How do you get a job at a fashion magazine?

The average fashion-conscious girl wants to either become a model or a fashion editor. Especially the latter has become a frequently heard dream thanks to the enormous popularity of bloggers nowadays. We also regularly receive unsolicited applications here at Amayzine, or simply the question, “how can I ever work for a fashion magazine or fashion website?” The ladies and gentlemen of Huffington Post received that question too and decided to sit down with Eva Chen, editor in chief of the immensely popular Lucky Magazine. Chen is quite an influential lady and one of the few print editors who have managed to create a huge online reach. Not only with Lucky Mag, she also does well herself with over 188,000 followers on Instagram in the digital world. In the interview, she opens up about working in the world of fashion magazines and these are the most important lessons.

“The best school in life is experience.”

It is an outdated thought that you necessarily have to study journalism (although it certainly helps) to become a writer. The best way is to draw from your own experiences. To become good at writing, it is important to first write a lot, just practice a lot and make significant progress. Additionally, reading a lot is a must because, those who read, write. Her advice is, in short, “study what you love and intern in what you want to do.”

“You should not wear a suit to an interview.”

An interview at a bank requires quite a different approach clothing-wise than an interview at a fashion magazine. At a fashion magazine, a business suit is not the right move, but don’t be too over the top hysterical fashionable. It is important to wear something that reflects your own style and that you feel good in. “You know that outfit that when you walked down the street, you were like, ‘I’m really into my outfit today’? Wear that.”

“Don’t include a picture of yourself on your resume.”

And also no handwritten CVs with all sorts of bells and whistles, please. Just a business-like summary of your relevant work experience. “I want it to be straightforward things you’ve done.”

“What I’m looking for in your cover letter is that you have to convince me that you want to work at Lucky.”

Or whatever magazine you are applying for. Don’t make the mistake of providing a written form of your CV in your motivation letter. Don’t write that you interned here and there because that is already in your CV. In your motivation letter, write why you want to work at that specific magazine so badly. Which photographers they use do you find beautiful, which brand did you discover through that magazine, which bloggers you saw in the magazine inspire you? Make it clear in your motivation letter why you want to work at that specific magazine, and not at another one.”

“Send an email right after the interview.”

Shortly after your interview, send an email saying that you enjoyed the conversation, that you can’t wait to start working for them, and mention a point that was discussed in the conversation.

“A good attitude is really important.”

Be optimistic, eager to learn, cheerful, proactive, decisive, and, very importantly, creative. Always come up with new ideas, no matter what level you are at. Show that you really want this and that you are good at it. Nowadays, it is also important to be able to multitask. Many people are very good at one specific thing, but by showing that you have multiple talents, you become a more interesting candidate.