How to Secure Your Summer Internship

Written by Valentine Fabre

If you are currently pursuing a degree in fashion, are freshly graduated, or perhaps looking to change careers and gain insight and industry experience, now is the time to start applying for summer internships.

Usually advertised by companies between January and March each year, internships are a perfect opportunity to level up your career and expand your industry network.

Here is everything you need to know to secure your summer internship.

Strategise Your Search

Whether you are enrolled at university or looking to reorient yourself professionally, by the time you look for your summer internship you should already have an idea of the sector(s) you are interested in. And while it is encouraged to hone in on those areas, fashion internships are scarce, and therefore highly competitive.

To maximise your chances of gaining industry experience, explore all opportunities that nurture relevant skills for your desired career path. For example, if you are interested in journalism, look for content creation and social media positions; if you want to get into public relations, explore careers in internal communications and client relations. 

Ahead of your application, create a list of brands for which you would like to work. Keep in mind that while working for well-known or established companies carries its set of benefits, those placements are usually quite limited, so keep an open mind and also look for lesser-known businesses where you can still develop and grow. You can do so by researching LinkedIn profiles of professionals who are now working within your field of interest and looking at their past experiences.

Discover Where to Find the Right Opportunities

Fashion is one of the biggest industries in the world, employing more than 300 million people worldwide, according to The Ellen MacArthur Foundation. It therefore has its own specialised job boards, such as BoF Careers, Fashion Workie and Fashionista, which showcase a large range of ad-hoc opportunities and specialised listings that are easy to navigate.

However, not every company resorts to job boards, making it essential to look directly at the career sections of their websites. International conglomerates such as LVMH, Kering and Inditex all have internal career pages that collate vacancies across their brands. Filter them by your relevant sector and location to optimise the process.

Finally, think outside the box and reach out to companies directly, even if they have not posted any vacancies. You can do so by preparing cold outreach emails tailored to your personal spec and each organisation you are contacting.

Polish Your Profile

The fact that you are looking for a summer internship likely means that you do not have an extensive work history to demonstrate your value to the companies — but do not let that discourage you. Instead of trying to augment your experience and inundating the hiring manager with irrelevant information, mention any volunteering work you have done, or even hobbies and things you do in your free time that can attest to your skills and knowledge.

Find more tips and tricks to help you through the next steps of your career at The Glowth Academy.

Written by Valentine Fabre