PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 30: LAST DAY.

Wow. I can't believe today was my last day. This placement has gone by so fast. What a great overall experience. One of the best things out of a fashion internship is coming away from it feeling as though something has been gained. I definitely feel that way (and no I'm not just talking about the hundreds of pounds worth of free clothes!). I feel as though I have a good understanding on how the PR side of the industry functions. Seeing what the girls do and asking them valuable questions was so interesting. I've learnt that PR is actually very sneaky but very clever! The impact it has on sales is huge and the industry majorly depends on PR to succeed. 

I've met some great people who are really passionate about PR and their job. Asos is truly a great company to work for and they ensure every employee is looked after. There are so many benefits to working here I can't even begin to explain. Just an overall a great ethos behind the business which is most probably one of the main reasons for its massive success. I feel honoured to have been able to gain work experience here and Asos is definitely somewhere I would aspire to work when I graduate. 

It was sad to say bye to the girls, but they gave me a lovely card with a discount code for Asos. I'm sure I will be in contact with them in the near future and hopefully I will be working alongside them very soon!

PLACEMENT DIARY - MOST LIKELY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS.

The interview process is one of the most daunting parts of the application process for a fashion intern. As long as you turn up prepared, passionate and knowledgable you will be sure to give a great first impression. I have put together a list of the most likely interview questions you will be answered in your interview. These will obviously vary from job to job, however these are questions I have been given from previous interviews.
- Tell us a bit about yourself. - What do you aspire to do when you graduate and where do you see yourself in the future? - List some long term goals. - Why have you applied to that company? - Who and what are you inspired by? - Who would you say that companies competitors are? - List your strengths and weaknesses.  - What are your favourite brands/designers? - Why PR/Styling/Graphics etc? - What can you bring to the company? - How would you deal with a tricky situation? - What do you expect to gain from this experience?
These are some of the most common interview questions I have experienced. Be prepared to answer more or little than this though. Preparation is key. If you respond with quick and clever answers, you'll be on the road to success.
Good luck!

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 29: THE ULTIMATE INTERVIEW OUTFIT:

What we wear to a job interview is one of the most vital parts of making a good first impression. Turning up to a fashion interview in a plain old suit is not going to make you stand out one bit honey! Let's wow the company and boast our eye for fashion by rocking up in our smartest, classiest and most fashionable attire! 

I know we don't all have the money to invest in a number of labelled garments, but theres no harm in finding dupes that scream fashionista! The outfit I have put together above is the kind of look I would go for when attending a fashion interview. Its sophisticated but not over the top. It isn't too crazy, but it still has elements of creativity. Finding that balance is key for your interview look. Spend a good amount of time rummaging through your wardrobe to find the most suitable pieces. Ask friends for a rummage through their collections and maybe do a little private fashion show for your housemates to get a second opinion. 

Remember, don't be a try hard, but make a decent amount of effort that will allow you to stand out and show off your style appropriately. 

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 28: PERFECTING YOUR CV.

Last Friday I did a post touching on some tips for applying for your next internship. I briefly touched on  CV development which I feel is one of the most important parts when applying to your favourite fashion firm. As promised, I am now doing a post purely full of great tips to ensure make the most out of your resume. 
1. Create a design for your CV that will make you stand out. Ok don't go overboard. We don't need to come across as a try hard, but a touch of creativity may give you a head-start. Try creating a logo for yourself including your name, email and website. Add a bit of colour and choose a professional font that suggests you're at least a bit fun!
2. Include relevant information only. Irrelevant experience on your CV will just bore the person who reads it. Include as much relevant work experience as possible and ensure important factors stand out. No need to go into depths of detail about how well you are able to make a great cup of coffee for your boss. Keep it short and sweet. Bullet points help. 
3. Create a layout. Layout your CV out professionally yet creatively. Make it easy to read. 
4. Narrow it down. Keep it short. No need to write pages and pages. 1 page is brilliant and if you can keep your CV precise and wow the reader on 1 sheet, you stand a good chance.
5. Include a website/online portfolio link. If you can provide a link to some of your work and talents, this will be amazing! It will give the reader an insight into your skills and give you an even better chance of getting your dream intern. 
6. Write a banging covering letter! Wow the readers with a passionate covering letter that is straight to the point without the waffle! Remember to involve your availability and at all costs avoid using terms such as 'passionate for fashion'. You need to prove to them you want this without sounding like every other individual after your position. Stand out and take the opportunity to shine. 
Good luck!

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 27:

I have now been given more responsibilities which is really nice. It's been a manic day today and I can imagine tomorrow will be pretty hectic too, mainly because of the Brit Awards tomorrow evening. We have been setting up the show room for many celebrity appointments for awards show, such as the band Lawson, Caroline Flack and Katy B. We have also been sending out packages and gifting. I sent out clothes to Beyonce and her backing dancers today which was pretty exciting!

Anyway it's nice to know I am trusted with some of the tasks I am now given. I feel like I really know the ropes now and I have a great understanding on how the PR industry works which is exactly what I was hoping to get out of this placement. It's a sad it's all nearly over!

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 26:

A really quiet Monday which is unusual! We had a new intern called Nicky start with us so I had to guide her through the day and show her the ropes. We only did a few send outs and we worked at a steady pace which was nice for once. I then spent the afternoon on menswear setting up the showroom for a number of appointments for the week. This involved an afternoon of steaming some new SS14 samples which I weirdly found rather therapeutic?! Anyway, thank God Monday is over! It's always my dreaded day of the week...

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 25: INTERN APPLICATION.

 

Hooray for the weekend! There wasn't too much to do today in the office so we worked at a steady pace and managed to catch up with all of the returns that we needed to book back into Fashion GPS and get into the system to alert the PR girls that they were all back in! It was also Alice's last day so we gave her a nice farewell before we left off early for the weekend. 
Following Tuesday's blog post where I briefly touched on why making the correct decision and doing your research will benefit your overall intern experience, I thought I would do a post elaborating on helpful tips that will benefit you when seeking your dream placement.
1. First of all you need to perfect your CV and covering letter. You don't want to come across as a Plain Jane, but you also don't want to seem like a try hard. Get the balance right. Include relevant information ONLY! The editor of Glamour magazine doesn't want to know about how you worked in a bakery for a year when you were 16! Include any previous experience (fashion related) that you have and any commissioned work you may have done. Keep it short and sweet. If you can narrow your CV down to one page this will be perfect. (I am going to do another blog post next week on perfecting a CV and covering letter so stay tuned).
2. Spend a good few days researching available placements. Websites such as Fashion Workie and UK Fashion Intern list a variety of available placements daily. Research on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and see who is recruiting fashion interns. Remember to stay professional so no tweeting begging for a poor stylist to give you a job. Find out their email maybe and contact them this way. It is also a good idea to ring companies and ask to speak to the person in charge of internships. This way you show that you are keen and you can familiarise them with your name and give them an insight to who you are. 
3. Go mad! Apply EVERYWHERE. There's no point in limiting yourself. However do be careful that you don't mess anyone around when you finally hear back. If you hear back from someone when you have already accepted a placement, reply back with a polite email to explain you already have accepted an offer elsewhere, and ask if you could perhaps meet once you are next available. Apply through emails and letters. Always keep it professional and make sure you address to the correct person. This why a phone call before hand can be handy if you are unsure on who to contact. 
4. Wait patiently for a response, some places can take a matter of weeks. Head out to a few interviews (after of course you have done your research) and make your desired decision! 
5. Good luck!

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 24:

 
 
 
 
 
 
Not going to complain about working in PR as the amount of free clothes I am getting is unreal! I did not expect this! I have honestly ran out of space in my wardrobe and I'm feeling incredibly lucky and grateful for all the freebies I have been getting. It's not as though they are brand new pieces and I can choose anything off Asos that I want, just to clear that up, it's not like that at all. All of the departments throughout Asos are required to get rid of their old samples by putting them in a sample say that pops up every Friday, where samples are sold for £2 each! However, whatever PR put into the sample sale, we get first dibs incase we want anything, and the perk is that we get it for free! This is a huge perk of PR. Being able to get amazing clothes at a fraction of the price or even for nothing. 
I'm so happy today as the girls were sorting through the whole fashion cupboard and adding bits to the sample sale bags and we all got to delve in a pick out whatever we wanted. I brought home some gorge pieces - one skirt was even worth £120! Here are just a handful of some of my fave freebies since starting at Asos. It might just urge you to apply ;)

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 23:

Today has been a fairly rushed and busy day as returns are getting on top of me and Alice. We are having to work super fast in order to get all of the daily send outs complete, as well as ensuring all the needed samples are back in the fashion cupboard for the PR girls to see to specific requests. I didn't think PR would be as stressful as this, but that is definitely something I have learnt from this placement. You are constantly relying on others help, and you are under such a demand to get samples to top publications in order to get some really good coverage and hit targets. It is really rewarding when you see the samples you have sent out in magazines such as Vogue, Company, Elle, Cosmo etc, featuring in a really beautifully composed shoot. 
Today was my job to go through a number of magazines and newspapers from the last week and find and log any Asos coverage. It was really fascinating and I was really surprised at how often and the amount of coverage that the company get. You forget how big Asos is in terms of business, and it really is an extremely successful company that I am thrilled to be interning for.

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 22:

I swear the days just go by so quickly! One of the ways I know I'm enjoying this placement is because I don't sit at the edge of my chair by my desk every evening aching to go home. Instead I get carried away in a task, go to look at the time, and oops! it's time to go home! Before I know it a whole week has gone by. This is why everyone should choose and intern that they know they are going to love. When applying for this 6 week placement, I was offered a placement at Vivienne Westwood. After days of struggling to make a decision, I finally chose Asos because I knew it would be such a better atmosphere and I would get more out of it. I don't regret that decision (Plus I have bags of free clothes and I probably wouldn't have got that from Viv's HQ). 

One of my biggest tips would be to go for as many interviews as you can when choosing your placement. Although you are being questioned on your knowledge and character, it's also a way to interview the companies for yourself. You get to see the places you will be working, the people you are working with, and get an overall idea on the whole perception. Don't rush your decision, as after all, you will be working for free, you might as well get some satisfaction out of it.  

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 21: JAZZ UP A DULL OUTFIT.

I tend to find Monday mornings a struggle after getting back into the swing of early mornings and my weekly routine after the weekend, so today wasn't the most pleasant of days after being completely exhausted. I should probably learn from this and go to bed a more sensible time next saturday instead of partying until 5am like usual. That's definitely a little guideline for you all.

I thought I would do a post today on how to transform a simple outfit into something that will make you stand out for your awesome styling skills. This is perfect for a regular fashion intern as we all know that we can't exactly afford to keep up with the latest fashions, let alone have the time to spend ours styling ourselves at 7.30am. Instead, these awesome accessories that are also practical for the kind of work we tend to do, and have the power to make the most plain of outfits that bit more fashionista in a matter of seconds. Here are my top 5 choices:

1. A boomin' lippy - You really can't go wrong with shoving a bit of lipstick on in the morning to make yourself seem that extra bit fashionable. It's really amazing what a daring lip can do to your look. In the Winter I like to go for the darker tones that contrast with my pale complexion. My favourite at the moment is Diva by MAC.

2. Some striking sunnies - I know sunnies aren't at the top of everyones accessory list in the winter, but sometimes us stylish peeps have to take the plunge and dare to be different. And hey! Just because it's cold outside, doesn't mean the sun doesn't shine, right? Whack on a pair of edgy sunnies to give your outfit that extra cool. I'm loving cat eye frames at the mo'.

3. Statement jewellery - I don't really need to explain this one. Decorate your dullness with some chunky chains. Marc Jacobs do some amazing pieces.

4. COMFY heels - Yes I said comfy. Remember we are fashion interns not fashion divas. Heels give you that extra boost of height, which in my sake, boosts my confidence too. They also in turn make your outfit more fashionable. Try a pair of striking platforms. These ones are amazing and ironically they're from Asos...

5. A faux fur scarf - No real fur please people! Keep warm with one of these beauties. They also make your outfit look super classy, even though I bought my latest fur collar off eBay for £5! Bargain!

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 20: OOTD.

I'm so happy it's Friday! Not too much to say about my day as it was pretty chilled, so here's an 'Outfit of the Day' for you all!

I like to keep warm and wear layers as I do a lot of walking on my daily travels, so comfy shoes are a must and big coats or jumpers do me good! Today I went for a chunky H&M oversized roll neck jumper, my Minusey biker jacket, leather pointed boots, and to jazz it up, some loud and fun leopard print skinny trousers I bought from Zara last year for £13 in the sale! (Bag is from Monki.)

Have a good weekend everyone!

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 19:

It's Thursday and it has seemed as though the week has flown by! I started the morning off with some porridge and a coffee at my desk which was lovely! A steady paced day today with the odd send out and a bit of organising and tidying here and there. After lunch I spent the whole afternoon packing gifts for beauty journalists. It made me so envious! There was a premium pack and a regular pack, however I would be chuffed if I was to receive either of them! The gifts were to promote the SS14 products that Asos are stocking and to give the writers of top publications some samples to try out in order to promote Asos' beauty range and their stocked brands. These included products such as Nars lipsticks, Illamasqua bronzer, Pixi pressed powder, GHD hair serum, Daniel Sandler lipstick plus more. Such amazing brands to get given for free! I packed about 100 of these in total. Yep 100! That was a long ol' job so I hope these journalists thoroughly enjoy these goodies!

PLACEMENT DAY 18 - ULTIMATE FASHION INTERN KIT:

It's the 18th day of my internship at Asos and I've got to admit, I've settled in really well. I feel like one of the team now and I've picked up pretty much everything I need to know easily. I've learnt the ropes so I head into the office in the morning and can get to work without being told what to do. It feels really good and I'm really enjoying my time with the company.

I thought I'd do something a bit different with my blog post today to make my page more beneficial to others who need guidance through a fashion internship based in the capital. I have put together a number of essentials which I would recommend for any fashion intern in London. Enjoy!

1. A nail file - This may seem like a stereotypical item for a fashion intern, however the amount of times I have broken or snagged a nail whilst running errands is uncountable! The most annoying thing is having a snagged nail when you are trying to complete a really hands on job. Having a nail file near by is always handy!

2. A comfy pair of shoes - I know you may look at these heels at think, 'comfy? really?', but for a 5"3 girl like me who dreams of a bit of height, these platforms are perfect. They are super comfy and can make any outfit look that bit more fashionista. Comfy shoes are a must for an intern as you're bound to be on your feet and walking! If flats are more for you, make sure you find a comfy pair. You can get these heels from Topshop.

3. A warm coat - If you are interning in the winter, a warm and cosy coat is a must! I love a faux fur coat like this one as they are super comfy and make any outfit look amazing! This one is from Asos (How ironic).

4. An iPhone - Do I really need to go into detail here? Apps? Emails? Maps? Music? Social media? Without my iPhone I would be lost and have nothing to keep me going through my long lunch hour!

5. An umbrella - You never know when the weather is going to turn. Be prepared to prevent any fluffy hair situations!

6. Earphones - Nothing better than listening to music on the tube or to keep you entertained on a job. Don't forget the earphones though as I doubt your peers will enjoy Justin Bieber blaring out in the office (in my case anyway). 

7. Oyster card - Save the hassle and get yourselves one of these bad boys! You wont regret it!

8. Hand sanitizer - The amount of germs in a day you will come in contact with through public transport and work is pretty grim. If you're on the go and can't get to the sink before you eat, get one of these little cuties. 

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 17:

It was a chilled out Tuesday in the office! Lucky for me Asos are great caterers. There is a free hot drinks vending machine in the kitchen which I help myself to regularly. I love a fresh coffee in the morning, especially at no cost! Today I helped myself to their selection of teas. I love a good cup of Twining's! Today I went for peppermint in the morning and a raspberry and cranberry in the afternoon. Bliss!

PLACEMENT DIARY - DAY 16:

I needed a whole lot of caffeine to get me through this morning, and me being me, I went for the healthy option and began making the most of my free Vita Coco's! This latte one is honestly so tasty and it helped me survive the Monday morning rush! 

Today was a day of returns from over the weekend. To be honest it was pretty chilled, however after a heavy weekend, I was very fragile, so I was in luck. I also did a cheeky send out to The Saturdays and sent their stylist some awesome picks for the girls to wear. 

Probably the most exciting part to my Monday was being given this absolutely amazing feather bag to keep! I've fallen in love and the freebies just keep on coming! Bonus!