Introduction

The job market is highly competitive now. Many students are looking for ways to impress the retail companies they dream of working for. It is common for students to complete internships in the fashion industry, so that they can gain real-world experience and feel better prepared for a job after they graduate. But today countless students do retail internships, so it is even harder to differentiate yourself from other candidates. 

Remote fashion internships will help you stand out. You will be able to learn digital skills and increase your global network. In addition, you can save time and money by completing a virtual internship in the retail sector. These types of internships also allow you to work from anywhere in the world and have a flexible work schedule.  

I strongly recommend that you consider doing a remote internship in the fashion industry. I’ve had such an amazing experience working at 440 Industries. I felt challenged by the work I was given and learned so much as a Content Specialist.

In this article, I will be discussing how to be successful in a remote fashion internship and sharing my personal experience as a virtual global intern in the retail sector. 

Here’s a breakdown of our content to help you navigate this post:

1. Do Your Research
2. Set Goals and Learn the Expectations
3. Create Your Own Professional Workspace 
4. Communicate Frequently with Your Supervisor 
5. Keep Track of Your Progress
6. Manage Your Time Effectively 
7. Be Patient 
8. Conclusions

1. Do Your Research 

The first tip that will lead you to success is to do your research. Before you begin your virtual internship, you need to take the time to learn about the retail business you will be interning at. I advise you to look at the website of the fashion company in order to gain knowledge about the brand and see how they present themselves to customers. Make sure to read the About Us page because it will give you a better understanding of the mission and values of the business too. It is important to do your research, especially when you will not be interning in person, because you will feel more connected to the retail company. 

Furthermore, you should find the social media accounts of the fashion brand you are interning at. Determine which social media platforms they use the most and analyze their posts. Then you will get a better idea of the information they focus on sharing and the markets they are targeting. You should stay up to date on the latest news and trends in the retail sector, so that you can contribute to forward thinking conversations as well. 

I made it a priority to learn about 440 Industries before starting my virtual global internship. It was beneficial for me to go on the 440 Industries website, comprehend their vision, look at the courses they offer to students, and read previous blog articles. By doing so, I felt even more excited to start creating content. After researching 440 Industries, I also had an easier time figuring out how posts about financial concepts in the fashion industry could assist entrepreneurs and increase traffic to their website. 

2. Set Goals and Learn the Expectations

Setting goals and learning the expectations is crucial to your success in a virtual internship in the retail industry. Determine what you would like to gain from your internship experience. You should ensure your supervisor is aware of your goals, since your supervisor can provide you with any tools you may need to accomplish them. Your objectives have to be SMART, which stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. 

You must have a conversation with your supervisor about what is expected of you prior to your start date. Discuss how this remote fashion internship will work and how often you are expected to meet. You should talk about deadlines and how you will turn in your work too. You will do well in your internship if you learn these expectations early on. 

I found it useful to identify SMART objectives for my virtual internship before it began. I thought of two hard skills and two soft skills that I wanted to achieve. Hard objectives are teachable skills that are easy to quantify, while soft objectives are about relationships and interactions with others. 

3. Create Your Own Professional Workspace 

Next, you will be successful in a remote fashion internship if you create your own professional workspace. Select a space in your home that you can set up as your office. It should be a quiet area without any distractions. You will want a simple background during virtual meetings, so that those you are interacting with will pay more attention to you than your setting.  

Avoid doing your virtual internship from your bed and other living spaces. Then it will be easier for you to stay focused while you work and not think about your tasks when you are off the clock. Check to make sure you have the proper technology for your remote fashion internship. You will need a computer and strong Internet connection. Moreover, you should have bright, natural lighting in your workspace. You will be more productive and feel more comfortable if you are not straining your eyes. 

During my remote internship in the fashion sector, I chose an environment that was private and functional. I recommend adding some personal touches to your workspace. A plant, an inspiring art piece, or a few photos can give you energy and reduce your stress.     

4. Communicate Frequently with Your Supervisor 

Another tip that will lead you to success is to communicate frequently with your supervisor. Find out which method of communication your supervisor prefers. I utilized Zoom and email to keep in contact with my supervisor throughout my virtual internship. 

Update your supervisor often about how your tasks are going. Once you finish all of your work, let your supervisor know because you may be given another project or your supervisor might see what else you can do to aid the team. You should request feedback if it is not directly given. Feedback is valuable and can motivate you to perform better. Receiving clear feedback on a regular basis allows you to keep learning and find ways to improve your work. 

Furthermore, you should not be afraid to ask for help. Your supervisor is there to guide you during your virtual internship. If you need assistance completing your work, your supervisor is the person to go to. Plus your supervisor is an expert in the retail industry, so you should not shy away from asking any questions you have.  

5. Keep Track of Your Progress

Keeping track of your progress is essential if you want to be successful in a virtual internship in the fashion sector. You should write down every project that you complete and the obstacles you have faced. I recommend keeping an internship journal, so that your thoughts, challenges, and accomplishments are organized in one place. 

Also, it does not take long to log what you do every day. Then you can go back at any time and check your progress. Once you are done with your internship, you can add all your achievements to your resume. If you are asked about your internship, you will feel more confident talking about it, since you have a record of your responsibilities and the results of your work.  

Throughout my remote fashion internship, I used a journal to keep track of my progress. When I reached the halfway point of my internship, I reflected on my progress. As a result, I was able to establish a new plan about how I would take advantage of the rest of my time to accomplish my goals.    

6. Manage Your Time Effectively  

You must manage your time effectively in order to be successful in a remote internship in the retail industry. You should prioritize your tasks every day during your internship. Therefore, you will know what needs to get done first and you can determine what work is not urgent and can wait until later.  

Although a virtual internship will give you a lot of flexibility, I still encourage you to create a schedule and stick to it. By following a schedule, you will stay organized. As a result, you will be able to complete your internship work while balancing school, family, extracurricular activities, and other obligations.   

I used a calendar to manage my time effectively throughout my remote internship in the fashion sector. You can either get a physical calendar to put in your workspace or utilize an online calendar. I listed important deadlines and meetings on my calendar, so that I could plan out every day of my week. I found it helpful to put reminders on my phone as well.  

7. Be Patient 

The last tip is to be patient during your remote fashion internship. There may be issues with technology that prevent you from meeting with your supervisor. You should remain calm and be understanding if any unexpected problems arise.

In addition, you need to realize that you might not get an answer to your questions immediately. If your internship is in person, you can quickly go over and see if your supervisor is free to assist you. However, in a virtual environment you have to learn to be even more flexible. Your supervisor will be busy and may have other responsibilities to take care of before addressing your questions.  

As a remote intern at an international company, it was necessary for me to be patient throughout my internship because I had to navigate time zones. 440 Industries is based in Florence, Italy and I am situated in New Jersey in the United States. I had to keep in mind that I was working different hours than my supervisor and I would most likely not get a response to my email right away. I also made sure to be considerate of the time difference by sending my work very late at night, so that I would not bother my supervisor after hours.  

8. Conclusions

Virtual internships in the fashion industry are very exciting, but also challenging. I encourage you to seek out these opportunities because my experience as a Content Specialist at 440 Industries was so incredible. In this article, we went over how to be successful in a remote fashion internship. The first tip is to do your research. You should look at the website and social media accounts of the retail brand you are interning at in order to comprehend their vision and target markets. Make sure you are reading about current news and trends in the fashion sector as well. Second, set goals and learn the expectations. You need to meet with your supervisor before your virtual internship begins, so that you can share your SMART objectives and discuss what is expected of you. 

The third tip is to create your own professional workspace. Choose a quiet environment that is private and has proper lighting. You should check that you have the right technology for your remote fashion internship and add personal touches to your workspace. Fourth, communicate frequently with your supervisor. You should update your supervisor regularly about how your work is going, request feedback, and not be scared to ask for help.  
The fifth tip is to keep track of your progress. You should have an internship journal where you record your feelings, obstacles, and achievements. Then you can look back on your experiences and see how much you have grown. Plus you will never forget about a project you did, and you will be able to enhance your resume. Sixth, manage your time effectively. You should prioritize your work every day and follow a schedule. You will always stay on top of deadlines if you use a calendar and reminders. The seventh and last tip is to be patient. When completing a remote fashion internship, technology problems can occur. You may also be in a different time zone than your supervisor and team. Therefore, you must be understanding and not expect your questions to be answered immediately.