Ralph Lauren’s senior director of creative talent Kim Giangiuli connected with SCAD students via Adobe Connect Friday, Nov. 3 at the SCAD Museum of Art. She began the presentation with a brief overview of the company’s vision, Ralph Lauren’s creed. She fondly spoke of his heavy involvement with the staff and projects in order to ensure that every product developed stays true to his original concept.
Lauren explained, “I wanted to develop quality products and create a whole world around that.” These words are what help shape the company to be the respected leader in the industry that it is today and will no doubt continue to be in the future.
She then entered into the heart of the presentation: the Ralph Lauren Summer Internship Program. The internship lasts for ten weeks and is open to juniors who will be starting their senior year the fall following the internship. Application qualifications include: attending college full time in the United States; having a passion for the Ralph Lauren aesthetic and brand; possessing an excellent portfolio of original and creative work; and being authorized to work in the United States. The usual legal jargon.
Among the various valuable techniques that a potential intern can possess, Giangiuli listed the most indispensable skills to a Ralph Lauren employee. Applicants should have strong sketching, rendering, and visualization expertise and a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Applicants must also demonstrate confidence in their communication and interpersonal prowess and feel comfortable in their ability to handle an accelerated work environment.
Once a student meets or exceeds these requirements, he or she is accepted into the program and the adventure begins. For the first 3-5 days, interns will attend orientation to learn the ropes – meet the staff, connect with other interns, and become acquainted with their duties. Throughout the ten weeks, there are several events the interns can take part in to better immerse themselves in the company such as the Summer Intern Central Park Outing, the In-Store Shopping Event, Professional Development Workshops, and Ralph Lauren Gives Back Week Volunteering Event, just to name a few.
Toward the end of the program, trainees are tasked with a final creative project to present to their teams and sometimes, if the designs are especially phenomenal, they are presented to executive management. After the completion of the internship, interns have the opportunity to give and receive feedback about their experience, undergo evaluations from their supervisors, and touch bases with the University Relations Team. If an intern exhibits exceptional expertise, they could potentially be offered an entry-level position after graduation. Hard work yields a just reward at Ralph Lauren.
Those interested in launching their career and gaining essential experience at one of the nation’s leading fashion businesses can apply via the Ralph Lauren Careers Site beginning December 18th. Any further information can be located at careers.ralphlauren.com and any further inquiries can be sent to the following email internships@ralphlauren.com.
Written by Ka’Dia Dhatnubia
Cover image by Antonio Vernon for Wikimedia Creative Commons