Intern Profile: Elizabeth Odachowski

Name: Elizabeth Odachowski

Major: Public Relations Minor: Fashion Merchandising

Previous Internships: Marie Claire Magazine/BCBG Maxazria

Liz on her way to work at Marie Claire Magazine!

How did you find your internships?

Every person you meet is an opportunity to network!  I found my internships through connections I made while networking.  Whether it be professionals at your college or someone you meet on the street, it is important to always be asking questions and starting conversations to establish relationships and connections with new people.  In addition, you should use the resources your college provides, such as a Career Services center, and do research on internships on your own.  I found my Marie Claire internship by talking to a neighbor who has a niece that works in Public Relations for Hearst Corporation. It’s a small world after all!  

What new skills have you learned through your internship experience(s)?

Through my experiences, I have learned a lot about professional etiquette.  In my field, client relationships are quite possibly the most important key to success.  I was asked to work with other companies and editors rather frequently at both Marie Claire and BCBG.  As a result, I had to be personable and maintain a certain stature both in person and via email.  My internships taught me how to develop and maintain relationships that are beneficial to the company and the client.  

Describe a conflict or problem you faced as an intern, and how you coped with or found a solution to that problem.

Sometimes it was hard being at the bottom of the totem pole.  There were times that tasks were tedious and repetitive.  However, these tasks were necessary to my supervisors and served a much bigger purpose than I probably even realized at the time.  I just did the best I could to learn something from every task I was asked to complete.  It is important to take lessons out of everything you do as an intern-- even if a task taught you a life lesson rather than one that is industry-related.

What was your favorite part of your internship(s)?  

My favorite part of both of my internships was the office atmosphere.  It was an awesome feeling to get up and go in to work everyday. I got to collaborate with such intelligent and creative people all of the time, and my mentors were really interested in teaching me as much as they could about  the fashion industry.  They had so much knowledge and insight to offer me as an intern, and were happy to share any advice they could to help me grow as a student in the field.  My internships definitely served as a foundation to the kind of person I want to be in the work force.

What did you find out about yourself after completing your first internship?  Did your career goals and/or aspirations shift or change?

My internship experiences exposed me to the many sectors of the fashion industry.  Therefore, I was able to narrow down exactly what I wanted to do professionally post graduation.  This was a huge step in my career planning, as I had no idea where fashion would take me prior to completing my internships.  Uncertainty is a problem many college students understand as they graduate and attempt to enter the work force.  After graduation, I am now confident that I want to work with a fashion publication as an editor.

What advice do you have for new interns?

Internships provide you with real world experience, but they also provide you with knowledge of opportunities in your field.  I think that it is really important to have diversity in your internship experiences so that you can have a real understanding of the career path you want to create for yourself.  It is also very beneficial to have different internship experiences on a resume!