KC): My undergrad was Retail Merchandising/Product Development and Art History and my Graduate is in Cosmetic Chemistry in the PFP Program (Preparing Future Professionals).
HC: What exactly is the Preparing Future Professionals Program?
KC: PFP is based out of the Entrepreneurship college, and it’s technically undergrad so it’s the limbo between grad and undergrad. I just applied online. I didn’t know what else I wanted to do, and I was talking to my advisor. Then I got really lucky and it became my option.
HC: What kind of degrees and certificates does the PFP Program offer?
KC: So they’re all kind of ‘make-your-own.’ The PFP Program is designed for people who went to undergrad and realized that they don’t know enough or may not have the right skills that they need to do what they want to do. Whatever you feel that you haven’t gotten enough out of, it’s another chance to pick up some more credits and learn some more.
Courtesy: Katie Cook
HC: What kind of things do you do in your major?
KC: In the RMPD program, it’s more merchandising-based rather than product development. We do a lot of computer work – they’re trying to prepare us for the real world. For Art History, we look at a lot of art and read a lot of articles; it’s all about finding a greater purpose in it and not just what’s on the surface. Cosmetic Chemistry is really cool, that’s my favorite for sure. Every week I have to do a project where I have to make something and this week it was my job to make something that smelled like vanilla without using vanilla. At the end of the program, I will have made my own mini line of cosmetics.
HC: What are your plans upon graduation?
KC: My graduate program doesn’t end until December, but the second half of it is online so I’m moving to New York in May. I have accepted a job with Global Beauty Group which does the product development for Prada Beauty, YBF Beauty and Blue Mercury.
HC: What is your ultimate career goal?
KC: I definitely want to be head of product development for a big cosmetic line.
HC: Do you have any advice for other people interested in the beauty industry?
KC: Just get involved in anything and everything you can. I had my first internship when I was a freshman and throughout my undergrad I had 19 internships; no matter how big or small, that adds up.
HC: Wow, 19 internships?! What resources did you use when finding all of them?
KC: My biggest thing to start was word of mouth. I went to clubs like CMA and AATCC, and people would come in and talk about internship positions and brand ambassador programs. The brand ambassador positions are what really got me started to build a solid resume. Using those campus resources at first was a great step. From there I would reach out to websites like freefashioninternships.com, internqueen.com and ed2010.com – just any website that seemed credible.
HC: What was your favorite internship?
KC: My favorite internship was with Cosmopolitan because there was constantly something happening and constantly new people in the office which was great. I feel like I learned the most interning for a company called Total Buddy Society which was later bought out by Baublebar. When I worked for them, it was a start-up, so I got to do everything from the ground floor up which was really fun.
HC: Can you talk a little more about your experience with Cosmopolitan Magazine?
KC: I worked in the beauty and fashion closet so my office was in the closet. My everyday tasks included organizing samples as they came in from designers and tracking them as they went out. I would pack up for photo shoots, supervise the transportation of the trunks and then unpack, then pack it all up again and send it back! I would run errands and answer emails and I only got coffee a handful of times.
Courtesy: Katie Cook
HC: What is your best networking tip?
KC: Probably just to make sure that you are your own brand and figure out what you want to do. Make a dream list of companies you want to work for and make sure your qualities align with those brands. Have your elevator speech intact and use that to your advantage.
HC: You mentioned your position as a brand ambassador. Can you talk about how you got started with that?
KC: I got my first brand ambassador position the spring semester of my freshman year of college. During a CMA meeting, a Victoria’s Secret Pink representative came and spoke about their campus rep program, and I immediately wanted to be involved with that, so I applied and I got it and that started my fire. I always knew since I couldn’t be in New York for school, I needed to figure something out that I could do on campus that would set myself apart, and I realized being a brand ambassador was going to be it. After I got my first one, I applied to Rent The Runway and got lead manager in their program. Once I had those two under my belt it was really easy to network myself. From there I was the first ever hired rep for Hanky Panky and helped build their program, then I went to many others.
HC: What are some of your favorite beauty brands?
KC: That’s really hard! I love Becca Cosmetics, I like Too Faced a lot, Annastasia Beverly Hills, Color Pop and Morphe.