Agnes Zhang
Junior majoring in Marketing
Hometown: Beijing, China
Internship: Editor’s Assistant at Harper’s BAZAAR China in Harbin, China
How did you get your internship?
I sent an email with my résumé to one of the editors at BAZAAR and told him how much I wanted to intern at a fashion magazine company like BAZAAR. He replied and said he would be happy to meet with me. After I went back China for break, I contacted him, had an interview, and got the job.
What was the best part about Harper’s BAZAAR?
My favorite part was working in the photo studio. Most of the time, my job was to keep note of the new clothes and accessories BAZAAR borrowed from different brands for the new photo shoots. Since I’m interested in fashion, I was excited to see new products from well-known designers before they appeared in stores.
What surprised you about your work?
What surprised me most was how busy the job could be. Every day we wouldn’t go home until 11 p.m. or 12 a.m. Part of my assignments included searching for pictures and helping editors check grammatical errors before they handed the drafts to the higher editors. I also kept in touch with agents from tons of brands in order to make sure they were able to send us samples of clothes and accessories we wanted to borrow. Even though it may sound easy, it took time because I had to be very careful about every step of my work or it could cause the company to lose business.
What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
Although I don’t have much free time while at work, I like to read magazines while I can. At BAZAAR, they have a huge room with all the issues they have published so far. I love to relax by enjoying the countless fashion magazines and free juice.
What’s the workplace environment like?
The workplace environment is kind of a mess since there are papers and magazines everywhere. Desk space is limited since so many people work in the same office together. The overall atmosphere, however, was very active and cooperative. Everyone at BAZAAR is happy and excited to be working since they love fashion and working with people. Even though we all had a lot of work to do, we didn’t feel tired because we enjoy what we do.
What’s unique about Harper’s BAZAAR?
The unique part about the organization is that it collaborates with a considerable amount of well-known companies, brands, designers, and individual studios every day. It is very common for us to work with a famous singer, actor, or model. It’s really exciting to participate in photo shoots with famous people; I got the chance to learn how to communicate with different people by watching the experienced editors work with the agents and stars. It was an unforgettable experience for me.
“9-to-5: Living the Intern Life” features Business Badger students learning about the working world this summer in internships across the globe. Follow along with their adventures, lessons, and advice on the Wisconsin School of Business website and social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).
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