If you are a frequent Glam Observer reader, you already know that internships are the number one way to enter the fashion industry. The level of education today is almost the same for everyone. Anyone can claim a degree on their resume, so if there is one thing that differentiates your profile from that of all the other applicants, that is your experience.
Internships are the work experience for all those who have never worked in the field or who are still studying. So if you have decided to want to work in fashion and you are still at the beginning of your career, you cannot avoid internships as the first job outlet in the fashion industry.
Here is what you need to do to prepare for a fashion internship:
1.Identify the department you want to get in
Fashion is an industry with many career opportunities that can be grouped in these macro areas: PR and Marketing, Buying and Merchandising, Design, Styling, Digital, E-commerce, Photography, Publishing, Production.
Before you even start your internship research on google, you should know which area of the industry you are interested in and which also meets your skills and your degree or what you’re studying. The first fundamental step in fact to get a fashion internship is to apply to those for which you are most qualified. Even if it is true that one does not necessarily need to meet all the job requirements to apply, there are some important ones that if present on your CV, increase significantly the success of your application.
In How to break into the fashion industry there are lessons on the fashion industry and its career possibilities, and a module with strategies to identify the career that suits you (with a practical exercise) and how to match your current skills with those required by the company to greatly increase the success of your application.
2.Reach out to acquaintances who work in fashion
Does your friend, classmate, former professor or your cousin’s friend work in fashion? The people you know can help you find and get a job interview. Your connections are fundamental in the fashion industry. Most jobs are assigned through word of mouth, so if you know someone in the company, you might get an interview much more easily. Call or email them, and tell you are looking for an internship, send your CV and ask if they can pass it on to the right person in order to have an interview in the company.
3.Prepare for the application
The most common way to apply for a fashion internship is online. Websites like FashionJobs, Indeed, FashionWorkie, Glam Observer, LinkedIn post daily fashion internships. Monitor these sites, but before applying, make sure your CV, Cover Letter and Portfolio are up to date and on point. The fashion industry’s competition makes this sector one of the most difficult to penetrate. This is why your CV must be creative and professional and with your cover letter, you must stand out. Do not underestimate the power of a great CV and an excellent cover letter because these application tools are the ones that will get you an interview. If these two documents are not perfect and are not specific for that single position the chances of getting the internship decreases. Your CV and especially the cover letter, must be fitted and adapted each time to the position, never use the same for all the jobs.
In How to break into the fashion industry there are included 3 CV templates that you can download and immediately use with Microsoft Word and 3 Cover letter examples specific for fashion companies.
4. Enrich your CV
If you are applying for your first internship, don’t worry about not having experiences yet. Use your cover letter to explain your passion for the fashion industry and your desire to start working in this sector. Fashion companies know that interns have little or no experience, so they won’t expect you to have worked for 3 years already. But there are some things you can add to your CV to prove your interest in the fashion industry and to enrich it a bit. If you have not attended a fashion school, you can confirm your interest in this sector by taking
5. Request an informational interview
An informational interview is a meeting with a person working in fashion whose purpose is asking for information on the sector. So contact the PR, merchandiser, buyer, stylist … and ask if you can meet for a coffee or if you can visit them quickly to their office. The person you contact is a person you admire and who could become your mentor. You can then ask them for advice on how to find the first job, clarifications on a certain role and finally ask if there are any internship possibilities in their company.
6. Interning abroad
Internships abroad are like a medal on your resume. In fact, this kind of experience is highly appreciated by fashion companies and some also include it in the requirements. An internship abroad has multiple advantages both for personal and professional growth. Adapting to the rhythms and culture of a new city is not for everyone. Consider the possibility of an internship abroad, perhaps in a fashion capital: London, Milan, Paris, New York to breathe and live fashion. The advantage of working in these cities is not just the fact that the best companies are located there, but exhibitions and industry events are often organized to help you in your career.
Want more tips and strategies on how to get your first internship in fashion? Take the course How to Break into the Fashion Industry and join the other students who have gotten their jobs in fashion.
Usually I never comment on blogs but your article is so convincing that I never stop myself to say something about it. Really helpful.