I’ll have one Lucky Break, please.

It’s been reported that on average, a person changes their career at least 5 times, before they find their feet. But with everyone wanting experience and graduates, how do you make that first step up the career ladder? That vicious circle comes rolling round the corner with every job application – you need experience, to get experience. But you can’t get experience, because you haven’t got any previous experience. Confusing much? In the creative industries, it’s just practice, experience, practice, practice, experience, until you get your lucky break. (If you get a lucky break!)

Primarily, I’m a photographer. I love the freedom, the post-processing and creative ideas involved. You can take a camera anywhere and photograph anything. Although my photography often involves a lot of work with people, I’m not too keen on studio work- there’s too much involved technically. And although I understand it, I prefer to work with natural light and catch candid moments. But in what career can you do that? Not many, besides event or wedding photography.

I also love fashion and beauty, and writing about it. (Infact, I’ll write about anything, near enough!) I’ve had my fair share of experience of internships, with some magazines that shall remain nameless and all of them have been horrific experiences. It’s understandable that the fashion/lifestyle team still have their own jobs to do, but they give you the most tedious tasks sometimes. Tea-making is fine, we all love a good cup of tea, but “Oh, this milk’s been left on my desk and it’s warm now. Can you go and empty it?” does not cut it. I’m not here to be your skivvy! Nor am I here to open your mail (which you are going to have to read anyway). There’s very little actual on-the-job training or shadowing involved. I don’t know how you’re expected to know what the job involves or if you want to do it, if you’re stuck in a teensy fashion cupboard, returning last seasons Kate Moss for Topshop collection. But the bosses at your favourite celebrity and fashion mags know that they can get you to do all the little things that no one else wants to, because you’re just there to put it on your CV. And unfortunately, if you want to make it in the industry, then nine times out of ten, you’ll need that reference.

So here are my top tips to make the most of being a magazine Intern:
1. If you can make a good cup of tea, it will be well appreciated! But don’t let that be the only thing that you end up doing during your stint.
2. You will be called the “workie”. It can be patronising and rude, but if you want to be able to put the experience on your CV, stick it out.
3. If you’re doing fashion returns, don’t worry about getting them all done and finishing your days work. There will always be more somewhere.
4. If you think you’re doing them a favour by tidying up the cupboard, don’t waste your time. I can guarantee that by the next morning, a mountain of screwed up clothes from a photoshoot will have magically appeared, messing up all your hard work.
5. At some point you’ll probably be asked to open someone’s mail. It’s such a pointless task, as you won’t know what’s rubbish and what’s not. Try to put it off, as I’m sure the person in question is quite capable of opening an envelope themselves!
6. If things really get that bad, then leave. I’ve met lots of Style Assistants who have done the same thing and have still got their dream job, so it doesn’t always have a negative effect. Just miss it out on your CV! (And make sure you get your travel expenses paid before you leave.)

Of course some people are lucky enough to not have to do years of internships and they make it on their own. If you’ve got the right attitude, talent and bags full of ambition, then good things will happen eventually. A lot of people are head-hunted this way and their blogs, magazines and portfolios get picked up by the people who can further their career.

I’m not the best at any of the things I do, but you know when you just have a feeling that there’s something that you really can do and would be perfect for? In an ideal world, some Big Boss Man would find me and say “Take candid photos of people and street culture, write about fashion, life and street-style, wear all this fabulous clothing and get paid £25,000 for it. And here’s a slice of Lemon Cheesecake.”

I should start my own mag and be my own boss.

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