As students of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we are all so lucky to be receiving a great education at one of the best colleges in the nation. Unfortunately though, we always hear horror stories of happenings after graduation. People we know can’t find jobs, and they have to settle for anything they can get. It’s enough to make us all question our directions and career aspirations.
Instead of giving up and settling for less than our best though, we Badgers are determined to add extra activities to our already full schedules to make us stand out from the rest of the pack once graduation hits. CollegeFashionista is not only a fabulous street style website for college students, but it’s also an internship opportunity for people interested in fashion, photography, blogging and social media that helps interns develop skills that can’t be honed in the classroom.
I had the chance to chat with Taylor Viegut, a senior at our university and my fellow Style Guru for CollegeFashionista, about her thoughts on the importance of internships, CF and finding a dream job.
Sammy Luterbach: How long have you been writing for CollegeFashionista?
Taylor Viegut: This is my second semester writing for CollegeFashionista.
SL: What is your major?
TV: I am double majoring in Strategic Communication from the J-School and Communication Arts.
SL: Is it required to have an internship for your major?
TV: I don’t believe that it is “required” to have an internship for my majors, but both of the programs I am in do involve professional practices experience or want you to have experience in the communications field.
SL: What value do you find in your internship with CollegeFashionista?
TV: I love the exposure I get to fashion industry professionals through my internship with CollegeFashionista. Interning for CF allows me to perfect and maintain my writing skills while also being able to showcase those skills by promoting my articles through various social media platforms. CF has taught me the importance of capturing street style but also taking that to another level by working to promote the University of Wisconsin style to the rest of the nation.
SL: Has CollegeFashionista helped you develop skills that you haven’t been able to develop in the classroom?
TV: It has helped me with deadlines because I have posts due weekly and I have to manage my time well. It has also helped me hone in on my social media expertise and get out of my comfort zone when it comes to talking to students about their style.
SL: What is your favorite part of your internship with CollegeFashionista?
TV: Getting to showcase UW’s street style to the nation, and keeping it one of the top viewed schools as well.
SL: How important do you think internships are for college students today?
TV: Very. Internships give you an experience and often skills that you can’t develop inside the classroom. Those skills you develop are resume builders and employers value those experiences.
SL: How did you find out about CollegeFashionista, and what was the application process like?
TV: Sophomore year I saw someone on the site. I love fashion so I explored further. Junior year I sent the editor an email titled “Do not delete.” It was gutsy, but it got her attention and she then gave me the information I needed to apply, so I proceeded from there by sending my sample work and got the internship.
SL: What is your dream job, and how do you plan on snagging it?
TV: I have probably 100 dream jobs, but if I had to pick one right now it would be doing PR for a retail brand I love or a designer. I am working to network with other fashion PR firms and to make contacts with people who work at them, then hopefully get an internship at one and work my way from there.
SL: Do you have any tips for people trying to find internships or interviewing for them?
TV: Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a response right away; be aggressive but not in an obnoxious way about communicating with the person you want to. If an employer sees that you have been working hard to try and contact with him or her, it shows your passion and dedication for the job you want.
Make sure to check out Taylor’s weekly column, “Style Advice of the Week” on the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s page on CollegeFashionista every Monday.
For the latest Style Guru news and CollegeFashionista news on the UW-Madison campus, follow us on Twitter @CFUWisconsin.
