You don't have to graduate from a fashion design institute in order to land an internship with a company in the fashion industry. If you don't have a fashion degree, but still want to make your way into the field, be warned that you'll be going up against applicants who may have more relevant educational backgrounds. As such, you will need to enhance your competitive angle to get your foot in the door.
Fashion Industry Experience
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Since you don't have a fashion
degree, it's important for you to have some type of fashion industry experience
to offer design companies. If you have worked in apparel retail, volunteered
for local fashion shows or served on your school's theatrical costume design
committee, highlight these activities on your resume, the internship
application or include in your personal essay. The important thing is to show
design companies that you are not a total newbie and that you have the desire
and passion for the industry.
Credible References
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If you know people in the
fashion industry, now is the time to request that they write letters of
recommendation for you. Whether it be your former boss at the clothing store, a
college professor or an acquaintance in the business, a credible reference can
increase your chances of landing a fashion internship. Make sure you give your
references time in advance to compose letters of recommendation, which you will
want to submit along with your application, resume and cover letter.
Networking
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Social networking can utilized
to land a dream internship. Networking activities include; attending fashion
shows where people in the industry will be, frequenting vendor sample sales to
meet the designers and their staff and going to charity benefits hosted by
companies in the fashion industry. The point is to get as much exposure to the
people who work in these companies, so that your name becomes familiar to them
and they get a chance to meet you in person -- rather than simply seeing an
application with your name on it.
Interview
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The interview is the make or
break point of your career as a fashion intern. You have to nail the interview
in order for fashion companies to look past the fact that you don't have a
fashion degree. During the interview, portray your passion for the industry and
show the interviewers that you are committed and dedicated to the work that the
internship entails. Discuss your educational background and make it relevant to
the fashion industry as much as you can. For instance, if your degree is in
business, you can refer to your finance or management courses to describe how
they prepared you for a future in the business aspects of fashion. Your
willingness and eagerness to land the internship must shine through, or else
the interview committee may move on to someone else with the appropriate
degree.
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