Tag Archives: Internship

Intern Series: Getting an Internship in Fashion

Hey everyone!

During my time at FIT I have had the pleasure of interning for several great companies!  A lot of people coming to FIT have questions about how the whole process works, so I thought I would write some blog posts on how FIT can help you start your career while you are still in college.

When Should You Start Interning?
I would recommend completing at least one semester of college before applying. This gives you experience in your chosen major before you jump into a company. While internships are a learning experience, they are better for learning about industry and office applications of your education, not to learn the nuts and bolts of your field. FIT students start in their major-related classes from day one, which gives them a head start to learn as many of the basics before they begin interning!

Looking for an Internship
I have gotten internships all sorts of ways, from cold-calling companies by emailing a copy of my resume, to the FIT Career and Internship Database, to LinkedIn, to a referral from a friend. Keep an open mind, your first internship will likely be a smaller company and not a big brand name! This gives you the chance to refine your internship chops before growing into a bigger company. Also, smaller companies give you a wider range of tasks, which can help you decide what area your might like most.

The Application Process
When it comes time to apply, put your best foot forward! Fill out the application as wholly and truthfully as you can, and make sure to proofread everything. Use your school email, and make sure to check it frequently. If you get a message from a company, you want to reply as soon as possible!

The Waiting Game
When you apply, it’s likely you won’t hear anything back right away, or ever. Don’t take it personally! Companies get many many applications for each position, and they have to sift through everything. You might have a sparkling resume, but they might be looking for someone who is focused on a different area. I personally have applied for more internships than I can count, and only a few have panned out.

The Interview
Relax, and put your best foot forward by being on time, dressed appropriately, with a few questions ready to go. Sometimes all the questions you have will be answered during the interview, but if they ask if you have any, enquire about the interviewer- why do they like working for the company? What do they enjoy about their job? Interviews are just as much an analysis of you as a potential employee as it is a chance for you to assess whether or not this is a place where you are willing to spend 10-20 hours a week.

Afterwards
Send a quick thank you note (I usually just sent an email expressing gratitude that they took time out of their day to speak with me) and hang tight. The internship application process generally has a lot of waiting time. People are busy, and while it might seem like they forgot about you, they might also be speaking to other candidates as well or have a big deadline approaching. If it has been over three weeks, consider following up with a polite inquiry if they have chosen a candidate yet. Even if you do go through several rounds of interviews, there is no guarantee they will let you know if you did not get the internship. The important thing to remember that for every job interview you go on, you get better at being interviewed and more confident.

Overall, persistence in applying for internships, patience with the review and interview process, and peace with the results will get you far. Like I said, I didn’t apply for four internships and get all four. Along the way there were many many failed interviews and ignored applications. Never take it personally!

Best,

Sam

Another FIT Perspective: Ashley Gauthier

I wanted to showcase another student’s perspective and lifestyle at FIT. Here’s a video of my good friend Ashley Gauthier and her daily life in New York City, busy with school, internships, and just venturing the Big Apple! P.S. There’s a cameo by yours truly!

FIT Job Fair

Hey Everyone,

This being my last semester of college, graduation is on my mind- with graduation comes the ever-so-fun job search. In the upcoming weeks, FIT’s Career and Internship Center is hosting an event for both students and alumni. On March 15th from 11am-2:30pm in the John Reeves Great Hall, there will be a jobs fair for available job and internship positions. A variety of companies are attending the fair, and are looking for current and graduate FIT students.

While this is a special event, the Career and Internship Center is open weekly, Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm. The center offers a variety of services to students, alumni, and even industry employers. Students may use the center in order to find an internship or job on their own time. They may even meet with the counselors to seek advisement, work on a resume, or help discover career goals.
The Career and Internship Center provides a job database for alumni, as well as a lifetime of job support and access to career counseling. Counseling can help with anything from resumes, to interview preparation, to career and freelance positions. Career counseling is available as both an appointment or walk-in. The walk in hours for Spring 2018 are as listed below:

Mondays, 2:30 – 4 pm
Tuesdays, 11 am – 2 pm
Wednesdays, 10:30 – Noon
Thursdays, 11 am – 2 pm

I hope this information helps anyone who is looking for a job or internship opportunity. It is always a great idea to take advantage of the helpful services that FIT has to offer!

Best of luck,
Annmarie X

 

Interning in NYC: Michele Marie PR

Connections are truly what everyone says they are… the best thing to have! Building a strong network of people in your community, class, major, etc. can lead you to opened doors you would have never thought of having. As a Baker Scholar, I received the greatest opportunity at a time I was in need… an internship!

Michele Marie PR is a full-service public relations agency specializing in editorial, celebrity and event driven press in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle industries. The agency focuses on developing and executing strategically targeted press campaigns to brand clients as leaders in their own particular sect. The founders are energetic, fresh, and accessible with bi-coastal experience in a wide array of product lines. The clients include young design talent, established premium designers, and innovators in the world of fashion, beauty, and accessories. They have a proven track record of combining editorial press, celebrity dressing, promotions, and events to assist in developing successful household-name brands. The team collaborates with each client to pitch concepts and materials to maximize on potential brand awareness and excitement. Commitment to the highest quality shines through in all services. Michele Marie PR has two offices located in west Los Angeles and New York City. Situated in a spacious, wood-floored, loft-style spaces, the offices are prime showroom locations where stylists, editors and celebrities experience the clients’ products on a daily basis.

How do you get credit for an internship? Where can I get an internship? DO I NEED AN INTERNSHIP? – all of the questions you may have can be answered by the Career and Internship Center. I am currently doing this internship credited and they experience is worth the internship class you have to take!

Never close opened doors, being at Michele Marie PR and speaking with the co-founders of the agency themselves has landed me a summer internship at the LA office!

Notes From the 6 Train: Rockin’ Out With Recommendations

So, It’s that time of the year. Recommendation time that is.
(yay) I am always applying for a bunch of stuff. And am always in need of good recommendations. Here’s a few tips I’ve picked up along the way:

Like Brendan mentioned in his last post, begin building relationships with your teachers. This also means do well in class. This doesn’t mean that you have to get 100’s on every assignment, but stay engaged in class and try. This will encourage the professor to not just write the letter for you, but will do it happily because they want you to be successful.

-That leads me to my next point, ask someone who will actually write nicely about you, the professor of the class that you feel asleep in a few times? Probably not the best person to ask.

-Be sure to ask with enough time, don’t do it 2 days before the letter is needed.

-Do the work for them. Send them the info and your resume so that information to pull from. they are doing you a favor, don’t make it more labor intensive for them then it has to be.

-Sometimes you have to do some ground work. For a scholarship I just applied for I had to literally track down my teacher and wait by the door for one of her classes to finish to get her signature (she sent the recommendations via email but they weren’t considered valid without her signature)

-Know that who you chose to get the recommendation whether it’s a professor, faculty member or former boss, may change depending on the position or type of recommendation you need.

-Finally, be sure to thank them. Once again, they’re doing you a favor and professors are busy just like everyone else, so appreciate that they’ve taken their time to help you out.

Here’s a catchy tune to help you remember:

All things Color, Love, & Fashion,
Ayanna L.