“Fashion has become a rich person’s
The fashion industry is one of the most difficult to enter, not only because of the high competition we often talk about here on Glam Observer, but because economic barriers are indirectly placed.
Unpaid internships, the costs of fashion schools and the living costs of fashion capitals, make the fashion industry expensive to enter and so not accessible to everyone.
From day one my focus with Glam Observer has been to make the fashion industry accessible to everyone, not only by sharing information and secrets of the sector but also from an economic point of view providing the necessary resources at very affordable prices. (CV templates are just 10€ , the membership starting at 13€/month and even the price of online courses are way lower than those of fashion schools).
For those who do not have the advantage of getting financial support from the family, entering this sector includes many sacrifices that, over time, will be rewarded.
If you have not attended a prestigious fashion school, or you can’t take an unpaid internship, and in general if you find financially difficult to enter the fashion industry, here are 4 accessible ways to enter it.
1.Network
Most jobs in fashion are assigned through word of mouth. A contact within a fashion company is invaluable in terms of getting a job interview much more quickly and easily. Getting an interview with a fashion company is the first difficulty to get a job in fashion. Hundreds of people apply for the same job or internship, and only about ten are interviewed for the position. Therefore having an internal contact that can pass your resume to the right person and recommend you for an interview is a significant advantage. Networking is totally free or has a minimal cost for accessing industry events from time to time. Anyone can add an editor, PR, journalist, buyer on Instagram and Linkedin, establish an online relationship, meet for a coffee or an informational interview and build a relationship to support you in. Attend industry events from time to time where you can meet people who work in fashion and bring your CV or Portfolio to share with them in person.
2.
Fashion schools are definitely expensive, so if you haven’t studied at a prestigious institute, don’t worry because thanks to the internet, today everyone has access to unlimited fashion resources. Online courses are valuable resources that will contribute to the development of your CV and especially of your personal knowledge. The more you know the industry, the more you will know how to move to get your first job. Online courses are increasingly widespread and recognized by fashion companies that appreciate them mainly because they demonstrate the interest of a candidate in the sector and the spirit of initiative.
Attending a university is a pre-established standard path, but research for an online course and attending it in addition to the university, in the evening after the job or to deepen the topic, is seen as that extra move, that’s why they are appreciated. Reading books, listening to podcasts and getting updated online are tasks you need to incorporate to your daily routine for your personal and professional development. But online courses, in addition to providing useful material, enrich your CV.
You don’t add on your CV the fashion books you read, but you can add the online courses you took. Furthermore, online courses cost much less than any fashion school, but I can assure you that the advantages are still huge. From an economic point of view, considering the reasonable prices of online courses, it is possible to attend multiples and enrich your CV even more. I personally attended online courses and still do today, because I find them very practical and easy to attend. Because online courses have contributed to my career, helped me to understand the industry but above all, I saw how fashion companies have positively considered them on my CV during my first applications, I decided to create my online course to give you the opportunity to learn everything you need to get a job in fashion, and at the same time add a certificate that boosts your CV.
A fashion lecturer who teaches at a famous fashion school enrolled in How To Break into the fashion industry and told me that the value of the course far exceeds € 1000, but
3.Part-time or paid internships
Experience is certainly the best way to enter the industry. The internships represent your entry ticket into the fashion industry. One of the main problems is that still today, unfortunately, prestigious fashion companies do not pay interns. An unpaid internship certainly does not make the fashion industry accessible. Furthermore, most fashion companies are located in fashion capitals that are also world capitals, whose cost of living is medium / high. So it’s impossible to live in these cities without an economic support. However there is a solution also to this. If your favorite company only offers unpaid internships and you think that working there will open the door to your future career, then you should think about applying for that unpaid internship by making sacrifices: if the internship is part-time you can find another paid part-time job, while if it’s full-time, you have to work in the evening or freelance during the weekend to sustain your expenses. The second option is to consider only paid internships. Don’t stress too much with one company, but look around because there are so many interesting companies that offer paid internships and even if it’s not the brand of your dreams, consider it as a starting point that will allow you to apply for your favorite companies later , when you have acquired some experience.
4.Freelance jobs
Creating an account on one of the freelance sites and start writing articles, designing graphics, doing PR consultations is totally free and if properly managed, even well paid. Just create a good portfolio with examples of your work to show to potential customers and apply every day for the most interesting job offers to start your freelance career. Do not ask for lots of money, especially if you are at the beginning and work with start-ups, new magazines, blogs or emerging brands. In the meantime, nothing prevents you from continuing to send your articles to Vogue and applying for other jobs, but don’t wait for big companies to say yes before starting your career. Work with small publications to get more opportunities to find jobs and to grow your reputation and your portfolio. You can find freelance opportunities also
Want to boost your career and get your dream job in fashion? Enroll now in How to break into the fashion industry, the online course that helped many getting the job of their dreams.
