Fashionista dispatches that there is an open intern position at Lucky Magazine:
Send your cover letter + resume to lu****************@gm***.com.
Also, intern hopeful Polly recently sent me the following:
“I was wondering what an intern would do because I want to work in the fashion industry when I’m a bit older. How old do you have to be? Is there anything that I would need to help me get into fashion?”
Internships are typically reserved for college students or recent college graduates, and you can secure one by communicating your interest, enthusiasm, and experience (attach examples of your writing from your college newspaper for example). Once you have your internship, tasks vary depending on the publication, but count on doing lots of grunt work. At my first internship, I was the fashion and beauty intern, so was in charge of calling in and returning clothing samples (magazines use these in their beautiful spreads), keeping them in order, and fact checking (i.e. getting the correct price for a skirt).
Some internships are super hands on–at the end of my first internship I was writing features– but others are largely administrative…I remember spending one summer handing out office faxes and opening mail!
Wherever you land, a few tips:
*Always be early. At least be on time. Stay fifteen minutes late. Don’t take the opportunity for granted or act as if you’re already on staff. Every editor at every magazine was an intern at one point, and they pay careful attention to who really wants to be there. Being on time is the least you can do!
*Use the opportunity to meet editors. Don’t bug them or plop in their office every day, but during your 3-6 month stint, coordinate at least three lunches or meetings with editors you admire. If they don’t have time, e-mail and ask if there’s anything you can do for them. If they say yes, do the best job you can!
*Don’t get too chummy –be polite, competent, and enthusiastic. Don’t yap away with the fashion editor or call anyone a nickname unless you’re 100% sure you can. Don’t get too comfortable: An internship is a try out to see if you can fit in! Along with that comes proper respect and deference to your superiors. This even counts for ‘superiors’ who might be just a couple years older than you.
*Suggest great ideas. Do your homework and pitch interesting new features or articles. Research and make sure not to suggest stories the magazine has done recently. Be open to criticism and don’t get discouraged if you hear ‘no.’
*Don’t turn you nose away from doing grunt work. Every editor had to do it once upon a time, so get that coffee with gusto! Also don’t complain. Be cheery, then go home and complain to your friends!
Done correctly, an internship can result in a job or an offer for another internship. If anything, you’ll leave with a Rolodex full of great contacts and amazing references!
My fellow magazine people, do you have anything to add?
This is great advice. I’m a sophomore at the best JSchool in the US, Mizzou, and we pride ourselves on this. Become obsessed with what you want to be your career. If your in high school write in the newspaper and begin a clip book. Than in college any place where you can write (newspapers magazines blog) do it and add this to your clip book. In college join magazine clubs, national association of black journalists and any thing that has to do with writing that your interested in. There you will learn from others even more than you knew and make possible friends who may run into in the future. I have and they’ve taught me so much. I also joined the magazine club here and I ended up going to their annual trip to NY visiting Glamour, GQ, Entertainment Weekly, People and so many more. Here I met alumni and just other people who were more than willing to help me. This career is a lot about networking, being a strong individual who understands things aren’t easy and making your life about working your @$$ off!!!! At the end of the day it’s totally worth it when someone notices how effortlessly fab u are and wants to learn from you. And just doing what you love is such a reward!!!!
Here’s one more: Don’t be too cool for school. Editors know you learn a lot from your schools and hear from your professors how they think magazines run but PLEASE don’t think you know it all and are above the tasks that we ask you to do. You can learn a lot by watching.
sounds just about right… we’ve all been there before (and may do it again if it’s that DREAM job), lol…
Don’t dress hoochee! It may turn heads, but you don’t want to be remembered for the wrong reasons.
BE HUMBLE! That editorial assistant may be around your age, but he/she is still your boss. In fact everyone on staff at the pub is technically your manager, so don’t step on any toes and be nice to everyone… including the cleaning lady. Character goes a long way.
As for today? Magazines are obviously facing difficult times. BE PATIENT. You may not get that job after your stint as an intern, but don’t lose focus on the task at hand. Be excellent at interning and really form relationships. When the economy turns around, the ad dollars will start rolling in again and the market will open. So, be patient and never complain (even if it feels like you’re working your butt off for nothing). It’s never for nothing!
Does anyone know of any magazine companies in the city(NYC) hiring without an internship?
I had many internships when I was in college in NYC. My advice is always exceed their expectations, show that you are a thinker but don’t be too overzealous or pushy about it. For example, I was an editorial intern at YM magazine and one task was creating the “Why Me” section. Instead of writing the same ol’ same rating star system, I thought of a rating system that connected to the theme of the embarrassing moments in the article. The editorial team loved it! Of course, the mag folded–but let’s not talk about that…
To Anonymous, there is no company hiring in NYC without an internship. This is a recession and jobs are hard to come by even for people with experience. You cannot expect to get a job without the proper credentials.
If you can’t afford to do an unpaid internship, research paid internships (they exist). Or even if you do get an internship it won’t be full time so figure out a way to work while you intern. I know of several editors who sold shoes and department stores and worked in retail while interning. And they went on to be senior editors.
There are no shortcuts with this, do what you gotta do because everyone in the industry had to do it too.
This was great advice. I am a senior in high school and I’m required to intern somewhere at the end of my school year. I was wondering if anyone knew any philly based designers where I could intern?
Kelli, I don’t know of any Philly based designers, but I have some advice as well:
You won’t get anywhere in life without doing your research.
When I was interning, I knew I couldn’t intern for free (which is the case for most internships), so I got on the internet and searched for the 4 places that offered paid gigs. The internet and library are GREAT TOOLS and I want every young person to USE THEM to their advantage. Read a book. Use Google. Be proactive.
Can you intern at another state? I live in Kentucky but I want to intern at NY.
i would love to intern in your company
i would really like the chance to get a internship in your company, i live in ny city and if hear of anything feel free to contact me 9175201408