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| Picture's source It seems like every time anyone asks Eva Chen, Lucky magazine's ex editor-in-chief and my favorite person in the fashion industry, what steps someone should take to begin their journey in the fashion world the word "internships" comes out of her mouth. This is a message that not only Mrs. Chen believes in but many others. Today I'm going to share everything I know about internships so that hopefully you find one that's right for you! |
Why Find an Internship
Despite the fact that most fashion internships are NOT paid, the amount of information that you gain from them is worth it. An internship in the fashion world is invaluable. The possibilities that it opens up for you can be endless. Internships help you figure out where your niche in the fashion/beauty industry is and while you're figuring yourself out you're gaining an inside look into the industry. As you hunt for the right internship you'll realize that the criteria for the internships you're looking at is a lot different than the internships your friends are looking for. In my honest opinion I feel as though fashion/beauty internships are as rigid as other internships around.
When to Find an Internship
When to find an internship depends on when you want to intern. Basically you can find a fashion internship whenever, but ideally you want to start applying during the following times. Keep in mind that sometimes the company/magazine/business you're applying for will have its own deadline:
Fall: August- If you start applying in August you'll start hearing back around the time that most people are looking for Fall semester interns.
Winter: November- If you start applying in November you'll start hearing back around the time that most people are looking for Winter interns. Keep in mind that Winter internships tend to be shorter than most (running from around late November through late January.). They also aren't as frequently posted about as Fall, Spring, and Summer internships.
Spring: January- If you start applying for Spring internships in early January you should start hearing back around the time that most people are looking for Spring interns.
Summer: April- Because most college students begin their summers a month or so before Summer actually begins applying for Summer internships in April is ideal. This way you have enough time plan your Summer around your internship and you also beat the crowd. Don't wait until May. The earlier the better!
Where to Find an Internship:
This is a tricky question. As most people know within the U.S the place to be when it comes to fashion is New York. For many people (myself included) this is a problem because you can't commute to an internship in New York if you live hundreds of miles away. Ideally, yes, New York would be a beneficial place to find an internship because most of them are based in New York. If New York is not within reach here are your options:
* Intern in your area: Try to look for an internship in the area you live in, even if it's not necessarily at a fashion magazine or fashion house. This is where knowing where you want to intern is important. For example if you know you want to intern in the writing aspect of the fashion world try finding an editorial internship around your area.
*Telecommute Internship- a telecommute internship is an internship where you don't have to go into an office. Basically you'll be doing all of your work from home with your computer and phone. Although this sounds nice it's important to be realistic about your abilities for this one. If you know that you're able to motivate yourself and get all your work done without having someone constantly be there then this type of internship might be for you!
How to Find an Internship:
The internet will be your best friend when searching for an internship. Definitely make sure to look around your city or town, but don't forget to search the world wide web. A simple "fashion internships in xxx" or "editorial internships in xx" will bring up thousands of hits. If that sounds too overwhelming here are a few places to start. These are my all time favorite internship websites and the ones I find the most helpful:
1. ed2010.com : This is #1 on my list! This website is so incredibly helpful. It is important to note that most (if not all) of the internships posted on this website are in the magazine industry, much less fashion houses or companies. The internships range from paid to unpaid to within New York to remote. Ed2010 also offers listings on temp/freelance jobs and full-time jobs. So, if you're past the internship faze and want to focus on finding an actual job Ed2010 can help you with that too! Some fun aspects of the website is that they offer something called "Ed's $1200 Trust Fund" which you can apply for if you have an unpaid internship- if interested please click here. They also offer a page that lets you know the real salaries of people in the magazine industry.
2. freefashioninternships.com : FreeFashionInternships is a great website for those of you that want to focus your skills outside of the magazine world. If you're interested in being a PR, Marketing, Design, Fashion, Event Planning intern than maybe this is the website for you! You can apply to internships straight through the website and your first few websites are free, but after that there is a $3 charge per application. This website doesn't other remote internships. Mainly the internships listed are in New York, Atlanta, and L.A.
3. indeed.com : Indeed.com is super helpful because you can specify your search to just your city. It's also a bigger database so while you might not find an internship in specifically what you're looking for chances are you'll find something similar. A big thing to keep in mind is that when you're searching for an internship you want to keep your future goals in mind. Think of the things you see yourself doing in the future and break them down to see what kind of internships will help you gain experience in those aspects. Most times you'll realize that no one internship will suit all your needs.
4. Instagram.com : Yes, Instagram is a great way to find internships! Just search up the hash tag #fashioninternships or #internships and you'll get thousands of hits. Filter through them and see if any fit your needs and wants. You'd be surprised at what you might find.
Final Advice:
Okay, that was a lot I know. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to let me know. Most times you won't hear back from people or ,if that's not the case, you won't get the internship you're dying for. It's okay. You'll find what's right for you as long as you keep powering through. Also, don't lose yourself in your search. Make sure you're applying to internships that you know you'll be passionate and enthusiastic about. Think about them as jobs and take them just as serious. You know what you're willing to do and what you're not willing to do. As long as you keep this in mind you'll always be a success in your endeavors!
P.S: Don't be afraid to reach out to a company/magazine you're a fan of and ask them if they have any internship opportunities. You might just make a spot for yourself even if they hadn't planned to take any interns on.
FOLLOW:
I love your blog layout! I agree, internships are very important- while you gain valuable experience, you can also network and find other internships.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
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