All About Internships and Work Experience Placements

[glamorousenvy]

xbryony; I am not in the same boat as you, but a very good friend of mine is going down the same career path you are, so I hear about it constantly.

My advice would be to just apply for internships anywhere you can, not just at magazines. Networking might help too, make nice with some models, get invited to a party and just network network network. You're bound to come across someone who works for a fashion magazine in London who will offer to give you some interning credit or, at the very least, put in a good word. My friend did the exact same thing and ended up speaking with someone who works for a magazine, who was then offered some interning credit. I'm sure they will want friendship or a favor down the line, but it'll certainly help you out and make you a better candidate.

Though, like I said, this isn't my personal experience, but from what I've heard this isn't a rarity. I wish I could help you out some more, darling.

 

[BetteT]

This may be a stupid question and also very wrong placed, but I am wondering, when youre working backstage at fwas an intern, dressing the models and so on, what are you actually studying? And one more thing, people that work as "staff" backstage, what's their job? What do they do when fw is over?

Not a stupid question .. a very valid one.

Interns don't really "study" anything while they are working. They almost always do the grunt work and not much else, no matter where they intern. What it does do for them is gives them a look behind the scenes to understand what goes on, the pressures that exist, the atmosphere, etc. They do learn ... and what they learn is whether or not they are cut out for this part of the biz. And they can connect ... which is the most important part of the fashion biz ... almost everything depends on who you know. They might have an opportunity to impress someone in power (not too likely, since it's so chaotic backstage, but you never know) ... they will definitely meet other people, over the period of their whole internship and you never know where those other people will end up. But if they like you, think that you are a great asset to the company .... it might lead to job opportunities later on ... if you stay connected on a more or less personal level.

Now if you meant, what would they be studying in school that would make them want to intern backstage: it could by anything in fashion and most certainly aspiring designers, stylists, makeup artists, and so on ... but also students studying Public Relations, media, publishing ... especially if their goal is to do it within the fashion world.

People who work backstage are: the stylist and assistants, dressers, show producers and their assistants, makeup and hair artists and their assistants , models, the designers and all their assistants, backstage photographers, crowd control people. PR people, sometimes. Probably missing some others. Waht do they do when the show is over? Well ... most of these people are freelance or close to it and must find the next gig.

 

[Cado]

Thank you so much BetteT, that helped alot! Sounds so interesting, I hope I get to do it someday.

 

[frieda]

Here's a good question:

Say you don't really keep up on a publication/religiously read it..how do you come across as genuine in your cover letter to work for that publication?

 

[BetteT]

There's a thread about resumes and cover letters, where you should be able to find some helpful information: All about Resumes / CV's and Cover Letters for Jobs and Internships

 

[xbryony]

Glamorousenvy, thank you sooo much, youre so sweet
Yeah I think I'll just give fashion PRs a try, a lot of my friends on the promotions course seem to be scoring interviews with them really easily, whereas I've barely had any response from magazines and the PRs work very closely with the magazines so I guess I'll be making important contacts and proving im capable of the work in that field

If there is anyone, from London in particular, who has managed to get magazine internships, how did you go about it and did you have any experience beforehand? It just seems so difficult! and this is all before I even get an interview haha...

 

[BetteT]

I think that you can do some research by calling the magazines that are based in London, to see if they have an intership program and to ask how to apply for it, if they do. Some mags have that information already on their web site ... in the employment section ... or sometimes thay have more than just a site for the magazine's readers ... a separate company site for investors, jobs, company info, etc. ... so search for that if the info is not on the readers' site.

If you are in school(college, fashion school, etc.), somethings the counselors there have connections and information about internships ... so check with your school, too.

 

[AmericanBaby]

I'm a senior at Parsons and in the last 4 years i have interned at Jill Stuart, Lucky Magazine, Vogue Magazine, YSL and Christian Louboutin....

...The Jill Stuart and Lucky internship I got through school...the Vogue I got through "networking" as people call it (I was working at a clothing store and a jr. editor came in - she mentioned she worked at Vogue, I told her I was studying at Parsons and she said she was looking for interns and for me to send her my resume-and that was that) same thing with Louboutin- a friend of a friend was working there and she passed my resume along for an internship...But the important was YSL b/c I just cold called them....seriously I looked up their num for their offices in the yellow pages...told them I was a student looking for an internship and asked who I should direct my resume to, got the email and sent of my cover letter & resume...I heard back a couple days later...

...In my experience, you should make a list of the top 10 or 15 places you'd like to intern (in your area), get their numbers (from their site or the yellow pages) and ask for the email of the internship person...You'd be suprised how many responses you'll get...

 

[tannixu]

AmericanBaby did you start interning your junior year or before that? because I know that parsons is like refusing to give me college credit because of their policy or whatnot, but is there a way to get around it? just wondering if you knew since you seem to have interned at a lot of places

 

[AmericanBaby]

AmericanBaby did you start interning your junior year or before that? because I know that parsons is like refusing to give me college credit because of their policy or whatnot, but is there a way to get around it? just wondering if you knew since you seem to have interned at a lot of places

I started interning my freshman year but you can't intern for credit until jr. year...I'd recommend you do any good internships you can get regardless of the credit...it's good for building up a resume (which in the long run is more important than college credits)

 

[tannixu]

I started interning my freshman year but you can't intern for credit until jr. year...I'd recommend you do any good internships you can get regardless of the credit...it's good for building up a resume (which in the long run is more important than college credits)

yeah, i'm trying to intern right now, but the internship i got requires receiving college credit which totally sucks. thanks for the advice though :]

 

[reese06]

I'm going to a design school in Nashville, TN and the internships that I want are in NYC or L.A. Does anyone know how that typically works?

Will fashion companies give me a chance if I'm from out of town? And since they are unpaid, how do live and pay for things such as food, housing etc if I'm not what you would call extremely wealthy? Most internships say that they will need you about three times a week, so would I just work the others days?

 

[krystlemeth]

hi im sorry if i posted this in the wrong place, im new.

has any one done or is going to do an internship in new york im really trying get one but i dont seem to know where to start i applied for the anna sui summer design internship which was full, i just want to know if any one has been to one in new york, thnks

 

[pinksatin]

I'm going to a design school in Nashville, TN and the internships that I want are in NYC or L.A. Does anyone know how that typically works?

Will fashion companies give me a chance if I'm from out of town? And since they are unpaid, how do live and pay for things such as food, housing etc if I'm not what you would call extremely wealthy? Most internships say that they will need you about three times a week, so would I just work the others days?

I am in a similar situation since I live and go to school in Indianapolis but want to intern in NYC. I did an unpaid internship there last summer though.

Companies don't have anything against out-of-towners unless say, they wanted you to go to an in person interview at the drop of a hat which is a little ridiculous. Most places will do phone interviews as initial interviews and you can go try to meet them and do second interviews during spring break if they like you.

To pay for things I feel like it's just a sacrifice you have to make if you can. If you are getting credit for your internship maybe financial aid will help? My parents helped me a lot and no we are nowhere near wealthy either. I did one internship 3 days a week, a different one one day a week and worked for money on the off days. It was exhausting especially since I also like to go out an play at night and not only do work all the time but it was worth it and the little I made on those three days a week helped my parents some.

There is no typical living arrangement. You just have to find a place to live. NYU and other colleges have summer housing available so look into that. You can look for apartments online but it's kinda scary because most people won't take a roommate they haven't met and you can also get scammed so it would be best if you could take an "apt hunting" visit. What happened for me was I called a friend to ask him to look at a few apts for me and instead he offered an "extra room" in his apt. So I lived in a glorified closet for $800/mo. but it was a nice doorman building so it was worth it.

So look online or ask friends I'd say. Or if you have family or friends nearby, a lot of people commute on the train and you could do that until you find a place in the city. I think I'm gonna try to pay a friend on a weekly basis to crash at their place and look for a place while I'm there. Or see if they could check out places I find on criagslist like I was gonna do last year. I dunno, good luck. It is an added stress when you can't be there in person but tons of people do it.

 

[loveyou]

work experience

I'm a fifteen year old girl from England and I'm desperatly seaching for a one week work experience placement in the fashion world. Any offers? Near Birmingham is best for me

 

[pinksatin]

^ You probably won't find an offer in this this thread. Instead you will find suggestions on ways of contacting companies to inquire about positions yourself and you will also find websites mentioned that list internship opportunities. I know it's a really long thread, but you will gain a lot more valuable info by reading through it than if someone magically posted an internship offer in Birmingham. Also, it will probably answer other questions and address issues you had not even thought about yet.

 

[VM_Wannabe]

Ok im not sure if this is the rite place to ask but ill ask any ways. This year in my school we do work experience. I live here in the uk. Well any ways i really want to do myn in something fashion oriantated, b ut im not sure were to ask etc. does any one have the address or details of any companies etc. that would be worth a try asking. Hope this makes sense lol

thanx

tia maria xXx

Hi The best place to start out working with fashion during your school years is through retail. Its so hard and very popular for people to want to get into head office to do work experience. I would try contacting your local shopping centre, noting down stores that you would be interested in working for ie Next, H&M etc. Not many allow work experience pupils etc as there is so much paper work and other things to sort out just for a weeks placement. However, its still worth a try so ask to speak to the store manager for more info.

For my school work experience I worked at ladies fashion store Warehouse, in the same year i landed my first job as a christmas temp at Republic then got a part time job as a saturday girl at Warehouse again. Im now hoping to get into vm and im on a work experience placement with House of Fraser. My advice to you would pick your first work experience wisely as mine helped me with where i am today =) good luck xx

 

[Anditgoeson]

Work experience... but for a 16 year old.

Hey Everyone, any help,contacts and links would be MASSIVLY appreciated.. cos i'm desperate,

Does anyone know how i could possibly get any work experience involving fashion (obviously) .. in the UK !! hopefully london or the Southern areas.

As long as it is fashion related, whether it's magazine,design,buying,etc... i just want as much knowledge.

I know you can't go to Vogue or Elle or any other large magazine... but if you know any one!! Please let me know


Remember I'm desperate.

 

[BetteT]

I merged your thread with the ongoing one. (We ask our members to do a search of thread titles, before starting new threads.) If you take some time and read thorugh this thread, you'll see that this question has been asked before and there are a few suggestions.

Also, you might be interested in information in these threads:

I need Contact Info for Publicists / Designers / Showrooms / Magazines / Stores / etc

Fashion Career Building Activities if you are Still in High School

 

[Nixon058]

I am not sure if this is the correct place to ask these questions but- I have an interview for an internship coming up next month with a fashion magazine, and a couple other designers. This is such a typical question but i have no clue what to wear... any recommendations? Also, what kind of questions should i expect to be asked?