November has always been one of my favorite months. Not only because the city starts lighting up for the holidays but also because on November 7th, it’s my birthday, and every year I take it as a personal reminder to reflect, reset, and take action. Nine years ago, around this same time, I was applying for my first internship in fashion. Everyone told me to wait until January, cause people might be busy with the holidays, but I didn’t. I kept going.
And I’m so glad I didn’t. Because on December 13th, I started my very first internship — at Alexander McQueen.
If you’ve been feeling like it’s too late to make a move this year, I want this story to be your reminder: it’s absolutely not too late. These next few weeks could change your entire career — if you take action now.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait Until 2026
The truth is, many aspiring fashion professionals will spend the last weeks of 2025 waiting for “the right time.” They’ll say, “I’ll start fresh in January.”
But in fashion, waiting means missing opportunities , because the industry never really stops.
Luxury brands are still planning campaigns, fashion weeks are around the corner, and companies are hiring to fill new-year roles now. Recruiters are interviewing in November and December for positions that start in December already but also in January or February.How would it feel like enjoying your Christmas holidays knowing a job/internship is waiting for you already in 2026?
So while others pause their job search for the holidays, you could be the one signing your first contract before the year ends.
Imagine how it would feel to walk into Christmas dinner saying:
“I start my internship at Dior/VOGUE/Prada… in January.”
That’s not a fantasy. It’s exactly what happened to me, and to many of our students inside Break into the Fashion Industry who decided to act in November instead of waiting.
My December Lesson: Acting When Everyone Else Paused
When I went to the job interview with Alexander McQueen, it was already November. I thought they would tell me to start in January. Instead, they called me and I had to start in December!
I remember sitting at my new desk on December 13th, surrounded by my new team, learning Excel formulas, analyzing sales, helping prepare for the company’s Christmas party in Florence.
The office was buzzing with festive energy, and I was part of it. I was SO excited!
That early start changed my entire career path. The office was buzzing with festive energy, and I was part of it. I was so excited! That early start changed my entire career path. Imagine if I had waited, I probably wouldn’t be here writing this article today, and who knows how or when my career would have started.
We often wait for the “perfect moment,” but trust me, it doesn’t exist. There will always be a reason to hesitate, whether it’s investing in a course, applying for a job, or starting something new. It’s just how our brain works: it tries to keep us safe and comfortable, so anything that pushes us beyond that comfort zone triggers fear and doubt. But everything truly worth it lives beyond that hesitation.
The Smart Way to Use the Last 6 Weeks of 2025
Even if you’re not sure whether to keep applying or if you need a mental reset, this is not the moment to disconnect from your fashion goals.
Instead of pausing, here’s how to make these next six weeks work for you strategically.
1. Keep Applying, But Update Your Strategy
If you’re not getting callbacks, the issue isn’t timing, it’s strategy.
Your resume, cover letter, or portfolio might need an update.
Recruiters don’t stop hiring in December, but they do keep looking for candidates who stand out.
This is the perfect time to refresh your application materials. Review your resume and make sure it reflects impact, not just tasks. If your cover letter still sounds generic, write one that tells your story and connects your motivation to the brand — that’s what makes the difference.
Inside the Fashion Internship Simulator, I teach you exactly how to do that, step-by-step — with templates, portfolio projects, and examples that actually get results.
2. Learn a Skill That Will Make Recruiters Notice You
If you’re feeling too drained to apply but still want to feel productive, use December to learn something new that directly boosts your employability.
When I got my McQueen internship, I had to take an unexpected Excel test during the second interview. That test became the reason I got the job, because I knew how to use Excel.
Fashion might look glamorous, but behind every campaign and runway show there are spreadsheets. Excel is one of the top skills requested in fashion job descriptions, from PR to buying, merchandising to marketing.
That’s why I created Excel for Fashion, the course that teaches you the exact tools you’ll use at brands like Dior, Prada, or Net-a-Porter.
Start learning now, and by January, you’ll already have a skill 90% of fashion candidates don’t.
3. Build Your Portfolio Before the New Year
Even if you don’t have experience yet, you can show recruiters that you think and work like a fashion professional. How? By creating projects that prove your skills.
In our Fashion Internships Simulator course, students simulate real roles at brands like Vogue, Saint Laurent, and Miu Miu, creating editorials, PR strategies, and marketing activations they can include in their portfolio.
Recruiters love seeing this kind of initiative. It tells them: “This candidate is proactive and already understands the industry.”
You can even create your first project before the year ends, one weekend is enough to make a mock PR launch, style an editorial, or build a moodboard for a fashion campaign.
4. Use This Time to Plan, Not to Pause
December doesn’t have to be about waiting, it can be about preparation.
Plan your 2026 job search now:
- List the companies you want to target
- Research their teams and LinkedIn contacts
- Write your cold emails in advance
- Set your application calendar for January
When everyone else is starting from scratch in the new year, you’ll already be ahead.
The Truth: January Success Starts in November
Every January, I receive messages that start with “I wish I had started earlier.”
I don’t want that to be you this time.
In January, you’ll wish you used November and December to get ready — to learn new skills, improve your application strategy, and build your portfolio.
This is the season to prepare for your breakthrough.
Whether you want to learn the strategies to get hired, finally master Excel, or create a portfolio that gets recruiters’ attention, this is your best moment to start.
Ready to Make the Last Weeks of 2025 Count?
Don’t wait for 2026 to start working on your dream.
Do something today that your future self will thank you for.
This could be the December you look back on and say, “That’s when everything changed.”
