Mia Cortez gained skills in merchandising and operations as a PR fashion intern.
How did you get your internship?
I got my internship by messaging one of my friends that I had previously worked with. I knew that she was working for a public relations firm that specializes in lifestyle, editorial, fashion and beauty but it didn't cross my mind to ask her until close to the start of the spring semester when I wanted to complete my internship. I messaged her on Instagram asking if the company that she is working for is looking for an intern for roles in fashion and she told me that they were. She instructed me to email the company's coordinator and showroom manager, so I did. Later that evening I received a response via email and we scheduled a meeting for the next day. We had the meeting and they offered me the position right there on the spot.
Why did you choose this internship?
I decided to choose this internship because I was interested in gaining experience in the fashion industry. Knowing that I had this opportunity and that it might lead my career in that direction was exciting to me. I also knew that I would be able to open more doors for myself and to network with people in the fashion industry to get advice on how to pursue a career as a stylist. I was excited to see what type of work I would be doing by getting involved with the public relations (PR) side of this industry.
What kind of work did you do throughout your internship experience?
I was involved in many aspects of the company as they allowed me to be very hands-on with my experience. I learned how to navigate the logistics of the website and inventory new brands or clothing pieces that came into the showroom. I also learned how to handle send-outs to the stylists that were styling celebrities and then returning them using our logistics website. I gained experience in merchandising because I had to style the showroom correctly and organize it so it was always ready to be seen. I learned just how much work and communication has to be done to be a part of a fashion PR firm and how confident you have to be to work in this industry.
What was your favorite part of your internship?
One of my favorite things about this internship was how nice and welcoming the people I worked with were. If I ever needed help with anything or had questions, everybody would always be open to answer me or help me out. My coordinator and showroom manager always made sure that they asked how I was doing and would let us take breaks if we were stressed or just were having a day off to rest. They always asked us how our mental health was and would always offer us advice or guidance if we needed any. I think that this was meaningful to me because I have never had a job where the supervisor asks their employees about their mental health. It felt like they genuinely cared about us and that made me feel so comfortable there.
What did you find challenging about your internship?
The most challenging thing that I experienced with this internship was self-doubt. Once they brought in more interns, I felt like I wasn't fitting in because I didn't have any experience like some of the newer interns so those feelings of doubt got stronger. Some of them had already been a part of this specific internship or they had already started their career in the fashion industry. I started to feel like I wasn't good enough to be in the position I was in, but then I realized that we all have to start somewhere and they probably once felt the same way that I did. I learned that if you have confidence in yourself and allow yourself to be open-minded then you will be able to fit into any position you want. It’s so important to always have confidence in yourself.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for internships?
Some advice that I have for the other students that are in search for an internship is to be patient and be open-minded. I also highly recommend looking for an internship for something that you want to do in your future career. When I was searching for an internship, I couldn't find anything within the industry that I wanted and I was about to settle and do something completely outside my interests. Then one day I came across this opportunity and it was something that related to my goal of working in fashion. I think that allowing myself to be patient and not give up or settle led me in the right direction.