Are you looking for a new job and you need one fast? Like in a week or so?
Although there isn’t a magic formula, there are for sure some things you are in control of that you can put into action to speed up your job search and land a new opportunity in fashion fast.
Ready? let’s see them.
- Don’t apply for just a couple of jobs
The more jobs you apply for, the more opportunities you have to get one. So if you are in a rush and you need a new job ASAP, don’t just follow your regular application schedule of a couple of jobs per week but 5X it (minimum!). Set a goal of applying for 15 jobs per week minimum. Yep, they might sound a lot, but hey you want a new fashion job fast right? You can do it, but it will take some work from you. No pain, no gain!
However, try to not apply for every job you find or this would hurt your long-term career goal as a future recruiter might ask you if you know what you want in life. If you are at the beginning of your career you can be open to an internship that is similar to one of your dreams because it’s important to start somewhere. But if you are looking for a new job and you already have experience, apply for jobs that are aligned with what you want.
- Don’t look online only
If you set yourself the challenge of applying for 15 jobs per week you might be wondering where do you find 15 jobs to apply for???
While you can look for opportunities online (ps each Friday we send a special issue of our newsletter with a list of fashion jobs, click here to signup now and receive the list of jobs) it could be that some weeks you can’t find 15 opportunities to apply for. So my best piece of advice to simplify this process and have more jobs to apply for each week is to make a list of your favorite fashion companies, check their career pages and if they don’t have anything open you can apply for, then prepare your spontaneous application email. Introduce yourself, attach your CV and ask for that internship/job in your favorite department. Please try to be as specific as possible in this email and already indicate the job or at least the department you’d like to get into. You can say that you are open to similar positions but don’t just say too generically: I want an internship.
- Apply for jobs that meet your level of experience
Many times the #1 mistake that people make in their job application is that they apply for jobs that don’t meet their level of experience. While you don’t have to meet all of the requirements to apply for a job, the level of experience is something important to consider before applying. In fashion, the word Assistant can be tricky. You might think that an assistant position is good for you if you have just graduated. But if you read it carefully you’ll find that the Assistant Buying job you have just applied for, requires one year of experience in a similar role. And you most likely won’t hear back if you don’t have that experience. In this case, you’d better look and apply for a buying internship instead to have more chances to get the position because it fits the level of experience you have. So don’t waste time and opportunities by applying for the wrong jobs. Remember the secret to getting a job in fashion fast is to not make any mistakes in the job application process because each mistake is going to cost you a job and time.
- Don’t mess up with your CV
It goes without saying that if your CV is not good, then you are not going to get the job. This means that if you are on a hunt for a fashion job fast, you can’t go wrong with your CV and waste job opportunities and time. Make sure that your CV is on point, and choose a strong creative but professional template.
- Make an impression
Sending a direct email to someone ( a recruiter, stylist, buyer, editor…) instead of applying online as I suggested in point #2 is already a great step to get noticed. But what else can you do to stand out even more? If your goal is to get a new fashion job fast, then think of creative ways you can impress companies. Usually, the best way to make a stand-out application is by thinking of how you can personalize it to the brand and not make it look like a generic job application you are sending to everyone. You could, for example, add the name of the person in the subject of your emails and add a personal note that refers to that specific brand or the work of that person. Want another example? Instead of the regular cover letter, for example, you could try to film a short video cover letter of one minute and link it to the email.Â
If you are looking for more tips to get a job in fashion fast, register for my free masterclass here.
