A2X Consulting

The fashion industry has become this mesmerizing place where little girls who grow up watching “Project Runway” go to dream. Yes, on TV the world of fashion may seem glamorous and easy to break into, but it is actually harder than you think. In fact the only truth to movies like “Devil Wears Prada” is that you have to be willing to do any and everything to survive. As a fashion closet intern this past semester, I learned just that.

Advice from a Fashion Intern

This industry relies first on who you know and secondly on talent. Everyone I’ve met here has acquired their job by staying in touch with people from their old jobs or internships. That’s why it is so important to make  a good impression as an intern and to build as many connections as possible. Here are some tips on how to make a lasting impression amongst a sea of fashion interns.

1. Always come to work early and offer to stay late if you see there is still work to be done.
2. Always stay busy, even if there seems like there is nothing to do. At a fashion magazine in particular there may be what seems like down time for interns. However, editors like to see interns that take initiative and find work to do.
3. Make Friends. There is no reason for you not to know everyone in your department’s first name. Take time to look through the masthead and memorize the staff’s names and talk to your fellow interns, so that you know their names as well.
4. Study, study, study! Is there a designer that your editor really loves and always uses? Know their names and where you can find their contact info, if you don’t already have it memorized.
5. Be Thankful. At the end of your internship you should make it a personal mission to send each assistant or editor that you worked with a hand written Thank You card. Let them know how much you enjoyed working with them and what you learned.

By Britany Ruby. Britany is a junior Applied Communications/Fashion Merchandising Major at Kent State University  She is an Internet addict, facebook junkie, compulsive twitterhead and obsessive blogger. Contact Britany at bruby@kent.edu.