Internship: Shantall Lacayo PR intern - Nicaragua

Buscamos una pasante temporal en Managua, Nicaragua para el 15 noviembre 2013 - 30 noviembre 2013. La persona asistirá nuestra Gerente de Relaciones Públicas, Alicia Rivas vía email y Skype, ya que ella se encuentra en NY. La persona también asistirá el equipo Shantall Lacayo en Nicaragua para 2 eventos especiales.

Responsabilidades:

- coordinación de eventos, pasarelas, casting de modelos, conferencia de prensa

- coordinación de medios, lista de invitados VIP, 

- crear nota de prensa, alerta de medios, lista de contactos, avisos, kits de prensa,

- revisar el estilo, ortografía y redacción de cualquier documento que se requiera para la marca

- agendar reuniones de briefing

- agendar entrevistas de Shantall Lacayo

- buscar alianzas comerciales, patrocinios o cualquier trato que pueda beneficiar a las marcas 

Requisitos:

- estudiante o profesional en comunicación, relaciones publicas, mercadeo, periodismo

- interés en moda, diseño, eventos especiales

- excelente redacción y comprensión de lectura

- conocimiento del ingles (preferible)

- conocimiento de Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Google Docs

- contactos con los medios nacionales (preferible)
- gusto por trabajar en equipo

- capacidad de socialización

- capacidad para tener conversaciones directas

- ser una persona segura, organizada, positiva, detallista, respetuosa que trabaje bien bajo presión

Enviar:

- Curriculum Vitae (CV): 1 hoja en formato PDF *

- Carta de Presentación: 2 párrafos en el cuerpo del email explicando porque serias perfecto para esta pasantía. También incluir tus 3 revistas preferidas, 3 blogs preferidos y 3 diseñadores preferidos *

·      El CV de mas de 1 hoja y la carta de presentación de mas de 2 párrafos no serán revisados!

·       Email: rrpp@shantalllacayo.com

What NOT to Wear: Fashion Job Interview

yesterday i went to a (fashion) job interview and the girl walking in after my interview was wearing jean shorts. sorry, but in my book that is a no no. i feel like, it's an honor to be considered for a position (you really want) and respectful to wear a office chic somewhat formal attire. yes, the company is laid back, loves prints, eclectic, from New York, and young - but shorts...really!? i'm not telling you to wear boring black trousers and a white long sleeved top. but you can certainly, go for a Jenna Lyons look. slimmed trousers, casual summer blazer, striped boyfriend tee and loafers. idk? mix it up. it's fashion. you can have fun but not be lazy about it. i also know it's relatively hot in NY right now - but i just can't. whatever happened to "dress to impress" or "dress for the job you want and not have"? therefore, here are some samples of jean short looks NOT to wear for a job interview (well according to me). and here are some samples of looks (featuring Jenna Lyons) you can try for your next fashion job / internship interview.

Jenna Lyons - J CREW

Jenna Lyons - J CREW

Jenna Lyons - J CREW

True Life: I was a Fashion PR Intern

I started this blog over a year ago to record everything I have gone through while on this fashion student turned intern journey.

Well I told you enough about school in Italy.
But I failed to tell you enough about my internships in New York.

I left Italy in September 2010 to New York, New York and because of freefashioninternships.com I was able to land my 1st internship ever (yes! first! ... I was 24 years old and I had never done an internship - what can I say its not really common in Nicaragua but highly common in New York and fashion). My first internship was at a start-up Fashion PR firm. At the moment, I had no idea what 'start-up' meant till I found myself sitting at a coffee shop everyday and eventually at a free workspace lounge (WIX in Chelsea) for creative 'start-up' companies. I was at this internship for 3 months because I NEEDED it (in all sense of the word need) .... to receive my diploma and have actual Fashion PR experience. Let me remind you I have a B.A. in Finance and now a Masters in Fashion Merchandising & Management - and in all of this just 1 class in Public Speaking, Writing I, and Fashion Public Relations. It's really not enough. My work background has been in Hospitality Management - again, not enough - NOT enough at all for New York.

So about this 1st internship - till now can I actually say how important it was to me. Because I worked side by side with the founder everyday ( 5 times a week; 10 - 5pm ) - she taught me everything! I wrote a press release, pitched to editors, called store buyers .... I really got a gist of communications.
There were moments where I thought "OMG! My butt hurts from sitting at this coffee shop, I am spending so much money, and I feel like am doing the same thing everyday".

SO what did I do??? ..... Well I talked to her and asked her for a little more work or different work. That way I wouldn't get bored. As for the coffee shop and spending, I couldn't do anything about that. It's a start-up and well there is no office and even if there were an office, I'd be sitting down all day anyways!! and you gotta try to pack that lunch!! that way you don't spend on $5 small soups everyday!

But like I said, at the end of the day - I believe that internship was one of the best decisions I had ever made. SO if you have a chance to work at a very small fashion company - I say GO FOR IT, you can learn a lot more. 

Timeline: 
Fashion School in Italy (Jan 2010-Sept 2010) - Fashion PR Internship in NYC (Sept 2010-Dec2010)

During my 1st internship, of course I was applying to jobs. Did I get any interviews? NOT AT ALL!
Right before I left my first internship my boss showed me resumes of the prospective interns - these kids were only 19, 20 and had 3, 4 internships under their belt! and now I was 25 and only had 1 fashion internship. Yeah, I've had 2 real jobs but again that's just not enough for NY and fashion. SO I headed home, with my head down to talk to my parents on giving me more time to be able to find this dream job. Having an amazing support system is fundamental!! Fashion is a bitch and she can rock, swing, and kick punch you in the stomach - and the only reason I got up every single time is because of my family, friends, and God.

God only put us in the life we are in now because he knew that we would be strong enough to live it.

Therefore, before the holidays I got another internship at a bigger Fashion PR firm and my parents were understanding. One of the things my dad said to me before starting this new internship was "Don't let anybody bring you down and treat you like a maid"


Timeline: 
Fashion School in Italy (Jan 2010-Sept 2010) - Fashion PR Internship in NYC (Sept 2010-Dec2010) - Fashion PR Internship in NYC (Jan 2011-April 2011)

Let me just start by saying ONLY IF MY DAD KNEW .... HE'D KICK MY ASS!
Was I treated like a maid at the new internship? Sometimes. Did I learn a lot at the second internship? Definitely. It was just different a learning experience.

How can I sum up this internship?

Ok 1st of all, NEVER believe when the interviewer says "If you work a hard 5 times a week, you can get a job here".
Let me just start off by saying, I worked an intense 5 days a week - sometimes till 12am at events ... and after my sudden resignation, I was offered the full-time position of RECEPTIONIST! ... o0o slash fashion assistant/showroom assistant. It was a slap across my face! Offended? Just a little.

Seriously where can I start??

I loved working there. I loved everyone there. Yeah the environment was pretty bad most of the time. Everyone was always pissed off, shouting, fighting, talking smack about each other, - nevertheless, they 'loved' each other at the end of the day.

It took time for people to remember my name and to warm up to me - hey! interns come ad go, what do they care? ..... throughout the 3, 4 months I was there I think I met over 12 different interns and 1 of them is a great friend of mine now.

Why did I suddenly quit? 
I didn't get a long with one of the assistants. She was younger than me and belittled the interns and one day I just exploded and spent most of the day crying. - yeah yeah, I read Kelly Cutrone's book "If You Have To Cry Go Outside" (Love that book!)  - but you know, NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TALK TO YOU LIKE AN IDIOT! I seriously don't fuckin care WHO YOU ARE ... because YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO I AM OR WHO I WILL BE SOMEDAY! ... KARMA WILL GET YOU! - Therefore, treat others as you would like to be treated.
Anyways, that wasn't the only reason I left. I left because I felt like I had no opportunity there after all, I knew there weren't any openings and I needed time to dedicate myself to look for a job and stop living off my dad. I'm 25 and I don't feel comfortable anymore being fully taken care of. I want my parents to be proud of me.

Conclusion
Interning has its ups and downs and I lived and learned. Kelly Cutrone says Don't Complain. Hey! I'm just venting .... and I'm not mentioning names here.
But if I have ever have an intern I won't tell her to go next door and get my coffee or to buy me a set of winter gloves for me and my lover because we are going skiing for the weekend, or walk and pick up my dog's shit. There are just some things interns should never do. I can only imagine the hell the Marc Jacob's intern went through that he had to vent it through Twitter. Shit, I've even heard of famous NY based designers that have interns go into their house at 5am to wake them up and dress them up. Seriously, how humiliating?? Again, I don't care if you are rich and famous now- try to remember where you came from and how you got there. There is no need for you to be on a high horse. My parents were poor, worked hard and made something out of themselves and are now 70 years old and still wake up on their own, respect employees, and have taught me to stand up for what I believe in.

Thank you to my internships and everyone that has been involved. I hold no grudge nor hate, at all. You were just an experience that shaped my life.

INTERNSHIP RECOMMENDATIONS:
Read Kelly Cutrone's Book - If You Have To Cry Go Outside
Dedicate your summer or time off to an internship.
Don't dedicate your soul to an internship (it's unpaid. don't be stupid like me and work normal hours)
Wear flats and makeup (always look good, it's an unpaid job)

Additional Advice (Agree to Disagree):

http://www.freefashioninternships.com/blog/2010/05/16/10-tips-for-a-career-in-fashion/

I STRONGLY AGREE:

• DO help your interns learn skills they can use at other jobs, whether its patternmaking or memo writing.
• DON’T assign interns filing, photocopying, errands, or other mundane tasks (i.e. picking up dry cleaning, fetching lunch and coffee, acting as a courier, etc.). < Press Clippings, that's ok. But you know how many times the assistant asked me deposit money into his account? Buy soy chai sugar free coffees for assistants, guests, designers? Wash dishes in the bathroom for their after hour parties or visitors? Buy champagne for someone's birthday? >
• DO provide close supervision for interns, including the opportunity to shadow a senior employee; a day in the life of the creative director, public relations manager, or graphic designer is a the kind of learning experience that the Department of Labor wants to encourage.
• DON’T have more interns than full-time employees working in a single department. If the workload allocated to an intern is that of a full-time employee (or two), then you’re breaking the law. <I honestly didn't mind working long hours sometimes, but then again I shouldn't have>
• DO make sure that interns understand that there is no guarantee of a job at the end of the internship. 
• DON’T rely on the fact that interns receive some benefit in the form of improved work habits while performing repetitive required tasks like clerical work (unless the intern is training to be a clerical worker). In other words, be sure to give more than you get. 

Information From: http://www.freefashioninternships.com/blog/2010/11/24/dos-and-don%E2%80%99ts-a-fashion-company%E2%80%99s-guide-to-managing-a-lawful-internship-program/

Year 2, Internship 2

Hey! Welcome to my Year 2! My journey into the fashion world. Last year, I completed 9 months studying at Polimoda in Florence, Italy and 3 months at my 1st fashion internship for a start up public relations company in NYC. Today, I have started a new internship at another fashion public relations company in NYC. Last year was an emotional roller-coaster and I know this year will be too! I'm trying to get an in in Fashion PR in NYC all while finding a friendly niche and hopefully a love interest hehehe (perhaps I should apply to Millionaire Matchmaker) - all of this requires confidence, positivity and self assurance. I know I can! Yes I can! I know I will!

This new internship will be different from the last. Although, they are both PR - this time I will be focusing on inventory, samples, organization, and perhaps some events. My last internship was more of the communications side of PR (emailing, cold calling, and emailing). I'm exhausted already! hahahaha The office was a mess! They are going through some remodeling and everything is all over the place and I'm a neat freak! I find myself using the organizing post its, folding bags, picking up pens or hangers in order to continue my focus on sample inventory - but I LIKE IT! I'm moving and doing and that's what I like. At the last internship, I was just sitting and emailing all day and by the time I knew it it was 5pm. Another thing I like is the fact that there are other interns! Like 6 more! However, one of them was weird. She was assisting me all day and she eventually asked me to go to lunch with her. But while looking for a place to eat and during lunch she seemed very uninterested to talk - so why'd you ask me to lunch? cat got your tongue? ... then I thought? did I say something to offend you? (since people are so easily offended or bothered). ugh! well besides her, the interns and co-workers are all very very nice! great work environment! :D - - at the past internship, I only had a co-intern for 2 weeks. she was eventually fired for bailing work and talking back to the boss (not cool) but at least the boss and i got a long amazing!

Now I'd like to write a lil piece called "thats sooooo intern!"

At my last internship, I made the mistake of wearing heels sometimes - and when I wore them, I was suddenly told to run errands and drop off various clothing bags all over Manhattan. [Like my friends say "Like the devil wears Prada".

Today, I made the mistake of answering questions too fast. I was asked if I liked dogs or if I was allergic to them - "No! I love them!" ... what happened? well I was asked to walk, poop, and drop off 'pablo' the office dog to his lux apartment ... yep! that was me! the intern skipping through town to pick up some doggy poop. LOL

............... that's sooooooooo intern!

To all those starting to intern or moving into the fashion world ... 

hey! it's all fair play...live n learn, baby!

NYC-PR-INTERNSHIP-JOB HUNT-where am I heading?

For my friends who have followed my blog - Thank You! Honestly, I haven't been busy. But if I can sum it up, life in NYC (since my move in September from Florence, Italy) has been internship, gym, shopping, new family, new friends, walking in the cold, and job hunting.

I want to try to keep this post short but I think I'm gonna have to divide into personal and fashion student related.

On the personal side, my move here wasn't as scary or terrible as Florence. I feel safer and jollier when I walk the streets here and now with snow I feel romantic and nostalgic because I have no love interest but thats ok I'm heading back home soon ;) It's all party there. Finding an apartment in Manhattan was pretty much luck! My boss recommended me her friends apartment, where I now live with 2 other roommates. The roommates have been great. They are hardworking women and we all try to keep the apartment nice and clean. I have no complaints about them! Which is weird. The only complaint is about my apartment - the surrounding is damn loud! But hey that's NYC for you. Most of the noise are the loud ass fire trucks 24/7! and it used to be people bar hopping but now that its cold no one stays outside and its quieter. Before finding a place, I was living with some family. 

Family I had never met. It was weird at first but they were so welcoming and sweet that it was never too awkward. My move here has also been easy because my old friend Maria who used to live in Nicaragua. Unfortunately, she felt a certain pressure to make me feel at home or busy with dinner and party plans. Eventually, we had the talk. So now there is no pressure to go out every single night or weekend. and for the final touch, my very good friend and classmate from Polimoda moved to NYC (technically NJ) for her fashion internship! and my cousin also set me up a friendship blind date with her college buddy who is also new to NYC and we have also become friends and because of her I've met a diverse group of people, who I think I can eventually call friends.

The only issue that brought me a little down was the fact that my "friends" from back home that have been living in NYC for a while have failed to appear. They have either stopped answering my emails or say "yeah, I'll call you later this week for drinks". People have told me "That's NYC for you - people completely change face" ...... All I'm thinking now is that I hope not to bump into you back home cause I don't wanna hear your lame ass excuse! ..... As a friend, you should have welcomed me, tried to help me around the subways, finding a place, or at least had 1 cup of coffee with me! Is that really a lot to ask for?

On a Fashion Student side ..... My internship wasn't what I expected. No glitz, no glam, no office. It was basically me and the founder and since she just launched in January 2010 - she is still starting and had no office. We basically worked out of a coffee shop and creative lounge. At 1st it was all cold calling and email pitching. Eventually, I got bored and asked her for more. I also started reading about 'What really PR is' and the answer was "Email All Day" and that's exactly what I did. I was in a rot for a bit but then I started to enjoy it again. I saw the Communications side of PR - I blogged, created lookbooks, wrote my 1st press release, pitched stylists, editors, and stores and of course I was a messenger girl but just a few times.

What happens now? Well I started applying to jobs in November and December. Jobs in PR. Entry-level positions. I've had 2 nervous breakdowns already. Why? Well I believe I have a good resume but it's just not fashion related and I have no fashion or PR names (LV, Gucci, Lacoste, People's Revolution) on it. My 1st internship was this new PR firm. However, this was my decision! I turned down Product Development for BE&D, never heard back from 7th House PR, and shot down a possibility at Starworks. Maybe I should have waited for something good but something told me to take this internship. I don't regret it but maybe I should have picked a name since I'm 25 years and desperately searching for a paying job. I realized late in the game that I wanted to pursue Fashion and now Fashion PR. My suggestion to those who are young .... INTERN! As much as you can! .... Anyways, after applying to jobs and getting NO answer! I last minute decided to intern yet again! This time for PR big timers ;) ..... I'll be there for 4 months and hopefully after that I'll be able to get a paying job somewhere in PR!

It's definitely tough here in NYC but I'm confident. I know who I am, hard-working, and optimistic ..... I guess it just takes time .... a lot of PATIENCE!

P.S. There's a lot of drama in PR! It's high school all over again but I like it ;)

Dear NYC PR,

I hope all is good cause I'm here to stay ;)

Best,

  

Good News! Good Luck! GOOD GOOD GOOD!

After applying to countless jobs in NYC, Florence, L.A., Miami, and London. I finally chose the right one! There were a few places I would have died to work for but at the end I think the right internship found me and I found them as well. I was offered and accepted an internship for a PR firm in NYC called Shout Social. They are small but something tells me this feels very good! ... I actually turned down 2 other internships for prestigious companies in NYC while I waited for SS to tell me the good news I was hoping to hear. 

Having worked for a small business, I think choosing this new and small company, I will be surrounded by a lot more dedication, responsibilities, and most of all experience! Because I do not have any professional PR or fashion experience.

This actually all happened while my parents were here! The day they arrived 3 companies emailed me for job interviews! It was like my luck had changed or just having the positive energies and love from my parents made me forget the stress and take it a little easy with the interviews.

I am beyond happy! I wanted PR and I got it! I wanted NYC and I got it!

Thank you to everyone who has had me in their thoughts and prayers! I love you all!

More Shout Social:

http://www.shoutsocial.com/

They also have facebook & twitter ;)

Interview Dress Code Pointers

Here are some tips on how to dress for an interview from what I've learned.


MEN & WOMEN:

• Should always have a Sharp, Clean, and Tailored Pant, Suit, and/or Blazer
• Solid classic colors like Gray & Black (you'll never go wrong)
• Closed Shoes (A little peep toe isn't too bad)
• Minimal detail (exception explained later)
• Mani & Pedi
• Natural makeup (and shower)

WOMEN DON'T even try this:

• No-No to Tight, Body-Con dresses (unless you are looking into the late night entertainment industry)
• No-No to Sheer or Cleavage baring tops (its an interview not a party)
• No-No to worn out shoes, thigh high boots, flippy-floppies, sneakers (if you are going to show a little peep toe make sure you have a presentable pedicure)
• No-No to excess and bright makeup
• No-No to New shoes? or do you only have sky-high heels? If you can't walk in them, you might look like a drunk so leave them at home.
• No-No to Animal print (I love love animal print but for some reason I don't its acceptable)
• No-No to Boring suits (Be original!)
• No-No to Tank tops and jeans (they are for BBQs)
• No-No to showering yourself with your perfume bottle
• BIGGEST NO-NO to FAKES of the company you want to be hired to

WOMEN try this:

• Bow tie tops
• ONE Statement piece (ring, necklace .... this is a great conversation starter)
• Graphic print dress or blouse
• Vintage handbag

Here are some more ideas from Net-A-Porter & Forever 21

Paul & Joe Petitpot Ruffled Dress from Net-A-Porter for 360 euros

Blue Basic Silk Top from Forever 21 only for $22.80

Most importantly be on TIME, dress to IMPRESS, keep it REAL, .... you want to be memorable just like that amazing cover letter you wrote to get the job you want. GOOD LUCK! ;) 

Patrick Robinson, Creative Designer for the Gap, says "You need to dress in a style that works for the brand you're interviewing for. If you're going into the Gap, you should look like the Gap. but don't come in dressed like one of the ads. You need to express you own style as well." (Source: Teen Vogue, An Insider's Guide to Careers in Fashion) 

What to Wear to an Internship Interview

Last week, I had no idea what to wear to my internship interview with Pucci and started googling and going through Vogue, Elle, and WhoWhatWear for ideas but not a lot came up. So I'll give you some ideas based on what my friends and I wore, plus some rules on what to wear and what not to wear.

First Look (Me): Gray Tee (H&M), Black&Blue skirt (Forever 21), Bib (MaxMara), Shoes (Stella McCartney)

My Inspiration: Lauren Conrad of The Hills

 

Second Look (Megha): White short sleeved Top, Brown Houndstooth stretch skirt, Tan pointy pumps

Megha's Inspiration: "50s Secretary" Let's take Joan Holloway from Mad Men. She's viewed as a mature, stylish woman who knows how to use her sexuality to control her life.

Third Look (Crystal): Graphic dress (H&M) with Sergio Rossi Oxford "Shoeties"

Crystal's Inspiration: Pop Abstract Expressionist with a Jackson Pollock inspired print dress