How I Got Here: Fashion Journal’s Editorial Assistant on turning an internship into your career
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESS BROHIER
WORDS BY CAIT EMMA BURKE
“Showing initiative, having an identifiable voice and being confident in your own abilities will take you far. How do you expect readers to believe what you’re saying if you can’t convince yourself?”
Have you ever stalked someone on LinkedIn and wondered how on earth they managed to land that wildly impressive job? While the internet and social media might have us believe that our ideal job is a mere pipe dream, the individuals who have these jobs were, believe it or not, in the same position once, fantasising over someone else’s seemingly unattainable job.
But behind the awe-inspiring titles and the fancy work events lies a heck of a lot of hard work. So what lessons have been learnt and what skills have proved invaluable in getting them from daydreaming about success to actually being at the top of their industry?
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Welcome to How I Got Here, where we talk to women who are killing it in their respective fields about how they landed their awe-inspiring jobs, exploring the peaks and pits, the failures and the wins, and most importantly the knowledge, advice and practical tips they’ve gleaned along the way.
At this year’s PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, we’re taking our much-loved How I Got Here series live and interviewing fashion industry insiders about how they scored their dream job. Fashion Journal‘s Editorial Assistant Izzy Wight is speaking on our March 5 panel, alongside our newly appointed Branded Content and Features Editor, Maggie Zhou, and creative director and photographer, Jess Brohier.
She’s also the star of this instalment of How I Got Here. As Izzy wrote the intro to my feature in the series last year, it only seemed right that I return the favour. I first started working with Izzy through PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival’s Fashion Writing Program and knew we had a keeper as soon as I read her writing. She’s a joy to work with – funny, kind and smart – and, as any reader of FJ will know, a joy to read.
Over the last two years, I’ve had the pleasure of being her editor as she’s evolved from FJ intern into our full-time Editorial Assistant. In that time, she’s been dedicated to honing her skills as a writer and editor and has become an absolutely essential cog in the fast-paced FJ machine (seriously, I don’t know what I’d do without her). She’s also the curator of our celebrated Sunday meme dumps, so you know I’m not bluffing when I say that she’s a funny lass. Here’s what she’s learnt along the way.
What do you do and what’s your official job title?
I’m Izzy, the Editorial Assistant here at Fashion Journal. Working closely alongside our Editor Cait Emma Burke, my role is all about keeping our on-site editorial strategy running smoothly while pushing out fresh content across platforms like TikTok, Instagram and our eDM database.
I help with content ideation and brainstorming, plus liaise with interns throughout the day. I also write some of my own articles, take care of our meme dumps (important), sales and giveaways, plus spend a great deal of time patting all the dogs that come through our office.
Take us back to when you were first starting out. Did you study to get into your chosen field, or did you start out with an internship/entry-level role and climb the ladder? Tell us the story.
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Like any tween girl on the Gen Z/Millenial cusp, I had a blog. It was called Views of Now (don’t ask, because I’m not sure) and I started it at age 12. For the next seven years, it was where I documented my outfits and wrote about topics surrounding fashion, lifestyle and beauty. Views of Now didn’t just provide comprehensive documentation of some of my most awkward years – it also taught me how to write in a way that was engaging, succinct and authentic.
At age 18, I moved from the Sunshine Coast to Melbourne for a Bachelor of Fashion Merchandising at RMIT. It was an all-encompassing degree that gave you a taste of different roles within the fashion industry – ideal for someone with crippling indecisiveness like me. I worked in retail and took on the occasional sponsored post to support myself. I also completed an internship at The Just Group, which taught me a lot about backend eCommerce and product development.
I took those skills over to a paid internship (and shortly after, a part-time role) in social media at Melbourne-based womenswear label, Collective Closets. Co-owners Fatuma and Laurinda were so generous in sharing their knowledge and time, and this is really where I got a taste for copywriting and content ideation. Slow fashion felt right for me, and my relationship with Collective Closets is one I cherish today.
But despite enjoying my time studying, I graduated feeling listless. After a predictably Australian backpacker stint in Europe, I returned to a city rapidly shutting down. COVID was upon us, and it was only a few weeks before my working hours were reduced. In a strange (and privileged) way I’m grateful for this time of drastic change. It forced me to pause and consider what I really enjoyed doing, which was writing. I hadn’t written for fun since my Views of Now days, and lockdown helped me tap into that again.
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Wanting to formalise my newfound passion, the next step was enrolling in my Master’s Degree in Writing and Publishing at RMIT. It was around this time I also became a finalist in the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival Writer’s Program, which included an editorial internship at Fashion Journal. After some negotiation with my university, I took on the internship in my first semester. Then in a moment of serendipity, a position for the FJ Editorial Assistant came available. I deferred my degree in favour of a full-time gig, and I’ve now been working with our wonderful FJ team for two years.
What challenges/hurdles have you faced getting to where you are now? Can you tell us about one in particular?
It sounds dramatic, but feelings of intimidation and crippling self-doubt, stemming from anxiety, have been ever-present for me. I feel the term ‘imposter syndrome’ is probably overused, but it really is the best way to describe that sensation. And when you feel like you’re not supposed to be in those rooms, to walk through those doors opened for you – people can tell. I feel really lucky to have a great editor in Cait (alongside other mentors), who taught me to believe in my work as a writer.
What I’ve learnt is in this industry particularly, you have to be your own biggest advocate. Even when if you feel inadequate, or the act of advertising your own successes feels cringe-y. Showing initiative, having an identifiable voice and being confident in your own abilities will take you far. How do you expect readers to believe what you’re saying if you can’t convince yourself?
What do you want people to know about your industry/your role?
Honestly, the world of editorial operates at breakneck speed. While what we do at FJ is different to your ‘traditional’ print journalism, it’s not crazy to imagine it operating like a bustling newsroom. Working in content ideation, I find we’re constantly looking for angles, pinging our chats with potential articles and mining our personal lives for stories. Apologies to all those in my life who have become article anecdotes.
What’s the best part about your role?
The people! It sounds maybe too earnest, but it’s surreal to work with such brilliant women every day. Also, operating in a small team means we get a lot of creative autonomy in what we publish, and how the site looks and feels. I get to engage with the local brands and creatives I’ve always loved, and it’s pretty cool seeing your ideas come to life in real-time.
And honestly, it would be amiss of me not to mention the perks. Our office is spoilt with a steady stream of gifted skincare, beauty, books and accessories, which never fails to amaze me. Attending events is maybe my favourite part. With the flurry of emails and DMs we send out every day, putting faces to names makes the experience feel full circle.
What would surprise people about your role?
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As our Sunday meme dump coordinator, I feel deeply affected when my weekly post bombs. Each meme is a reflection of the deepest parts of my little pea brain, and when they don’t resonate – it’s devastating. I didn’t go through high school turmoil to not be really funny, you know?
In all seriousness, fashion editorial isn’t as glamorous as people think. It’s a lot of admin, organisation and forcing yourself to type through even the most acute cases of writer’s block. In a role like mine, you have to enjoy the nitty-gritty of spelling, punctuation and sentence structure.
What skills have served you well in your industry?
Because there are so many moving parts behind Fashion Journal, time management is an important skill (or sometimes a lesson) to learn. Every day starts with a list and opening up a series of spreadsheets to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. I’ve learnt to start my day with the hardest task and avoid multitasking – despite many attempts, it’s just not for me.
Also, enthusiasm and good conversation skills! People remember a friendly attitude. When networking, I try to listen when others are talking, ask questions and follow up with a DM, text or email. It’s kind of like dating, in a weird way. I try to always be polite and kind, even if I’m not interested in a second date.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be in a role like yours one day?
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Start writing and pitch your ideas often! The best way to land a role in the industry is to be in it already. Keep a journal as a stream of consciousness and a place to document your thoughts, and then pitch your fully-formed ideas to a wide range of publications. You’ll probably get rejected, and that’s okay! With practice and determination, you’ll get a byline – even if it’s not in your dream publication. Remember how in Confessions of a Shopaholic, she had to write for Successful Savings in order to get to Alette?
What about a practical tip?
Whether you like it or not, your personal internet presence often plays a part in securing a role in fashion media. You don’t have to be an influencer to get a job, by any means. But if you have a public profile (which is usually a good idea, particularly if you want to post your work), think with every post, a potential employer could be looking.
You can catch Izzy at PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival for our How I Got Here live series. Find out more here.
Read the rest of the How I Got Here series here.
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