Morning Fashionable Collegians,
I hope your year has been off to a great start. If you haven’t already begun looking for summer internship opportunities, this is the perfect time to begin researching and applying to internships before the Spring semester gets a little hectic. Though most fashion internships aren’t as structured in comparison to finance and tech internship programs, I strongly suggest working on securing your summer internship soon rather than later, as most of the well-known internship programs have earlier deadlines and limited spaces. On the contrary, if you prefer to intern for a small boutique company instead of well established one, then it is possible to wait a little longer. Either way, it wouldn’t hurt to get this squared away so that you have one less thing to worry about! lol!
Below are some helpful tips and tools to get you started on your successful journey to find a fashion internship.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me or leave a comment on this blog post.
Good Luck!
XO,
Bisi
Searching for an Internship:
Though you can apply for an internship directly on the company website, I’ve listed some of the popular fashion internship search engines that are super useful in helping you find an internship:
In addition to reaching out to career counselors at your school, you can also look in the TFC Career Development Center section of the blog for additional resources.
Established Fashion and Beauty Internship Programs:
Financial Upkeep:
Finding paid internships is an arduous task. While some companies offer small to generous internship stipends, most fashion internships are unpaid (which sucks, I know). Thus, I strongly suggest working an on-campus job and saving as much money as you can to help maintain yourself while interning for a company over the summer. I would also look into applying to the Ed Trust Fund, which grants $1200 to unpaid interns. Be sure to read the eligibility requirements before you apply!
Internship Etiquette:
When writing cover letters, please be sure to address someone in human resources or a manager of some sort. Companies want to see that you’ve taken out the time to fully research their company. Use resources such as LinkedIn, to find an HR contact if it is not noted in the internship posting. I know that writing cover letters is a tedious process, and thus, you’re inclined to cut and paste, but please make sure you accurately write/spell the name of the company to which you’re applying to.
If you have an upcoming interview, please make sure that you’re dressed appropriately. Though fashion is considered a “creative” field, I think it’s best to wear sleek black and perhaps have a little “fun” with your accessories. I’ll be posting interview outfit ideas in a few. Stay tuned!
For those who have secured their internship. First, congrats! Second, please make sure you’re on your best behavior while interning. To stand out, try to be resourceful, proactive, and be a problem solver. Fashion industry professionals love interns who possess that “can-do” spirit as no day is a typical day and there will be a bevy of new problems to tackle each day. Akin to what you may have seen from the Devil Wears Prada movie, fashion is very unglamorous, and as such, requires a lot of time and effort. Be ready to work!
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