Landing an internship at Vogue Magazine — one of the world’s top fashion magazines — is no easy task. Vogue, commonly known as a fashion lover’s bible, has remained a cutting edge, top of the line representation of both fashion and journalism since its inception.
If you’ve been dying to bag this life-changing internship with no luck, we’ve got you.
With a little help from this trusty guide, you’ll be equipped with all the tips and tricks needed to get noticed at this iconic magazine. So, let’s dive in.
Tailor your CV/résumé
Your CV/résumé is going to be the very first thing that decision makers see when choosing whether to move you through the application process or not, so it has to be great. While making sure your experience and education is properly represented is important (we’ll get to it, don’t worry), your resume and cover letter also need to showcase personality! Giving them some insight into who you are and why they want you.
Vogue has made it very clear that they are not only on the hunt for well-rounded, dedicated interns who have experience and interest in the fashion, journalism, or marketing industries, but also want genuine people who are kind, enthusiastic, and friendly!
So, how do you create the most perfect, wonderful, standout CV that conveys everything someone needs to know about you in one tidy place? Consider the following when constructing your CV/résumé to get an internship at Vogue.
Format your résumé correctly
Chances are, if you’re applying for internships, you’re in the beginning stages of your career. Because of this, a chronological format may not be the best option for you. Since Vogue is such a competitive, big-name company, it’s important that your skills and relevant experience shine through the brightest. Consider a skills-based or combination CV/résumé for this application.
Ensure your formatting is clear and the key points are most prominent on the page. Also, incorporate some personal branding into your résumé. When applying for an internship, you’re essentially marketing yourself, so think through your use of color, tone of voice and choice of font.
Add relevant keywords
A company like Vogue gets thousands of internship applications at a time, so they’ll often use an applicant tracking system to sort résumés before they’re even touched by an actual human. To outsmart these systems, it’s important to include keywords that the computer will recognize in order to move on in the process.
Keywords on your resume can include skills, traits, certifications and industry buzz-words pertinent to the internship you’re applying for. For example, Vogue mentions “diligent worker” and “eager learner” in their description of ideal internship candidates.
While keywords need to be tailored to your personal experience and skills, some examples of relevant Vogue keywords include:
- Fashion design
- Trend analysis
- Adobe Photoshop
- Copywriting
- Online journalism
- Social media marketing
- Editing
Be honest
You may not have a lot of experience, but you need to make sure your résumé is an honest representation of who you are. Be yourself, making sure the hiring manager can understand your style and personality, which will help them predict if you’ll fit into the role of an intern at Vogue.
Create a portfolio
The next step to get an internship at Vogue is creating a captivating portfolio. While Vogue has specified that your writing samples don’t need to be published news stories, it’s still important that you’re putting your most professional-looking work forward.
Choose the right niches
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine, so it’s best to choose samples that fit into those niches. It’s a great way to showcase your industry knowledge and prove that you’re passionate about the topics they cover. The last thing they want is someone who’s only applying to get a household name on their résumé.
Opt for quality over quantity
Odds are, they’re not going to sit down and read every writing sample from each candidate. So, when choosing which samples to add to your portfolio, opt for the most well-written, captivating ones, and don’t include any for fluff. They know you’re not submitting everything you’ve ever written, so it’s not important to show them more than a few of your best.
Ensure your portfolio is clear and easy to navigate
As you’ve probably gathered by now, the Vogue hiring team does not have all the time in the world to review your application. So, make sure they can clearly identify and open the links to your samples in as few clicks as possible.
Form connections
A key factor most people ignore? Connections! Getting your foot in the door at any company is difficult, let alone somewhere as prominent as Vogue. The fashion and journalism industries are pretty cut-throat and having a friend in the fight can greatly help your chances.
However, finding the right people to connect with is a task on its own! Here are three great networking methods to help you find connections.
Attend events
A great way to network with Vogue personnel is by attending their events! Vogue often has forums and webinars with editors and guests from across the world. Attending these events allows you to discover the “should know” names within Vogue and stay up to date on the latest news within the company and fashion industry. They also make great talking points for interviews!
Leverage LinkedIn and socials
LinkedIn was founded on the importance of networking. You have information about — and communication with — industry professionals at your fingertips. Be sure your LinkedIn profile is packed with valuable information about yourself, and post regularly! You can also follow Vogue personnel on social media and comment on their posts. They’ll take note of the fact that you shared an interest in their thoughts.
Look to your current network
What’s the phrase? It’s a small world? Six degrees of separation? You get what we mean. Odds are someone in your network knows someone, who knows someone connected with Vogue. Don’t be afraid of asking them to facilitate an introduction! Be sure to do the same when the roles are reversed, though.
Reach out the right way
How are you supposed to connect with people without looking desperate? The key to making connections is taking a genuine interest in the person and their work. Make the connection benefit them and you.
For example, instead of saying:
‘I saw you work at Vogue. Can you get me an internship?’
Try something like:
‘I read this piece you wrote last month, and it really inspired me. Would you be open to discussing your writing process with me?’
Take the words of Vogue features writer Amy Campbell: “If someone's work interests you and you want to learn more about what they do, don't be afraid to ask them out for a coffee. Most people love talking about themselves (myself included hehe) and will happily oblige.”
Prepare for the interview
To get an internship at Vogue, you’ll need to give an exceptional interview. So, it’s important to take the time to prepare and plan beforehand.
Learn all about Vogue
Familiarize yourself with all things Vogue. Look up their history and how they got to where they are now. Read the most recent articles and be ready to share your thoughts on them. Discover common interview questions and write out your response so you aren’t caught off guard. For example, they could ask you things like:
- ‘What is your definition of current trends?’
- ‘Which designers do you admire the most?’
- ‘What was your favorite edition of Vogue?’
- ‘Why do you want to intern at Vogue?’
Be comfortable talking about yourself
Be ready to talk about yourself, beyond what they already know from your CV/ résumé. Prepare to discuss your inspirations and goals. Be sure they get a good sense of your personality and dedication to your passion.
Prepare your questions
Write out any questions you might have to ask your interviewer. These can be about Vogue itself, about the internship, or about them and their personal journey with Vogue.
Clean up your social media
Social media has become much more integral in the hiring process over the last few years. To get an internship with Vogue, be sure your socials make the cut!
Showcase your work
Social media is a great place to showcase work you may not have had the chance to include in your application. Make sure to upload your work regularly, so it’s easy for potential hiring managers to see if they come snooping.
Stick to your personal brand
Be sure that the person they see on social media is the same one that applied for the internship. Stick to the personal brand that you created through your résumé and portfolio, and make sure it properly represents your personality.
Be polite
The last thing a hiring manager wants to see is any sort of disrespectful comments or posts on social media. Be sure that your engagement on socials is kind and thoughtful of others.
Final thoughts
If you hadn’t noticed, there’s been quite the theme throughout our guide today. Show off! Yes, be kind and humble, but also confident enough to show Vogue how much value you can bring to the table. To get an internship with Vogue Magazine, be sure that your application highlights not only your technical skills, but your dedication and passion for the work.
Are you interested in applying for an internship at Vogue Magazine? Or were you successful? If you got a position at Vogue, let us know in the comments section below!
This is an updated version of an article originally published on 4 September 2018.