Flare magazine posts a list of do's and don'ts for prospective interns
Flare magazine has posted a list of do's and don'ts for editorial interns.
DO: Have a strong work ethic.Whoever said that fashion is all glitz and glamour has never worked in the industry. Moving your way up the ladder involves tedious tasks and physical labour - whether it’s sourcing an obscure prop for an upcoming shoot, or schlepping heavy luggage to set.There is no indication that this strong work ethic, on-time performance or uncomplaining attitude is worth paying for in these four-month unpaid internships.
DO: Show off your keen fashion sense.In an industry of tastemakers, it’s important to practice what you preach. When it comes to dressing around the office it’s as much about who you’re wearing as it is about how you’re wearing it. I always take notice of a potential intern with an individual sense of style and a distinct point of view, price tag aside.
DON'T: Complain about the tasks.Editorial work is fast-paced and demanding, so there is little time for bad attitudes and diva behaviour. A positive outlook and readiness to lend a hand makes all the difference when the fashion closet starts to overflow with back-to-back shoots.
DON'T: Be late.With endless deadlines and early call times, our team relies on one another to keep the momentum going. We expect that our interns treat the internship as they would any full-time job, and that means showing up on time and performing tasks in a timely manner.
DO: Have an interest in fashion. This may seem like an obvious point, but I get a surprising number of applicants drawn to the idea of working at a fashion magazine without even the most basic fashion know-how. When it comes to working in editorial it is essential that you know your stuff and stay on the pulse, whether its through magazines, websites, blogs, or newspapers.
DO: Give us a reason to hire you.
Whether it’s a background in merchandising, styling or journalism, at the end of the day it’s that certain je ne sais quoi that seals the deal. Every intern we take on brings something unique to the table that makes them an integral part of the FLARE fashion team.
Labels: internships
posted by D. B. Scott at
10:25 am
15 Comments:
This is great. The sad thing is that at my publication, it is becoming more and more necessary to actually state things like "arrive on time" and "work a full shift." What the heck is wrong with "kids" today? :)
You get what you pay for.
Do these interns actually get to practice any journalism? Or is that out of fashion at Flare?
DON'T: expect to pay your rent.
Dear interns,
Stop whining. Like internships in many other industries, this is an excellent opportunity to get your foot in the door, develop an understanding of the business and even get a byline on a piece that you submitted but probably had to be rewritten by the sr editor.
Love, your editor (who worked really really hard to get here)
DO: Expect to see people other than you wearing clothes and accessories they didn't pay for.
DON'T: For a second think you will be taking that free junket to the Turks & Caicos. That's already spoken for, and you'll be arranging the airport limo.
DON'T: Tell Lisa Tant that her radio spots suck, even if she does have a voice for print.
DON'T: Think anyone in NYC will have the faintest notion what Flare is.
DON"T: Hope to meet any hot, straight guys in the Rogers building. You won't.
DON"T: Believe working for Jane down the hall is any better. It isn't.
Don't: expect a job at Flare after interning there.
Do: expect to land a good position elsewhere after interning at Flare.
Don't: apply for an internship if your parents are not able to subsidize your expensive four months at Flare.
Don't: speak until you are spoken to.
Don't: text or log-in into Facebook.
Don't: wear Uggs, Crocs, Ed Hardy, Lulu Lemon, or flip-flops.
One Anonymous wrote: "even get a byline on a piece that you submitted but probably had to be rewritten by the sr editor."
Yeah, or, as in an internship I did several years ago, get no byline for a piece that went in without having to be re-written.
You want interns to treat it as a real job? Pay the interns so that it more closely resembles a real job.
I don't pay my interns...but I give them a huge amount of responsibility and lattitude. I also treat them with respect and don't take advantage of them.
Every generation complains about the previous generation...hey, isn't that a generalization?!
The truth is that if working in media was just like working at an accounting office, people would be lining up to work for free as interns in accounting offices.
Practically EVERYONE, it seems, is drawn to media. There are too few jobs for way too many people. It will always be like this.
Back in the day, I did my internship for a $10/day stipend (that worked out to $1.25/hour) at a highly profitable, laughably knee-jerk left-wing Toronto entertainment weekly. For the slave wages and the lack of contacts, substantive hands-on experience, mentorship or any real opportunity, Flare would have been a better deal.
Internships are a trial by fire; not everyone is going to make it through, and they weed out the kids who are really hungry for the industry, from the ones who have ridic Carrie Bradshaw/Ugly Betty perceptions of what it's all about.
Am I the only one who noticed that Point #2 of the Flare ed's little rant should have "who you wear" and "how you wear" sentence fragments transposed to actually make sense given the context?
DON'T: Forget that 'tights' are not pants. Bending over in them gives everyone else a view of your undergarments if your shirt is not long enough.
DO: Wear tops that adequately cover your upper body so others speaking with you are not, um, distracted.
DON'T: Check your personal phone then laugh at text messages from your friends during meetings if you are interested in being taken seriously.
DO: Expect to be given the crap jobs that no one who is getting paid would ever dream of doing. (Sad, but true...sorry).
Above said, I have hired a number of excellent interns over the years.
#11. Don't look Lisa in the eye.
#12. Don't get into an elevator with Ken.
#13. Don't worry.
DO: Be gay (if you're a dude).
@Anonymous that posted the following:
"#11. Don't look Lisa in the eye."
Really? I know Lisa, and she's a long way from Anna Wintour. Do you speak from personal experience?
DO: expect to take in Lisa's dry cleaning, pick up her lunch, and empty her garbage can.
DON'T: expect to be treated as "part of the team", or contribute a word of writing to the magazine, no matter how much past editorial experience you may have.
DON'T: expect any of the editors you serve under at Flare to say hi to you or acknowledge in anyway that they know you when you see them outside the office, even if you've interned under them for a period of eight months.
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