Contrary to popular belief a fashion internship is not more difficult than other fields. FashionUnited offers ten tips and tricks from fashion professionals.
1. In a non-recruiting setting, meet as many people as you can
Adrien Garcia shared this advice: “It’s an old piece of advice that was given to me before my podcasts started.” Reuni co-founder and creator of the EDM podcast, Adrien Garcia, suggests that students take advantage of their student status and not look for work. He recommends meeting as many people as you can and offering coffees. He says, “It’s important that you make contact even if you don’t have anything to ask. At least you’ve met them for the first-time in a non-transactional setting. They are always grateful that they allow us to visit them for advice. It’s a great way to make a first impression, and we don’t realize how important it is to leave a job.”
2. Make content
Anyone can now make their talents known by creating an Instagram or Youtube account or even launching a newsletter. It would be a shame not to have one. It doesn’t matter if you’re targeting fashion marketing, creative, commercial, or cultural fields, showing interest in and developing expertise on the topic will be a big plus. Qualitative content will make the author stand out and even gain visibility prior to an interview.
3. Go to the field
Fashion is a business, and it’s all about sales. Anne-Sophie Buffe is an independent digital manager who specializes in fashion and luxury. She advises that you go out and try out selling in stores. She explains that for a first internship in the sector, it’s very beneficial to spend a few weeks or even months in a store in direct contact with the three poles of a house’s strength: its product and its customers. We learn a lot about customer behavior and expectations, and how teams work. This experience will prove to be an asset in your next meetings, especially if you are focusing on sales, marketing, or product development.
4. Take care of your portfolio
For those working in the creation fields, here is a piece of advice: Take care of your portfolio. Allison Lianza, a Saint Laurent Jersey stylist, said that while you can be creative, it is important to have technical drawings. Although we may think it isn’t important when we graduate from school, in the professional world we will be faced with them every day. Therefore, the recruiter must know the level of the potential trainee.
Adrien Garcia recalls that the portfolio should be presented professionally and in a clean manner. He believes it’s better to not present it on an Ipad. “It is a profession that creates, and has contact with, the material,” he said.
5. Connect with the internship manager at your school
There is a good chance your institution will have an intern supervisor if you’re a student. It is a good idea to ask for help and let them know what you need.
6. Incognito: Get to know the company
To stand out among other candidates, it is a good idea to go to the store to get to know the brand’s spirit. Anne-Sophie Buffe says, “Even for the role at headquarters.” She suggests that you pretend to be a customer to visit the store and learn how the house interprets its codes. This includes how the collection is arranged, the window layout, how customers are welcomed, and how they interact with each other. This is a great way to get the pulse of a brand and it’s much better than visiting the website.
7. Research should be effective
Naturally, spontaneous applications are welcome. It is more efficient to keep an eye out for internship opportunities before others. This can be done by consulting specialized websites like FashionUnited’s job tab or the luxury group-specific platforms.
Anne-Sophie Buffe’s strategy to get a job interview is: “On Linkedin find the manager for the position you are applying for and contact him directly. This will help you move faster through the HR process.”
8. Be nice
Although it may seem redundant to say this, being kind is vital. It’s not fashionable anymore to be pompous to get the job done. Today, the word “benevolence”, which is a common expression of humanity, must be practiced. Smile and be kind during interviews. Be yourself. Adrien Garcia warns that if a person is playing a game and not themselves, it will be immediately visible.
9. Demonstrate your motivation
Julie Greux, an independent artistic director, says, “I often tell my students that you need to be really interested in the company or the sector for which your internship is.” Julie Greux by email. “It may seem obvious to professionals, but I have had interns who don’t answer any questions when I ask them about the company they work for.”
The art director added that “sometimes people ask me how I work in a designing office. It’s easy to get interested if you start at school and then do your research each season. You will create moodboards based on the themes, colours, and research books you are most familiar with. There are many great websites that provide information on current trends. Attach your projects to your resume and cover letters. It will make a big difference. This will demonstrate that you are passionate about the use and really care about it.”
10. Learn from your mistakes
Did you have one, two or three refusals? You have plenty of room to improve. Ask recruiters about your application and what they think you can improve upon during the interview. Ask for the opinion of someone you trust who is familiar with the company. If you feel the comments are relevant, review your CV and cover letter. Then keep going.
