As most of you know, I’m currently undertaking an internship with a fashion magazine here in Sydney. And since some of you have asked, I thought I’d collate a few thoughts on what it takes to get an internship and how to make the most of it once you’re there. This post comes from personal experience, so it’s very Australian-centric (sorry, international readers) and print-oriented. That said, I hope you find it useful.
Before you apply:
In Australia, you will have the best chance of getting an internship if you live in Sydney. If you aren’t based in Sydney, consider moving there (I did). That’s not to say that you can’t get an internship if you live elsewhere. But with the publishing industry largely operating out of Sydney, there are more opportunities there than anywhere else in Australia. Fact.
Most magazines require that you undertake your placement whilst enrolled in further education. This is for insurance reasons – when you’re enrolled in university or TAFE, they cover your insurance and the magazine isn’t liable if something happens to you. Some magazines will require proof of enrolment once you’ve been accepted for your placement; some won’t.
It is very, very rare to get paid for your time. So make sure you’re doing it for love.
There are lots of different kinds of internships available at any one publication – fashion, beauty, editorial, web, features and social media, to name a few. Start thinking about what area you want to specialise in.
Where to apply:
Write up a wish list of all the places you’d love to intern with. Then write a secondary list of the places you’re vaguely interested it. Then stand in your local newsagents (I suggest Mag Nation), and write a list of all the magazines you hadn’t yet considered. Give yourself as many options as possible – while it’s tempting to think Vogue, or nothing, I would advise that you apply to as many publications as you can.
You should also look into applying for internships with online publications. Even web shops. There are many, many online retailers who maintain blogs and may need interns to create content (however, these internships tend to have a PR slant).
Your application:
After you’ve made a list of all the places you want to apply, check the masthead of each magazine for the email address of the editorial coordinator – they’re generally the best person to speak to about getting a placement.
Write a brief, friendly email outlining who you are, where you’re studying and why you want to intern with the magazine. Try to avoid “To whom it may concern” – you’ll know from the masthead the editorial co-ordinator’s name, so address it to them. Let them know what area you’re interested in specifically. Attach your resume and let them know that samples of your writing are available on request.
You won’t hear back from many magazines. This is normal. Some will write back saying that they don’t accept interns. A few will be happy to take you on for a week. And sometimes, you’ll be lucky enough to land something that will last a few months. My internship doesn’t have a specific end date, but I gather that’s quite unusual.
The magazines that offer one-week placements are generally booked up long in advance, so be prepared to have to wait up to six months between the time you organise your placement and the time you actually do it.
Interning:
The best piece of advice I can give you on interning is, treat it like it’s your job. You don’t want to be thought of as the work-experience kid. You want to be thought of as a member of the team. So arrive on time. Dress like you belong there. If there’s something urgent that needs to get done, skip your lunch break. Make an effort to get to know the people in your office. Offer to help. Stay back late if required (an example: during Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, on some days I would get into the office at 7:30 in the morning, and not leave until 10 at night). If you’re given a task to do, make sure you follow through with it. Even if you’re only there for one day, make it count.
If you can prove that you’re responsible, intelligent, dedicated and a good fit with the rest of the staff, you will have a good chance of your internship turning into something more long term.
As for my own experience, I have been interning for four months and over that time, I have had some amazing experiences. Attending Rosemount Australian Fashion Week was definitely a highlight. I’ve had a couple of bylines in the magazine. I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to put a magazine together. I don’t know if my internship will turn into paid employment (it’s a budget issue), but I’m cautiously optimistic.
If you have any questions, please let me know and I’ll endeavour to answer them.
I am so glad your internship has been a good experience overall.
so many work experience stories end happily it seems. (see ellie and body by BODY by dainy sawatzky)
xx
ps i wish i was in sydney for the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week…i could have visited and admired your press pass.
pps we should have a “basics of indesign” party
Thank you for this! A few of my friends are currently interning for a number of different magazines in Sydney, however they’ve received the offer through people they know. another one of my friends has been continuously trying for the past 2 years to score an internship but still hasn’t managed to, I’m definitely going to show this to her! I’ve got one tiny question, if what you are studying directly relates are you more likely to get the internship? I’m starting a postgraduate course in publishing next year and was hoping to get an internship somewhere but I have a feeling I’m being too optimistic.
Purdy – I will totally take you up on the Basics of Indesign party.
Anya – I think lots of people get their internships via having the right contacts, but I am living proof that you can get one even if you know absolutely no-one! Frustratingly, I think it’s a lot to do with just being lucky or in the right place at the right time. As far as your course goes, I think they would be more likely to give internships to people who are studying something to do with the industry (ie, journalism, publishing, communications, design). If you’re going to be doing a publishing course, I think that would be a definite advantage!
Thanks for this Nadia! Very helpful. I’m dying to intern at a magazine but don’t have time while I’m studying (but then of course won’t be able to once I finish, sigh…), so it’s awesome to hear about what you’re doing so I can live vicariously! Would love to hear more updates of what you do day-to-day as an intern.
Ps. InDesign, arg! Most confusing program ever :/
Claire – It’s such a catch-22 – when you’re studying, you barely have time to intern, but when you’ve finished, they’re unlikely to take you. My advice in that situation is to study part-time. It seems to be the only way to do it without going completely nuts.
This is brilliant. I was actually thinking of doing this, but I didn’t know that you are usually required to be studying. Do they expect you to be studying fashion?
It has made me consider interning in a different light – something that must be taken seriously. Thank you so much for writing this!
Thanks so much for this info.. Was definitely informative and helpful..I’m currently applying for a Fashion Business course at FBI and this post will come in handy in the future I’m sure!
Thank you again x
I have only just found your blog, so this is now an old post, but i thought i would offer my knowledge from experience. I studied fashion design at East Sydney tafe then finished thinking it would be fairly easy to get a job – it’s not! I went onto vogue.com.au and looked at their list of designers, I emailed every single one of them asking if they had entry level work openings or work experience positions. I only heard from 3 of them.
I took the first two and worked 2 days a week at both ELLERY & Karla Spetic for about 4 months (whilst still working 3 casual retail positions!), applying constantly for paid work, I then got the job I have now as a designer in the wholesale fashion industry. I am now looking for a new job and everyone that I have met with has been very impressed with these internships, they have a very high standing as it shows you’re not afraid to work hard! So there are plenty of internships out there as long as you are willing to work for them, it’s an excellent start to your career.
PS. Not sure about print interships, but there were always about 5 girls interning at the same time and only about 2 of us were studying, as long as you can show samples of work or talk yourself up in an interview, study’s generally not the biggest part of it.