By: Jennifer Frees
Photography: Aexis Finch
Communicating with styleYou have style and substance. You love fashion and you’re a talented writer. What industry is best for you? That’s the dilemma George Brown Fashion Management grad Karlie Basaraba faced when searching for her perfect internship. “I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to get into PR or styling,” explains Karlie. “After doing some research on the Toronto Fashion Incubator website, I found the perfect place. Lotus Leaf PR, a fashion-focused public relations agency, offered both.”
Karlie quickly recognized that Lotus Leaf would help her find her niche in the worlds of fashion and PR. “Lotus Leaf PR is a boutique company so I knew that I would get more opportunities than I would interning at a huge company,” Karlie offers. PR agencies are notorious for making unpaid interns get coffee, file papers, and it’s rare they see any action. Fortunately this hasn’t been so for Karlie. “I have been so lucky and been given so many amazing opportunities here, from helping style photo shoots to learning to write for magazines. My title during fashion week was assistant fashion director and I pretty much shadowed the head of the company the entire time. I had to run around with a headset and find media to bring backstage to do interviews. I ensured that the celebrities who were being interviewed were backstage when they were supposed to be and was marshalling all the media activity.”
A typical day sees Karlie updating media lists, replying to emails, and reading all the hottest magazines and style papers to find any mention of Lotus Leaf’s clients.
How Karlie got the gig First she identified her passions (hello, fashion and conversation) and determined to pursue them as a career. “It’s all about trends, style, and individuality,” Karlie enthuses. Here are Karlie’s tips on how to land your dream internship: Send them your résumé and an email about why you think you are perfect for their company. Wait a few days and then call and make sure they got your résumé. This will show the company that you are seriously interested and above all, persistent! When you get your interview, really sell yourself. You have to let them know how much you can bring to the company and how serious you are about the opportunity. Compliments are also key – know what the company does, what your role as an intern would entail, and talk up the skills you possess that will make you the ideal candidate. To show your interest, ask lots of questions and make it clear you are there to learn from the industry masters.
Remember: you are new, so listen, take notes, and work hard. Karlie may be a fabulous fashionista, but it’s her flexibility and work ethic that’s getting her ahead.
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