Before we jump into the feature story, I wanted to start this post with a practical tip. The trick to landing that dream internship? Simple, just ask for it. I went into the internship never having taken a PR class and not even really knowing what PR was. The secret is to get people to focus on what you are good at doing.
I had blogging and some social media experience, so that was what I pitched them on, not my knowledge of PR. So, when interviewing for jobs and internships, really sell yourself and what you are passionate about. Doing this will help you stand out from the crowd.
As a "fashion" guy I've read magazines like GQ, Esquire, and vouge for years now. Growing up for the most part in Mocksville, North Carolina, I would have never dreamt of actually stepping foot into any of their offices. However, I went from graduating Davidson Community College on December 13, 2015 and a mere two weeks later moving to the Big Apple for the internship of my dreams, here is how it went.
I flew into Newark, NJ, on December 27, 2015. I remember coming through the tunnel into Manhattan and feeling like I was in a dream. The skyscrapers stretched as far as the eye could see. It was a chilly morning as the yellow cab whisked me through the city streets and across the Williamsburg bridge to my new apartment deep in Brooklyn. I remember getting out of that cab and walking up my apartments steps for the first time, that euphoric feeling still buzzing in my head. I settled into my tiny bedroom that was only big enough to fit a full-size bed and not much else.
At this point in my life I had never taken a public relations or journalism class, so being an intern at a luxury fashion PR firm for me would be the ultimate trial by fire. Over the next five months, I would learn so much about the fashion industry and all it had to offer. My first month on the job I was thrown into shooting men's fashion week which as a photographer and fashion lover was a dream come true. Being able to photograph and hang out with the models was an experience I felt very fortunate to have. The next few months were spent doing influencer marketing and event planning. By the end of the internship, I had worked on four different campaigns, multiple events and loved every minute of it.
For me, this gap semester was the perfect reality check. I felt getting first-hand experience in the PR world in New York City of all places was the best thing I could have done. Moving over 600 miles away from all of my family and friends to embark on this incredible adventure taught me so much. It instilled in me the drive needed to keep up in a fast-paced profession and really drove home a love of menswear.
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