How to Land a Fashion Internship Without a Fashion Degree

Internships give you exposure to prospective employers.

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

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

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

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

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.

References

• College Fashion: How to Get The Internship of Your Dreams