Kelly Thore
Assistant to the executive editor at Cosmopolitan Magazine
About Kelly:
· UNC alum, graduated in May
· VP of CAFME her junior year
· Didn’t always know she wanted to be in magazines
· Sophomore year joined Blue & White and worked her way up from writer to editor in chief
· In Cosmo interview, bosses wanted to know most about Blue&White and campus publications
· Her Internships: Skirt! And Natural Triad Magazines, Pace Communications, Bevello (an online clothing boutique), Three Ships Media.
“Make sure that your experiences are well-rounded. If you think you may be interested in something, try it out with an internship.”
"With your first internship, do whatever they ask, but also absorb everything."
“If you have contacts in the companies you want to work, make sure to keep them. It’s really important to keep relationships alive because you never know”
How she got to Cosmo:
· Got to know Robin Hilmantel (also at Cosmo) by working with her on Blue & White
· Took the EA job when Robin got promoted.
o Took an edit test (she had to write a fake confession, pitch some story ideas, and write an item)
- Gauges how much of a good fit for the magazine you are
o Interviewed in New York in their offices
What she does at Cosmo:
· Does a lot of writing and researching
· Does the confessions page
· 101 Things about Men
· Fashion pages
· Quizzes
· Assists on photo shoots
· Pitches stories
· Has also written a few feature pages, too
Questions:
Where do you get your story ideas from?
Cosmo likes to go through reader mail and see what people think
Where would you be/what would you like to do if you weren’t at Cosmo?
Wouldn’t have moved up to New York immediately. Would have tried to work at Pace for awhile since it was such a great experience. Never expected to be at Cosmo 2 months after graduation.
How was your transition to New York?
Stayed with Robin for a week before she found a place to live. Now has a roommate. Living in New York is expensive, but you can eat for cheap. If you know you’re on a budget, it’s no more expensive than anywhere else. Look into living with someone so you can split costs.
What’s the best experience you’ve had thus far working at Cosmo?
Getting big stories has been phenomenal. I thought it would take awhile to get big stories. It’s been really rewarding because I was just a student a few months ago.
Do you have a twitter?
Yes, follow me if you like things that don’t make sense. @thorekelly
Internships at Cosmo:
Works really closely with the interns and the internship coordinator. Send her your resume to pass along. Do a resume and cover letter then mail it the coordinator. Tell them you talked to Kelly, it always helps to name-drop. You have a great chance at getting internships if you want them. All of the interns I’ve seen have been on par with students at UNC. Always, always, always apply. Don’t think that you can’t get it because you can. Shoot Kelly an email if you want her feedback.
What questions were you asked during your interview?
Was asked a lot about time management, the amount of work that it takes, what she took away from the experience. It was another way to reassure her boss that it was what she wanted to do. Definitely find a way to find a leadership role somewhere. Bosses like to know that you’re not only getting involved but really contributing and that you really care.
What would you recommend for an interesting cover letter?
Know the magazine’s voice and write in the magazine’s voice. Use it to demonstrate how well you would fit in and how much of a great writer you are. Kelly starts off with an anecdote. It really depends on knowing the magazine’s voice.
What was your concentration in the J school and what were some favorite classes that helped you out?
News and Editorial concentration. Learned the most from Magazine Writing because you walk away with a finished product. Also Intro to Multimedia. Her bosses actually looked at her portfolio website that she created in that class before she got hired!
Advice on cold emailing?
If you’re emailing a UNC alum, mention that you’re a UNC student. Mention if you’re graduating. Ask to learn more about the industry, grab a cup of coffee and ask how they got where they are. Go with your most honest pitch. It’s never too far of a long shot. You never know when someone is going to say yes. Always send a thank you note. Overdo it rather than underdo it.
How vital is it to do web work?
The first thing a potential boss will do is Google you. They can find portfolio websites, clips, etc.
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