Getting a job in fashion is hard, but NOT impossible! Due to the competition of the industry, it’s important to follow some specific rules and advice to make it in this industry. If your job applications are not working or if you are looking for your first job in fashion, check out if you are doing and NOT doing these things below.
You can listen to this episode of The Glam Observer Podcast on Apple Podcast or Spotify or keep reading below if you prefer.
Do your research
Before applying for any job or internship and even before a job interview, do your research about the company. Who have been the designers? When it was established? What’s your favorite collection? Who is the team you’ll be working with?
Visit the company’s website, their LinkedIn page, the social profiles and read as many online articles as possible. When you apply, you may be potentially called for a first phone interview a minute later. You do not want to be unprepared…furthermore knowing as much as you can about the company and the position helps you personalize as much as you can your application, which is the second thing you have to do to get a job in fashion.
Personalize your application
Add something personal about the brand or the person to your application (in your CV, cover letter, email…) to make sure that the company/person knows you are not just randomly applying for so many jobs but that you did your research because you are actually interested in working with them and get that specific job and not just a job.
Make them feel extra special and show that you spent the time to impress them because you are very interested in working there!
Surround yourself with other like-minded people
Connections are key in fashion. Start building your fashion network today. You can do so via LinkedIn and Instagram. Don’t just connect with famous people in the industry, but connect with fellow students, interns, assistants you can share experience and real advice with! Surround yourself with an inspiring community of fashion enthusiasts to talk about fashion, keep the motivation going but also exchange opinions and job opportunities! Most of the jobs in fashion are assigned through word of mouth which means that your fashion friend can recommend you for a job at their company! Network, network, network! (ps networking is also for introverts especially thanks to emails and social messages!)
Keep learning and growing. Work on yourself
The fashion industry is hiring for potential now. They want to hire resourceful people who want to learn, grow, and think out of the box. If you want to get far ahead in your career do what successful people do: invest in yourself to become the best resource ever. Be ambitious and angry for always more and more information: read books, listen to podcasts, read the industry websites to get familiar with what’s happening in the industry, take online courses to boost not only your resume but your knowledge, inspiration and to anticipate your career growth. “Who is going to be the next famous fashion industry professional?” YOU of course! Ask yourself this question every morning and answer “ME, I’ll be the next famous designer, stylist, buyer, editor…”. Only by investing in yourself and consuming a lot of content, you’ll become the smart and resourceful person the fashion industry wants to hire! invest in yourself and never stop learning and growing.
Don’t wait for the job to get posted online
Many times I get emails from you because it seems like there aren’t jobs or internships available at the moment online. Looking online at the websites that post job offers should be your first step, but not the only one! Don’t stop just because you don’t see anything you can apply for today or you’ll waste precious time and postpone your entry into the fashion industry. If your favorite brands have not posted a new job recently that you can apply for, be resourceful and email them! If you already know that you want to get a summer internship, email them already now!
Don’t make it about you
Even if you would love to work for that brand and you’ll be the happiest person on the planet, don’t make it about you in your applications, but make it about the company. How can you help them? How do your skills make you the best person for that job?
Be enthusiastic and show you have passion but always make it about them.
So for example, instead of saying: “ I want to get the job because I love the brand and I want to learn” say: “I’m driven and my desire to learn and the passion I have for this company and the fashion industry will make me the best resource you’ve ever had!.”
Don’t send your resume only
Your resume is necessary but it’s not enough, especially if you want to stand out and especially if your resume is still short as you’re at the beginning of your career.
Write a cover letter and put together a portfolio even if they are not required.
The portfolio is not something just for fashion designers, anyone who wants to get a job in fashion, even stylists, those who want to work in PR, social media, marketing, those who want to write for fashion magazines… can create a portfolio to show some work.
PS the work on your portfolio doesn’t necessarily need to be previous projects of your past work experiences. They can be personal projects that you invent now just to show them your skills and what you could do if they give you the job! Be resourceful, prove that you can do the job despite your CV is still short and with no experience!
Don’t limit yourself
Even if you are at the beginning of your career and you have no experience and no fashion background you can get a job in fashion! And you can even work at your favorite top fashion brands! Just explain yourself in the cover letter and by using other documents such as your portfolio. If you use an unconventional application you’ll stand out even among those who already have some experience or more qualifications! So don’t be afraid to apply. If what you are currently doing is not bringing you results and you’re still struggling to get a job in fashion, don’t change your dream and don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you are not enough. You are enough! Don’t change your dream, change your actions!
I have prepared for you a matrix of the dos and don’ts of the fashion job application that you can download for free here
