While many Ohio State students are spending their summers working, taking classes or simply enjoying their time off, Diana Thomas is taking the time to pursue her interests and further her career in fashion far from Columbus in New York City.
Thomas, a senior in marketing with a minor in textiles and clothing, is interning for New York fashion designer Jill Stuart. And although she is not being compensated for her 40-plus hours a week at work, nor is she fulfilling a requirement for her major, Thomas said the networking is well worth it.
"It's all about the contacts. It's who you know," Thomas said. "Ninety percent of people will get hired before the next person if they can bring in a list of contacts."
Along with contacts, after this summer, Thomas will also be able to bring real-world fashion experience to the table.
Stuart currently has two stores - one in New York City, the other in the Hamptons. The designer's vintage-inspired clothing is globally recognized and sold nationally in high-end retailers like Bergdorf Goodman's and Saks.
Thomas is working within the marketing and merchandising department. Her responsibilities include talking with magazine editors about the products at Jill Stuart to working on promotions for the designer, who Tomas speaks with regularly.
Currently the company is focused on New York's Fashion Week. Every February and September, top fashion designers showcase their designs in Bryant Park for the upcoming seasons. The bi-annual event draws in crowds of celebrities, fashionistas and style icons.
Thomas said she is focused on her career after graduation, "I would like to work either overseas (Italy or Japan) or move back to NYC. For the type of industry I would like to work in, these are the places where most of the opportunities are present and available."
Eventually, she said, she would like to work as a buyer for a department store like Saks, Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus.
But getting to your dream job usually requires an internship or two along the way. Thomas shared some of her advice on that.
"Treat getting an internship like another class that you are taking for the quarter," she said. "For example, I usually take four classes a quarter, but winter quarter '08 I took only three and then made sure every day I was online looking for internships and sending my resume out."
Thomas added, "Make sure that when you are hired you have been clearly explained to you what your job duties will be. No one wants to be the coffee girl/guy."
Thomas also stressed the importance of getting an internship early, she said finding her internship in the winter allowed her to reduce her stress in spring quarter and look for a place to live.
Prior to interning with Stuart, she spent a semester abroad in Florence, Italy last fall. Home in Columbus, Thomas is an active member in Delta Gamma and Delta Sigma Pi, and also attends American Marketing meetings.
Andy Koenig can be reached at koenig.286@osu.edu.
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