Interning for dummies

When people tell me they're desperate to break in to the journalism industry and ask me for tips. I always say the best advice is to run away screaming and promptly choose another industry. At this point they stare at me wide eyed and you can see them struggling to get their head around it. 

But if you do decide to ignore me, you'll soon find yourself in one of the best industries in the world. I honestly couldn't imagine dong anything else. This is my dream job and all I've wanted ever since I was 11 years old. But it really wasn't an easy ride to get here. I have spent many a sleepless night worrying if I was good enough. But if you can ride out the storm and be prepared to work seven days a week - five of those days for expenses only - and throw your heart and soul in to making sure you're indispensable, then you're halfway there.

Interning is soul destroying. You spend hours doubting your abilities, your self esteem takes a severe battering and you break down in tears when you receive yet another rejection email - someone doesn't even want your services for free! After a year on the emotional roller coaster you begin question your sanity. I was two weeks away from jacking in all my dreams of becoming a journalist and fill our an application to start my PGCE before I got my job. But if you can jump on the interning train, i've got a few tips that could help you along the way.

Don't just go for anything - pick internships that you think you have an interest in. Vogue may be your dream but it's everyone's else's too. So if you want to work for a fashion based magazine then write to all of them to try your luck. Don't send out generic cover letters - make sure you tailor them and really get across why you'd love to intern there. Gorkana, Media Muppet and Fashion Monitor are great websites. Don't be afraid to ring the publication up directly and ask. They'll remember you more if they hear your voice rather than see a faceless email. 

Don't be afraid to go the extra mile and never ask to go home early. The interns that will be remembered are the ones who offered their services, never came back from lunch late and found office jobs for themselves to keep them busy. The journalism industry is very close knit and almost everyone knows someone at one publication so news travels fast. Be willing to put the effort as it will help you out in the long term.

Make friends and talk to everyone on the team. Like I said above, the industry is very small so keep in touch with everyone who you work with. You never know what information you could be fed on the grapevine. They can give you the heads up for potential jobs and put in a good word for you if needed. I have made some great friends over the years and still keep in touch with them now. It's always nice to catch up with them at events! 

Good luck! 

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Return of the Mac

 

Outfit:
Red and white striped tee: c/o Florence and Fred (similar)
Light wash skinny jeans: New Look
Beige long trench coat: Zara (similar)
White chucks: Converse c/o Tower London

I went along to the Tower London press breakfast a few weeks ago - fell head over heels for the Melissa x Vivienne Westwood boots below -  to have a sneaky look at all the a/w gems they have coming in to store. They had some amazing boots and some really great brands. I was especially taken with the floral Doc Martens - the pattern is amazing right? Tower London are definitely a shop to look out for if you're looking to treat yourself to some new boots. They have something for everyone! I was very lucky to win these Converse in a competition they were running on the day and they've hardly left my feet! I opted for the classic white as they go with absolutely everything.

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Feeling left behind

When I was 16, I had my entire life mapped out by the time I hit 25. I was going to be a well travelled individual, jump on the property ladder, work as a journalist, have a ring on my left hand and own a wardrobe filled to the brim with designer goodies. Well I hit 25 earlier this year and life hasn't quite gone where I thought it'd go. 

After years of interning I managed to get my dream job and can finally proudly call myself a bone fide journalist - something I thought would never happen. I've also managed to bag that Mulberry after months of hardcore saving. But the others? I'm not even close to ticking them off the list so does this mean i've somehow failed at life?

After having a mini meltdown earlier on in the year when my friends started becoming grown up and investing in property, I had the realisation that success in life isn't straight forward. I was beginning to feel left behind and wondering if my stubbornness not to become a grown up was holding me back. Was it about time I embraced being in my mid twenties and start behaving how society said I should?

Life is not a race so stop comparing yourself to others. You might look on in envy to your friends and wish you were keeping up with the Jones' but I can promise you they're looking at you wishing exactly the same thing. They might have own a house but you get to buy that Chanel lipstick whenever you want as you live at home. They might have a high flying career and earn more than you could ever dream off but you get a jiffy bag full of chocolate sent to you at work. They might be getting married but you can tell your boyfriend to go home so you can binge watch The Tudors. They might only wear designer shoes but you can feel smug as you've managed to find some bargains in TK Maxx.

I may not have a house to call my own, spent a year travelling around the world being 'cultured' or own those coveted Christian Louboutins but to be honest i'm pretty darn happy with the way life is going. Nothing fun is ever straight forward right? And I am still only 25.

Your time will come so stop trying to rush it. Life is too short.

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