Answers to your FAQs about Internships
Ahead of their Fall 2020 start at Parsons Paris, incoming undergraduate and graduate students wrote in to ask questions to Virginie Grillet, Director of Careers and Internships at Parsons Paris. Here are the answers to their most frequent questions related to internships!
How do students get internships, and how does the Career Services department help with that?
There are many ways to find an internship in Paris, and the Career Services department accompanies you throughout your time at Parsons Paris to make sure you are prepared and have the resources and support you need. A dedicated workshop is planned for Fall 2020 with the Career Services department to go over all the different steps to take and introduce you to the resources at your disposal. Parsons Paris has a job board and many students find internships on this platform; you will receive specific detailed explanations on how to get the most out of the platform.
What’s the best way to get started?
- Have your professional documents ready and updated at all times: a resume following the Parsons Paris Resume Guide, a 10-page portfolio, updated and active LinkedIn profile, Instagram account etc.)
- Write and practice your pitch so you are ready to introduce yourself to whoever you may meet at any moment
- Learn about the main actors on the French market, including recent news and history of French brands
- Search online to find the kind of internships you would love to apply for. When you find them, read the job descriptions carefully and identify specifics about what you like and what you don’t like.
Can I intern during Paris Fashion Week?
Paris Fashion Week (PFW), which takes place in September/October and February/March of each year, offers diverse, rich opportunities for students in all Parsons Paris programs; in Spring 2020, 100 Parsons Paris students interned during PFW!
If you are eligible to work in France, you can intern during the 10 days of PFW. Students can intern as assistants in a range of areas, including but limited to PR, product management, archives and showrooms, social media, editorial, backstage dresser, runway photo reporter, graphic designer and photo editor.
Because these events are during the academic year, students need permission from their Program Directors / Coordinators in advance and should keep in mind that it is not automatically granted. Parsons Paris is first and foremost an educational institution and as such, academics always come first. Freshmen and Sophomores may not miss more than one session of each course.
Are there internship opportunities outside of Paris Fashion Week?
Paris Fashion Week is definitely not the only opportunity to intern! Keep in mind that you can also take on longer term part-time/full-time positions – such as for a luxury brand or for a magazine – throughout the semester.
A few examples of brands who have hired our students for short/long term internships in 2019/2020: CHANEL, Jean Paul Gaultier, Louboutin, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Jonathan Cohen, Musée YSL, Swarovski, Elie Saab, Alessandra Rich, Gabriela Hearst, Y/Project, Zimmermann, Takada KENZO, Rick Owens, Oscar de la Renta, TIBI
What is it like getting a job in Paris when you’re not fluent in French?
Because Parsons Paris is well-known for its international student body, major worldwide companies/employers offer internships for students who speak English, or those who speak both English and French. While French is not required at many internships, a working knowledge of French will increase the number of opportunities available to students.
At Parsons Paris, we strongly encourage that you study French. And speaking French is definitely a huge advantage when you are a fresh graduate and looking for a permanent position in Paris! So if you are willing to learn and to speak more and more, then this skill is obviously a positive point for French recruiters and it will open doors. Staff and faculty really motivate students to learn and practice French during their degree: not only at school but outside in everyday life in meeting people, listening to French music & podcasts, reading French magazines, watching French movies etc.
How do I find internship offers?
Career Services provides a job board that enables you to access and manage your internship opportunities: view the calendar of workshops, fairs, and events; schedule career counseling appointments; and find out which employers are coming to campus. Students should plan on signing up to receive email updates or checking the job board often, as it is updated on a regular basis.
What are the most common internship positions?
Parsons Paris students find internships whether they are on campus and/or on vacation, and/or doing their 6-month internship at the end of their degree. It could be during the Fashion Week (10 days), part-time/full-time position throughout the semester.
Here are some examples of positions, by program, that our students have recently held:
- Art, Media and Technology : Assistants to Creative Director, galleries, artists, fashion magazines, exhibition and event agencies, PR agencies
- Fashion Design : Assistant positions in a menswear ready-to-wear studio and in a leather accessories department, showroom and studio assistants, woven design team member
- Strategic Design and Management : Assistant positions to Marketing Manager, Editorial Manager, Interior Designer, Product Manager, Data Visualisation department, Brand Strategy Manager, Community Manager
- Fashion Studies : Assistants to Marketing Managers and Digital Content Managers, positions in fashion archives and PR, fashion magazine editorial, webmaster, exhibition preparation and organization, fashion editorial research, social media, trend reporting & web marketing, jewelry product manager
If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
Virginie Grillet
Director of Careers and Internships
parsonscareerservices@newschool.edu