Cosmopolitan UK - 09.2019

COSMOPOLITAN · 69

Starting out, I just said yes to things – and

figured out how to do them later. I interned for

a year at a range of places – from local papers to

trade magazines – before hearing about a new

magazine launch and emailing the MD to see

if they “needed any help”. I was booked for two

weeks’ freelance work, and four years later, I was

still there! Initiative and tenacity go a long way.

As will carving yourself a niche – things you

can do that others can’t. Also, build yourself

a crew. The peers I worked with in my earliest

jobs are now some of my most important

friends. Back then, we were comrades, and kept

each other going when things were hard. We

saw each other at our worst. People who know

your weaknesses are sometimes better for you

than those who only see your strengths.◆

Amy Grier

DEPUTY EDITOR

Writing was the only

career I ever wanted,

so I looked into work

experience as soon as

I began secondary school.

I emailed, phoned and

wrote to Sugar magazine

(RIP) until they finally

accepted me for work

experience. As well as

making tea and opening

post, I did vox pops and

covered a shop launch.

I landed an internship at

a newspaper and by the

time I left university I had

enough experience to get

an assistant job. You have

to be confident and find

your inner niche. It’s how

I started writing for

Cosmopolitan – I noticed

gaps in content online

that might need filling

and pitched ideas. I was

commissioned for a

piece and did a good

enough job that I now

also contribute to videos

and the magazine.

It’s true what they

say about keeping

in touch with your

contacts – I met

Amy Bannerman,

Cosmopolitan’s fashion

director, when I was

interning at another magazine. We got on well, I sent her

a good luck card when she started at Cosmopolitan, and six

months later, I was invited to apply for the fashion assistant

role here. Assistant work can involve long hours, but you’ve

got to stay upbeat. At one internship, I spent days unpacking

suitcases full of sandy bikinis after the team got back from

shooting in a tropical location, trying hard not to feel

envious. Now I’m part of the team travelling to exotic

places for Cosmopolitan– the hard graft definitely paid off.

Keeks Reid

CONTRIBUTING

BEAUTY WRITER

Maddy

Alford

SENIOR

FASHION

ASSISTANT

p

TO FIND OUT HOW

THE REST OF THE TEAM

GOT THEIR JOBS, VISIT

Cosmopolitan.com/uk/

work-with-us, and if you

have a great feature idea

or want to come in for

work experience, email us

at work.experience@

cosmopolitan.co.uk

AS TOLD TO DUSTY BAXTER-WRIGHT. PHOTOGRAPHS SARAH BRICK. HAIR AND MAKE-UP JOLANDA COETZER AT LHA REPRESENTS, USING URBAN DECAY AND SACHAJUAN. MADDY WEARS CARDIGAN, HANSINE. DRESS, FREE PEOPLE