“Vogue” boss Anna Wintour is looking for assistants – does the devil wear Prada?

She is considered the most influential woman in the world of fashion and is known for her stern gaze: Anna Wintour, head of what is probably the world’s largest fashion magazine, is looking for an assistant. Almost a week ago, the US publisher Condé Nast, which also owns “Vogue”, published a job advertisement looking for an assistant to the editor in Chief and Global Chief Content Officer of “Vogue” – so by none less than the notorious Wintour itself.

Job posting à la “The Devil Wears Prada”

What sounds like the chance of a lifetime to some sounds like hell to others – after all, the cult film “The Devil Wears Prada” starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway has the prejudices about the fashion industry – and a job at Wintour itself – plenty fueled. And the job advertisement that has now been published is strongly reminiscent of the facts of the 2006 filmed classic, which is said to be based on the real “Vogue” boss.

In the film, Hathaway plays Angela, a shy graduate who lands what is arguably the most sought-after job on the New York fashion scene shortly after graduating. In the well-known fashion magazine “Runaway” (aka “Vogue”) she is allowed to work as an assistant to the boss Miranda Priestley (aka Wintour). But the inconspicuous girl does not fit into the vain world of the fashion industry at first and is initially a thorn in the side of her boss. She lets her feel that too, but Angela doesn’t give up – an attitude that the future “Vogue” assistant should also bring with her.

“Vogue” boss Anna Wintour knows what she wants

If you take a closer look, it becomes clear that the job is tougher than you might initially think. Because like in other industries, not everything in the fashion world is glamorous. “This is an important role in support of the Global Chief Content Officer and Executive Assistant to the Global CCO,” the listing reads.

Accordingly, the successful candidate should be “extremely organized, efficient and time-oriented”, have the ability to multitask and set the right priorities in a “fast-paced, diverse and digital media environment”. It sounds demanding, but it should also pay off. According to the publisher, the position is a “tremendous opportunity for an ambitious, business-savvy professional who is passionate about culture, fashion, digital media and content.”

The list of necessary skills is long …

“Condé Nast” also issues a requirements profile. The extensive skills include, among other things, appointment and event management for the entire publishing house, “taking calls and e-mails”, support for internal meetings and presentations, including the entire preparation of these. The perfect candidate should always be able to demonstrate “emotional intelligence, judgment, discretion and confidentiality in all matters” and the “ability to anticipate problems and help prevent them”.

But that’s not all. Meetings, presentations and sessions need to be prepared and followed up, Vogue content initiatives planned and accounted for, production schedules and deadlines, and supporting “effective collaboration with editorial directors and internal partners”. Occasionally, the candidate may also contribute to content-related tasks and projects, but only if the rest is correct.

Confident but humble

A look at the skills will also make one or the other swallow hard. In addition to a university degree and a one to two-year combined internship/work experience in administrative support, the future assistant requires impeccable knowledge of “Google Workspace”, oral and written communication and interpersonal relationships. He should also be able to think “solution-oriented, independently and on his own responsibility”, an “impeccable eye for details”, great assertiveness, self-confidence, enthusiasm and a “can-do” attitude, coupled with modesty and a willingness to learn round off the profile.

So the new assistant is a sly old dog. However, the lucky one will “only” be rewarded with a lot of experience, according to the job advertisement, the salary will be between 60,000 and 80,000 US dollars a year – an average amount by standards. Well, you’re just the assistant and not Wintour himself.

Anna Wintour on the infamous assistant: ‘I don’t even know who that girl was supposed to be’

By the way: “The Devil Wears Prada” is based on the book of the same name by Lauren Weisberger, Wintour’s former personal assistant. How much truth there is behind the legendary stories about the “Vogue” boss is still unclear. When the film was released, the now 73-year-old reacted angrily at first, threatening every designer who appeared in the film to never report on him again and also showing a sulky reaction to Weisberger. At the time, she said, “I don’t even know who that girl was supposed to be.” Today, however, she comments on the film as “entertaining” and even stands behind the performances as “anything that makes fashion look fun and glamorous and interesting” is wonderful.

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