Landing an Internship

Alright Fashionistas/os, you’ve already established that you’re dying to break into the fashion industry. You may even have your dream job at a top international magazine all planned out. So how do you take that first step to your dream career?

If you’ve been paying attention thus far then you’ve already realized what fashion areas you’re hoping to break into and you’ve gotten to know some of the top fashion players in your respected areas both locally and internationally. Now that you’ve got the networking and dream searching down, it’s time to take the first real step into the world of fashion–welcome to the fabulous world of the fashion intern.

As Emily Chalton said in The Devil Wears Prada “A million girls would kill for this job.” And what you’re trying to do is beat out those other million (exaggeration) girls. What will set you about the endless sea of competition is killer experience to pack into your resume.

The best way to gain that experience and potential job offers is interning at local and national fashion magazines and organizations. Internships prepare students hoping to break into the industry by giving them hands on, real world experience in the fashion world. Having internship experience under your belt instantly helps you look better to potential employers.

And, if you play your cards right and impress the heck out of your bosses, that internship you’ve been working at may even offer you a position within the company as many magazines and organizations are known to hire from within before posting open jobs to the public

When you’re ready to start searching for fashion internships, here are a few things to keep in mind…

Step 1: Be open to all opportunities

If you’re dream is to one day run a magazine powerhouse like Vogue a-la Anna Wintour, that’s absolutely fantastic. Just understand that you won’t be starting out as an editor or even a writer in your first internship/s.

Odds are when you first start out looking for an internship, you may not find one that is precisely what you’re hoping to do. It’s important to be open to opportunities and positions that you might not have even considered before. Internships are not a dime a dozen, there is a limited amount and many of them fill quickly and often. Sometimes the semester you’re looking to intern, there won’t be any positions open in areas you’re directly interested in, but that’s okay.

It’s alright to step out of your direct focus and try something new. Even if you’ve never really understood PR but always was a little curious about it, try applying for an internship with a magazine’s PR department, just to gain the experience

Yes, you have your heart set on being a fashion editor, but trying out that photo internship can help you gain new skills and knowledge while making you look more versatile to employers in the future.

The main point is, don’t close yourself off to new opportunities just because you have a set plan.

Step 2: Know where to look

Internship opportunities with major and even minor magazines and fashion organizations are few and far between. These aren’t the kinds of positions you’ll find on Jobing.com or CareerBuilder. Most fashion internships are posted exclusively on the organizations individual websites or through a select few outsourcing sites.

Places such as:

• Ed2010
• Intern Queen
• Condé Nast
• Free Fashion Internships

These sites have the most up to date positions available and will give you the widest range of opportunities whether you’re looking for and internship for the Fall, Spring or Summer semesters

It’s important to check these sites often as new positions are typically posted daily and many times for only short periods of time.

Step 3: Star Applying

Once you’ve narrowed down one or two…or seven potential internships, it’s time to get into gear and star applying.

You’ll need to get your resume up to date with relevant information. If you’ve had internships or journalism jobs/ volunteer positions in the past, definitely include them. If you need help updating your resume or aren’t sure of some of the do’s and don’ts, contact the career services office at your university and get help from a career adviser.

Be conscious of deadlines, and try to get applications in before they come up. No magazine or fashion organization will except a late internship application no matter what fool proof excuse you have. Some magazines or organizations will even take down internship postings if they get a high volume of applicants as soon as positions are posted, so the earlier you apply the better!

Be mindful of the fact that many of the applications deadlines for different internships are around the same time, so plan accordingly. Spread your time out so you can focus on one application at a time and not get too bogged down or overwhelmed.

Now that you have you’re process down, get out there and start landing as many internships as you can. Remember be confident, poised and ambitious; this is your chance at your dream job.

Good luck fashionistas!

Network, Network, Network

Working in journalism usually comes down to who you know and what your connections are. This stands especially true for those going the fashion route.

With jobs opportunities so slim and not looking to increase any time soon, now more than ever, publishers are hiring those they know or are recommended to by co-workers and friends.

That’s why it’s especially important, as journalists, to put ourselves out there and meet other people in the industry to build those connections. Come tomorrow, the people in our professional network could mean the difference between high profile publishing of our work and a series of unpleasant ”day jobs” to make ends meet.

Now don’t fret future fashion writers, networking isn’t as intimidating as it may seem. If you’re not sure of how to get started building your professional contacts, there are a few ways to get your foot in the door and a step closer to your dream job.

Attend Fashion Events

Every city, no matter how big or small has a fashion scene. Our job as aspiring fashion reporters is to integrate ourselves into that scene.

Phoenix, for example, is the sixth largest city in the U.S. and still growing so the local fashion scene is always expanding. An excellent way to meet local writers, designers and influencial members of your fashion community is by attending fashion-centric events.

Phoenix holds it’s own fashion week every year; It’s a three day collection of fashion shows, shopping and general mingling with some of the most stylish Phoenicians around. It’s an amazing mix of local celebrities, fashion bloggers, up and coming designers, models and artists. It’s hard not to make connections in a setting like that.

If a full blown, and certainly pricey, fashion week isn’t your thing just yet then check out other fashion events going on in your area. Things like trunk shows, mixers and launch parties are also hot beds for local fashion scenesters but are generally more low key and relaxed.

The key to attending events like these is just remembering to have a good time. Yes, you want to build up your professional networks, but you also just want to make some stylish new friends. Relax and don’t take everything to seriously. This is your career and these are your colleagues, so just enjoy the company you will keep and the connections will come naturally.

Follow Local Bloggers

Now-a-days it seems like everyone has their own personal blog. People write about every topic under the sun. The fashion industry has clamped onto the blog’s growing popularity and capitalized on it. Major publications, celebrities and stylists have their own blogs on things like style and beauty.

And while it’s certainly beneficial to follow some of the top national and international bloggers, in terms of connections, they won’t do as much for you. The mistake many new fashion journalists make is focusing on the world famous for connections, goals and networks. Let’s face it, your chances of sitting down with editor of Vogue or Elle right away are pretty slim.

What you can do is get to know the top fashion bloggers in your area. These are typically students, people with past experience in the fashion industry or sometimes just people so passionate about fashion they can’t keep all their thoughts to themselves.

Since most fashion reporters today either write for community blogs or their own personal blogs, a topic we’ll cover more in depth in a future post, it’s important to know the key players around you and what they’re talking about.

Follow local fashion bloggers has many benefits: you build up you professional networks by getting to know the writers and those that they know, you learn from their blogs’ success how to approach writing and getting a start in fashion, and by following them and looking at what they cover, you get to see what the public wants to read. Ultimately, you can be the most talented writer, but if you don’t know what your audience wants to read, that talent can easily go to waste.

Popular Phoenix area bloggers:

• Scottsdale Fashionista
• Phoenix Fashion Week
• Phoenix Style Collective
• Global Runway

These are a few of the networking options available to future fashion journalists. Follow these tips and you will be on your way to that dream career, one contact at a time.

Check back next week as we delve into the ins and outs of interning!

Finding the right fit for you

The fashion industry holds so many opportunities for the truely passionate and for those journalism hopefuls who’ve decided they really love it, the possiblilities are endless…and a little overwhelming.

Finding the right career in fashion is anything but easy, but it’s more manageable when you break your goals up into steps.

When you’re looking into  fashion journalism, you need to start by really getting to know what you’re niche area is. A lot of people say they want to break into the fashion industry but don’t know all the different areas and mediums that encompasses.

It all starts with research.

If you’re an avid writer and subscribe to every fashion magazine under the sun, you may want to focus on editorial like writing for Vogue or Elle.

If you always saw yourself in front of the camera or composing fashion shows, something like working for the Style Network or E! News might be a perfect fit.

If you want to work in depth with design houses or directly with buyers than a public relations position with a fashion house or store could be right up your alley.

Know you’re area of interest and learn everything you can about it. Know who the key players are and follow their personal sites or twitter accounts. The more information you can accumulate, the better.

The best way to be successful as a fashion journalist is to know your trade inside and out.

It’s also important to know what your specialty is. The only way to survive in this industry is to love what you’re reporting on.

Some specialty options to choose from include:

• Breaking News
• Street style
• DIY
• Advice
• Home and lifestyle
• Fashion show coverage
• pop culture
• Accessories
• Beauty

Find what you love and then you can focus on making it your career. Again, it’s really important to do your research regardless of what your specialty is. Follow some of the top bloggers that cover topics you love and see they’re talking about.

Fashion is versatile. It’s a career choice with so much room for individual creativity and passion and when it comes down to it, passion is what will ensure your success. Now find the right fit for you and you’re on your way to your dream career.

Check back for my next post on making connections in the fashion industry!