All About Internships and Work Experience Placements

[StellaMare]

ysljunkie: Thanks for that! It sounds perfect for me.

 

[young_princess]

Cicciolina: it's a mid size accounting firm. But they are top 25 in NYC. It's just that in the accounting field, internships are very important if u want to get a full time job even before you graduate. almost all accounting students i know already have jobs waiting for them when they reach senior year. most of them from their summer internships, others got one because they already had an internship. so it would be hard for me to pass on this opportunity because my competitors in getting a full time job would've all had prior internships.

 

[Cicciolina]

I'm going to start applying for fashion magazine internships soon, but I am unsure of whether to apply with the editorial department or the fashion department.
While my main interest is fashion writing, I want to learn as much as possible about the different aspects of a magazine. I want to learn about the editorial department AND the fashion department.. Would this be at all possible?

Personally from what I've seen I think fashion editorial is a lot harder to get into. Can you apply for both - and if given the choice definitely take editorial. The fashion departments takes the majority of interns. For example, all hypothetical - if fashion takes 5+ interns - every day there will be at least 4 there, editorial will take 1-3. Not only that but many publications only look for fashion interns and not editorial interns. So basically, if given the choice, editorial! But apply for both anyway.

 

[ysljunkie]

ysljunkie: Thanks for that! It sounds perfect for me.

you and me both
your welcome

 

[StellaMare]

Cicciolina: The magazine in question requests that one should CV+Resume to the relevant department, choosing editorial or fashion.. but said magazine is known to appreciate interns and are always looking for new talent, so I'm hoping they're not as strict with rules as many others are.

 

[Cicciolina]

Cicciolina: it's a mid size accounting firm. But they are top 25 in NYC. It's just that in the accounting field, internships are very important if u want to get a full time job even before you graduate. almost all accounting students i know already have jobs waiting for them when they reach senior year. most of them from their summer internships, others got one because they already had an internship. so it would be hard for me to pass on this opportunity because my competitors in getting a full time job would've all had prior internships.

I think it would also be better to work in a midsized accounting firm (I'm a finance student, and did an accounting internship last year before I decided I'd prefer fashion actually) because you would have more exposure and nurturing, and being in the top 25 is a good start. Have you compared the wage to your friends'? Unfortunately I don't know what the going rate is in NYC, but in Australia where I'm from it's pretty good. Are you graduating soon? Is there time to apply elsewhere?

 

[Cicciolina]

Cicciolina: The magazine in question requests that one should CV+Resume to the relevant department, choosing editorial or fashion.. but said magazine is known to appreciate interns and are always looking for new talent, so I'm hoping they're not as strict with rules as many others are.

Hmm in that case I still say fashion, especially if you say your writing is strong (do you have any past experience in it? Any pieces of writing you can show to them? etc) Fashion department experience is really just keeping the closet keen and perhaps going to shoot now and then. Ultimately it rests in what you would prefer, but I have done both and I find editorial much more rewarding, whereas with fashion department metaphorically to me it was like banging my head against a brick wall (but, that's just me - I'm sure others love it).

But another thing to consider perhaps is where the strength in this publication lies. If they have amazing shoots and legendary stylists working with them, perhaps the fashion department will be better. Basically in the end, what will contribute to what you want to do more?

 

[StellaMare]

Cicciolina: Well, I'm still very young, but I think I have good experience for my age. I've written for a top swedish fashion magazine several times, have interned at a newspaper, and now have started an online fashion magazine-ish website. So, I can write, I know HTML and CSS, I have some contacts..

I know what I want to do - fashion writing. But as this would be my first fashion magazine internship (in London, may I add) I'm trying to be strategical: I want to learn as much as possible while making great contacts.
This magazine has a great fashion department and a great editorial department. I think editorial, now that I know exactly what it includes, would be best for me. But basically, I think interning in either department would be great for my resume.

However, as fashion writing is my "thing", wouldn't I have the best chance at getting an internship with the editorial team?

 

[Cicciolina]

Yes exactly That's what I was leaning towards earlier. I understand when you say you want to have experience in different areas but I think if you do fashion department, it will just make you wish you had done editorial! If you like to write, editorial is 100000000x more rewarding and interesting than fashion department. And your past experience is very useful too, as you probably already know, definitely include all of that when you apply.

 

[StellaMare]

^^ Great. Thanks. Now I'll just have to write the perfect cover letter

 

[Cicciolina]

Good luck! This is what I was once told - your cover letter should be like a mini skirt. Short, eye-catching, and covers all the important bits

 

[C_24]

^StellaMare, I was just reading your posts and saw myself in the same dilemma a cpl of months ago. I actually went for fashion department, and although I didn`t get to write anything, which I would have loved, I think I was way better off connection-wise. I mean, fashion editors are invited to all the press events while others are usually not and I got to, too, and thus met a whole lot press reps and so on, contacts which I consider to be extremely valuable.

Maybe you`ll find a high-class mag which is a bit smaller and where you can do both?

Good luck!

 

[DriversHigh]

It seems for the most part that most of the people posting in this thread are looking to get into similar careers which just goes to show you just how truly competitive they really are.

btw what does EA stand for (in reference to ysljunkie's post)

 

[luna1576]

The same sort of experience I would think to apply as a receptionist for any sort of company. Good phone manner, organised, etc etc. I don't think it'll too much different just because it's at a magazine

Thanks ( :

 

[Cicciolina]

It seems for the most part that most of the people posting in this thread are looking to get into similar careers which just goes to show you just how truly competitive they really are.

btw what does EA stand for (in reference to ysljunkie's post)

Exactly! And we're all just a tiny proportion of the millions of other people who want to do this. Sigh.

 

[ysljunkie]

It seems for the most part that most of the people posting in this thread are looking to get into similar careers which just goes to show you just how truly competitive they really are.

btw what does EA stand for (in reference to ysljunkie's post)

EA= Editorial or editors Assistant

 

[Cicciolina]

^StellaMare, I was just reading your posts and saw myself in the same dilemma a cpl of months ago. I actually went for fashion department, and although I didn`t get to write anything, which I would have loved, I think I was way better off connection-wise. I mean, fashion editors are invited to all the press events while others are usually not and I got to, too, and thus met a whole lot press reps and so on, contacts which I consider to be extremely valuable.

Maybe you`ll find a high-class mag which is a bit smaller and where you can do both?

Good luck!

It really depends (sorry, I sound like a broken record ) on where you are. I haven't interned at any publications where the fashion editors go to events and the writers don't, but they could be exceptions to the rule. Press events or showings still have to be seen by the writers so they can write up on them, or they go out to cover a new store opening, etc.

You could try applying to a variety of magazines?

 

[pinksatin]

I know this has been mentioned, but I just thought it doesn't hurt to reinforce it.... I was asking my friend for internship info/help getting info and sent her my resume. She used to work at W and was one of the people who read all the resumes for interns and people to work in the closet. She said they go through tons of them so the most important thing is to keep it short. Never longer than one page no matter what. Cut things out, eliminate work experience that isn't directly relevant, any info you put in there should be as concise as possible. She said the most concise and organized ones go the farthest. You don't need to put in the objective at the beginning. It's implied and it just takes up space. She said you do not need to use a cover letter, it can be done in briefer format in an email. And keep your email short! If it's too long no one will read it.

I know some of that has been said earlier but I just wanted to reinforce it as advice from someone who used to have to read all those and interview/hire people.

You can take it or leave it.

 

[happyguy]

has anyone here interned with vivienne westwood, alexander mcqueen, stella mccartney or boudicca? i'll be applying for my worl placement and want to know how it went for those who has done theirs.

 

[ysljunkie]

Thanks pinksatin:
I heard some of it before but that really helps alot!
Great way of putting it.