How I Got My Dream Internship At...
How I Got My Dream Internship At...
Ever wondered what it takes to land an internship with prestigious companies like Chanel and Vogue? Or how about with Beyonce’s stylist? Well look no further because we’re hearing straight from the girls who’ve landed these coveted roles and they’re sharing their best interview tips with you. Sit back and take notes:
….AT CHANEL
“I think a major reason I had the wonderful opportunity to intern at Chanel headquarters here in New York was my creative approach to the application process. I already had a few other major fashion brands on my resume such as Michael Kors, BCBGMaxazria, Herve Leger, but none to the caliber of Chanel. Internships are a great gateway into obtaining your dream job, so it’s extremely important to intern places where you can position yourself for the future. I applied through the Chanel careers website like every other applicant, however I was realistic about how competitive a position like this might be. I reached out to HR representatives that worked for the company on LinkedIn. I asked them to lunch, to hop on a brief phone call with me, but ultimately it was my unconventional thinking that landed me the interview. After not receiving any news after a month I wrote to the customer service email on the main page of the Chanel USA website. A simple and short inquiry asking if someone would take the time to send my resume to the direct person responsible for the internship program. I figured customer service is the most attentive and responsive group of people within every brand. Needless to say it worked! Within a few days I got a phone call from human resources asking when I was available to meet with the department head. Of course being persistent is key but try to find clever ways to stand out from the crowd. Some other pieces of advice that I would offer is definitely gaining experience prior to applying to your first choice. This will make your resume more valuable and you’ll come across as a more desirable candidate. Lastly, ALWAYS leave an internship with a letter of recommendation from your supervisor it simply gives you credibility and a competitive edge.”
—Zoe Martin (IG: @Imyournewcrush)
... AT LANVIN
“Throughout my years at FIT I have never been concerned about being successful. I’ve always been a hard worker in everything I do so somehow I felt that people would see this and when the time was right things would just fall into place. That’s honestly how my internship at Lanvin came to be, it was the first time I felt as if I was really making steps towards the future I had always envisioned for myself, but it came about quite naturally. I found out about the internship through a friend who had just finished another position at the company. He was the one who connected me with my supervisor and a week later I had an interview. Since then I’ve had many other networking opportunities that have all lead to new things for my career, all of which came about pretty casually. That’s one thing I’ve learned about networking since then, it often seems so daunting when you’re first trying to get your foot into the industry but if you just plug yourself into the fashion community you’re surrounded by it can bring about so many unexpected connections. It can be as simple as making friends with the kid who sits next to you in your fabric class or chatting someone up at an event that can land you the dream opportunity you’ve been looking for.”
— Elena Grimaldi (IG: @d.emi___god )
…WITH BEYONCE’S STYLIST
“One ‘No’ just means a better ‘Yes’ is coming. Stay persistent -- your capabilities will surprise you.”
My senior year of college I was struggling to figure out what to do. I was caught between my passion, which was fashion, and what made sense at the time, continuing with more school. After months of deciding, I realized I will never get this time back. I chose myself. I applied for fashion internships for weeks and weeks until I received an email to interview with StylePR, a celebrity fashion showroom. I fell in love! From the pulls with stylists to the social media and PR projects, it was amazing. I was able to interact and build relationships with multiple stylists. Zerina’s team had an opening just as my internship was coming to an end. I polished my resume and CV and sent it my application to their email. I was selected for the interview process, and after a 40 minute phone call, two in-person interviews, and a confidentiality contract signing, I received an email stating that I had been hired! I started working approximately 3 to 4 weeks post after my initial application, and I’ve continued my fashion journey ever since. It’s important to make your own decisions and be confident and firm when you make them. Even if it’s not completely clear now, trust your instincts and don’t be afraid of your abilities!
—Kyanna Johnson (IG: @kyanna_renee)
…AT VOGUE
After watching the Devil Wears Prada in 8th grade, before I had ever considered picking a college, I knew that I wanted to intern in New York's fashion industry. I applied and applies to dozens of internships. The only one I heard back from was my dream company, and after a great interview I got the job. Try not to feel dejected from rejected because you might be surprised which companies take interest in you.
—Hannah Amini (IG: @hannahamini )
If you have any questions for these talented ladies, feel free to reach out to them via Instagram! Where is your dream internship?