Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway in The Devil wears Prada (2006)photobucket.com

Something about the fashion industry has always fascinated me. But I guess that’s not surprising. Avidly watching The Devil Wears Prada and spending hours combing through the glossy pages of Vogue does deliver a rather romanticised impression of the industry. So when I received an offer for a three-week work experience placement at British GQ, I was excited to find out what it was really like to be part of a leading fashion and lifestyle publication. I would like to share my experiences with you, from the application process to the skills I developed during my time at Vogue House.

Condé Nast Publications – the mass media company within which GQ operates – is one of the more open organisations when it comes to accommodating work experience students and interns. Each publication within Condé Nast has a slightly different application process, but each begins with a request for your CV and cover letter. GQ specifically requires these to be delivered as a hard copy and although the other magazines may accept your application via email, having your CV and cover letter on the desk of the Managing Editor helps you to stand out from the hordes of other candidates. Most importantly, make sure that you address your letter to the correct person. The contact may be listed on the publication’s website, but if in doubt, it is worth ringing the office to make sure you have the right name. Mark Russell, GQ’s current Managing Editor learnt this lesson the hard way when a magazine editor replied to his speculative application with a hand-written note saying, “a real journalist would find out the editor’s name”.

“The team was keen to teach me as many new skills as possible, ensuring that the experience was worthwhile and fun, whilst also expecting a high degree of commitment and hard work on my part.”

The second stage of the work experience application process required me to answer a series of questions testing my creative skills, knowledge of the magazine and journalistic interest. Finally I was asked to pitch an idea for ‘The London Scene’ feature in GQ’s Details segment. Make sure to research the publication you have applied to, including the content that appeals to its readers. If the features time like the work you produce for this stage, then congratulations! You have the job (or rather, the unpaid work experience).

I started my placement straight after Michaelmas term ended. The Sunday evening before my working week began, I was fraught with nerves. I’ve never worked at a magazine before, let alone a fashion magazine, and was anxious that I would come across as ignorant. In hindsight, I needn’t have worried. The first person to greet me when I entered Vogue House was John. One of the most familiar faces in the offices, John mans the fort at the Vogue House reception, his smile and cheerfulness completely infectious. 

The iconic Vogue House in Hannover Square, London, which houses the UK's top fashion publications, owned and run by Condé Nastgeograph.com

GQ occupies the first floor of Vogue House and the space is a buzzing hub of activity. There are a series of different teams within GQ, from editorial to market research and commercial. During my time at GQ, I sat in the editorial room, a large open plan area with huge Mac desktops and magazines everywhere. If you have ever completed an internship or work experience placement where you have been left to your own devices with little or no work to do, you’ll know how time drags when you’re not occupied. This was never a problem for me at GQ. From my first day in the office, the team gave me a huge variety of tasks and responsibilities, including interview transcriptions, article writing and liaising with clients. I was immediately made to feel welcome. The team was keen to teach me as many new skills as possible, ensuring that the experience was worthwhile and fun, whilst also expecting a high degree of commitment and hard work on my part.

Whilst The Devil Wears Prada may be somewhat unrealistic (the office is full of chocolate and people are actually nice to each other), I find the fashion industry just as glamorous and beguiling now as I did before starting my work experience placement at GQ. Admittedly, running bags down to the post room is not the glitziest part of the job, but every task, no matter how big or small, ensures that a wonderful new magazine will be placed on hundreds of coffee tables around the nation each month. And that’s a rather exciting thought. As Nigel would say, “This is not just a magazine. This is a shining beacon of hope”. A little dramatic but you get the gist