Moving thousands of miles away at just 18 to a fashion intern at Grazia, Vogue Business, Elle and Marie Claire. Udita chats all about the realities of navigating the industry as a graduate, how to make the most of your internships and the drive for inclusivity.
It’s easy to compare ourselves to those who have been in the industry for the past ten years, wondering why we don’t have the same opportunities, skills or connections. Forgetting that we are just at the very start of our careers. Never forget to sit back and take in the present moment. Remember when where you wanted to be is exactly where you are now?
Udita Choudary is a recent graduate with no degree in fashion yet a lot of styling and fashion experience from Vogue Business to Grazia. Sharing the true realities of moving from a small town in India to pursue her career, from the hardships to the motivational moments that changed everything for her. Navigating life now as a fresh graduate in London, the fashion industry is still proving competitive.
From Economics to Fashion...
Heading into the fashion industry was not a childhood dream of Udita’s, studying Business and Economics at University, she was in that place where most of us have been, not having a clue what we want out of life and our career. It wasn’t until the summer of 2019 she enrolled on a luxury fashion course to explore her options that she realised her dream career path.
Since Udita’s degree wasn’t fashion related, she began looking for new opportunities elsewhere. As she shares her top tip for University students, “the best way to start gaining some experience is by joining as many clubs and societies as you can. This way you not only have the chance to discover your passion but also learn new skills.” Beginning her journey as a fashion coordinator for her University charity fashion show, styling her own projects and photoshoots and scouring for her own locations and makeup artists, Udita found her love for the world of styling. Which looked even better when she began reaching out to fashion assistants at her favourite magazines with a portfolio of work to show while still a student. It is truly how you go the extra mile that will make you stand out in the industry.
“Try as many things as you can. You don’t have to figure everything out when you are just starting your career. Experiences that you gain along the way are always going to be beneficial to you in the long run.”
Moving across the globe
Growing up in a small town in central India, Udita always knew she wanted to move to the UK for college. While she recalls moving thousands of miles from home at just 18 was one of the most difficult things she ever endured, it was the opportunity that turned her life into something she could have never dreamed of. First moving to Glasgow for University before taking the leap to London, her hometown Bhopal is deemed the city of lakes in India, a place Udita will always treasure.
The move from Glasgow to London was bittersweet for Udita, it was an overwhelming experience, but she explains you must “trust the process. One of the things that I had to come to terms with was everything has its own timeline.” Upping and moving to the big city for an unpaid internship, she lived in a hostel for a while before finding a flat with some incredible friends she met along the way.
“If the Universe is giving you signs to move to a big city or any other place really, do it. You never know what can happen if you make that decision.”
Coming from a small town to London, forming your own contacts in the fashion industry can seem overwhelming. Udita remembers the industry feeling very exclusive, unlike any other where having a degree is simply not enough. Udita explains, “Having solid internship experiences is vital if you want a job in the industry. I have to give a huge shout-out to Glam Observer, I completed her course How to break into the fashion industry and it completely changed my perspective of the industry. She talks a lot about the importance of experience in the industry.”
Udita believes the best advice for anyone looking for experience is to search online for industry connections and reach out to people privately to enquire about opportunities, which is exactly how she landed her roles with Grazia and Elle.
Taking the industry in her stride...
Landing her very first experience with Vogue Business as a Data Analysis Intern through her creative application, Udita did whatever it took to stand out from the crowd. Along with sending over her CV and cover letter, she also attached a video cover letter made personally for the recruiter. She explains, “I still can’t believe that my first internship was with Vogue Business. I had no solid experience before that. But I was really determined to get this internship.”
As a Data Analyst, Udita needed to know how to use Excel proficiently, so she did everything she could including online courses which she mentioned in her cover letter. As Udita proves, it is all about doing whatever you can to meet the requirements and staying driven in the industry. When she received the email offering her the role, they even stated how impressed they were with her personalised application.
“I think putting such an effort into an application already says so much about you as a candidate that a recruiter will be curious to learn more about you.”
Udita then interned with the E-commerce team at Marie Claire, where she got to further explore the business side of the industry, before embarking on her styling internships with Grazia and Elle where she worked with the fashion team and received her first official styling credit.
So how can you make the most of an internship? Don’t forget to ask plenty of questions, Udita spent her time chatting with her colleagues at each internship learning about their career journeys and paths into the industry. She also explains how important it is to use your own initiative, “as an intern there will be times when you don’t have any tasks given to you so instead of sitting ideally ask if anyone else other than your line manager needs something to be done. For instance, at Grazia, I was interning with the fashion department but when I had the time I also helped the features editor with some research on the articles she was working on.”
Navigating the Industry as a Graduate
Experiencing as many internships as possible is crucial before even looking for an entry-level job, Udita expressed how important it is to spend this time building your network and reaching out to as many industry insiders as you can, even simply just for advice and to offer an insight to their career journey.
“This way you not only become friends with people but also get an insight into how they did it. Something I learned is to never settle for a work environment that does not appreciate you. It is so imperative to find a place even as an intern where your time and effort are valued.”
As a graduate now trying to navigate the incredibly exclusive industry, Udita explains she is still dealing with rejections. Even just for an entry-level role at least a year of experience is required or even more, the constant application process can leave you feeling exhausted but Udita explains “just focusing on your goal and enjoying the process can make it easier. I think I am still overcoming that and taking it day by day.” The interview process keeps you mentally invested, often going through several stages throughout a month, it can be challenging to face rejections. But it's important to stay motivated and driven and look at all the positives that surround you.
In the future, Udita hopes to be working in a copywriting role while collaborating and working with people who appreciate her culture and background, something that is imperative to her…
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