Recently, I was able to step my foot in the door to a career in fashion. As a Communications major whose focus is marketing and public relations, connecting my field with the fashion realm was a dream come true. It can be hard navigating internships and the career world, so keep reading to find out about my experience being a fashion intern.
Landing an internship
First, how does one find an internship? My biggest advice is to apply everywhere and to everything that seems interesting to you. Indeed and LinkedIn have been the most helpful for me. Sources for college students such as Handshake could be another tool to submit your application. My advice is to apply to so many internships that you lose count because it’s a numbers game, after all. At the end of the day, if you get a call back for a position that does not sound appealing you can respectfully decline.
Once you get an interview or a callback, it’s essential to stress your interest in fashion. Employers are looking for passionate individuals, and expressing your love for the industry will validate their decision to hire you. Simple hobbies like reading fashion magazines and making your own clothes could be notable to mention. When working in social media, keeping up with trends and celebrities is perfect for creating content, so if this is something you already do, don’t be afraid to mention it. Sharing common interests with the employer will also further your appeal to be a good fit. Lastly, dress to impress. Wearing a professional yet stylish outfit will show the employer that you already suit the position. Your appearance at the interview will make them envision you working at the company.
Behind the Glamour
If I learned anything about the fashion industry, it’s that the industry is not quite as glamorous as it looks. Behind all the glamor and allure are people, including interns that do all that work! Part of the fun of working in the industry is participating in model castings, fashion shows, etc. There are certain privileges to being a worker behind the scenes such as photo opportunities, first dibs at different activities, and simply bragging rights. When planning for these events, organization and neatness are extremely crucial to allow for a flawless event. They are super enjoyable for the guests and should be for you as well.
There are definitely some parts of the job that are not as enjoyable. The more tedious aspects include helping set up for events and cleaning when they are over. There is typically some sort of “dirty work” when helping in events, but the show must go on. To focus on the positive of these seemingly low-outcome tasks, you get to connect with people. A big part of the fashion industry and public relations is networking, it’s so important to create new connections because you’ll never know who you’re going to meet. At a New York Fashion Week show, I met various people looking to network such as other interns, designers, models, photographers, and magazine writers. During these types of events, nearly everyone is looking to expand their horizons and their contact list. Taking pictures with other people and tagging them is a great way to promote each other, as well as simply asking for their Instagram.
Conclusion
Overall, being a fashion intern is without a doubt a great experience to have especially, for those who want a future in the industry. You will meet a lot of amazing people and have opportunities to dress up and be off your feet. If this sparks your interest, it won’t hurt to look into it! I would suggest looking in your closest city or cities such as New York that are well known for their fashion scene. Don’t let your experience be like the Devil Wears Prada. Be true to yourself and true to your goals!