How to Get a Job at Chanel, Dior, or Prada Without Connections

Landing a job at Chanel, Dior, Prada, or another famous luxury brand is the ultimate dream for many fashion enthusiasts. As much as breaking into the fashion industry in general is an achievement in itself, securing a role at a prestigious house with decades—for some, even hundreds—of years of legacy is considered the pinnacle of success by many aspiring professionals. Imagine working behind the scenes of the creator if the iconic tweed jacket and 2.55 bag—Chanel, being part of the enchanting, feminine world of Dior, or contributing to Miuccia Prada’s visionary team.

Yet, for industry outsiders, this dream can seem out of reach. Besides of fearing of lacking experience or a fashion degree, they often feel intimidated by not having the right connections. A common perception—which is a misconception— is that luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, and Prada hire primarily through word of mouth, making it nearly impossible for those without industry contacts to get noticed. 

In case you didn’t know I started at Alexander McQueen another big luxury fashion house with ZERO connections and ZERO experience. 

Connections can help and some will indeed get a job this way but this is just a small percentage, indeed many, just like you and me, start from scratch and can make it to the industry anyway. 

In the mentorship sessions I have each month with my Break into the fashion industry students, some ask me if I have leads in those brands. And the truth is that connections—yes, they can help—, but your primary goal should not be to get to know someone at the brand to get inside these big fashion houses. Building your network is just a piece of the puzzle, one of the many strategies to implement to get into the industry. 

Some believe that simply knowing someone at the company can bypass the competitive application process altogether.

However, contrary to popular belief, connections are not a golden ticket to a job in luxury fashion. I’ll tell you more: even if you know someone at Chanel, that relationship alone won’t guarantee you a position. While connections can help you establish contact with hiring managers (we’ll talk in a bit about the importance of leveraging connections as a long-term strategy), and open you more opportunities as you climb the career ladder, they don’t replace the qualifications, skills, and passion brands look for in candidates, and won’t automatically get you the job. 

The truth is, the (luxury) fashion industry values talent, expertise, and dedication far more than who you know. Connections can open doors, but they don’t define your potential or professional worth. 

You still may be thinking, “That’s all true, but connections help me get noticed—doesn’t that increase my chances of getting hired?” 

What if I told you there are plenty of other ways to get noticed?

This article will guide you through actionable steps to land a job at Chanel, Dior, Prada, or another luxury company—without relying on connections.

Understanding the Luxury Fashion Job Market

To land a job at a luxury company like Chanel, Dior, or Prada, first, you need to understand the luxury fashion job market. 

What makes Chanel, Dior, and Prada competitive employers?

1. Brand Prestige & Legacy: Chanel (founded in 1910), Prada (1913), and Dior (1947) are among the most prestigious luxury fashion houses in the world.Their reputation attracts top talent globally, making their job postings highly competitive.

2. Opportunities in diverse departments: Luxury brands offer roles in multiple departments, making them an attractive place to work.

• Design & Craftmanship
• Product Development
• Production & Manufacturing
• Retail & Sales
• Buying & Merchandising
• Visual Merchandising 
• Marketing 
• PR & Communication 
• Digital and E-commerce
• Omnichannel
• Logistics & Supply Chain 
• Research and Innovation
• Sustainability
• Human Resources 
• CRM 
• Finance & Planning
• IT (Information Technology)
• Legal

3. Strong Company Culture & Values

Luxury companies are renowned for their craftsmanship, excellence, and innovation. Standing by those values, brands like Chanel, Dior, and Prada handpick their talents carefully, making their job postings highly competitive. 

However, as I said, the answer to securing a job or internship at a luxury brand isn’t connections.

What is Chanel looking for throughout the recruitment process?

This is what Chanel states on its official website:

“We recognise people in their full lives. You can best prepare by reflecting on:

What you do – the technical skills, capabilities and knowledge you bring to the role.

How you do it – how you achieve the things you do. How you approach your work, how you work with other people, how you show up day-to-day.

Motivation – your passions and purpose. We recognise that strengths are not just things that we are “good at”, they make us feel strong and energised.”

What is Dior looking for throughout the recruitment process?

“Our Maison is a destination for sustainable growth & success where we shape the future of our Talents in a positive, authentic & generous environment. We bloom & deliver excellence with passion, determination, courage & optimism to offer meaningful & daring codes.”

>> This mission statement provides a hint into the kind of talents Dior is looking for—people who share the same values.

What is Prada looking for throughout the recruitment process?

According to the Prada Group, “The Prada Group is constantly in search of the best talents – at all skill levels and previous experiences – who would support the development of new growth projects and a successful vision for the future.” Operating in an ever evolving global market, the company hires its employees with an international approach[…] the passion, skills and intellectual curiosity of each person lead the Group throughout all its activities. 

Notice how these companies focus on the person and their professional qualities. It sounds obvious now, that it matters more than connections, don’t you think? Well, here is your proof. 

If Chanel, Dior, or Prada isn’t your top choice and you see yourself working at another company, you can find about their mission and recruitment process on their career pages too. 

How to Get a Job at Chanel, Dior, or Prada Without Connections

1. Privilege skills over connections 

In today’s world, skills matter more than formal education and experience during the recruitment process. While a degree from a university is requested for internships and jobs, and experience can be an asset, nowadays, recruiters don’t select their candidates based solely on their degree and experience. They value other things, like skills, adaptability, and passion over traditional qualifications, yet alone connections. 

Even if you get in touch with a recruiter through a connection, they would still look into your background and skills, and evaluate what added value you can bring to the company and role. Therefore, whether you know someone or not who works at your favorite company, ask yourself what you can bring to the table. 

What skills are luxury brands looking for?

Most internships at luxury brands have minimum requirements for interns. Usually, you will need some basic knowledge related to the job area. In addition, common skills needed across different roles include the Office Package—especially Excel —,strong organizational skills, team spirit, proactivity, and passion for the fashion industry, and the specific role and company. 

Transferable skills gained in previous experiences, industries, and school projects, and hobbies, are also valuable and appreciated by fashion companies. 

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of soft skills, such as organizational, time management, and problem solving skills, as well as adaptability and communication. Recruiters who hire interns are conscious that you don’t have a lot of previous experience, so they focus instead on your personal and professional qualities, as these can set the ground for a successful internship. 

2. Start with fashion internships 

I cannot emphasize this enough: If you have zero experience, it’s very unlikely you will get a full-time job at a luxury brand. The easiest way to start your career at Chanel, Dior, or Prada is through fashion internships. 

Most of them don’t require a previous internship nor a fashion degree, making it the ideal place to start. It’s also the perfect opportunity if you are a student or recent graduate, as many internships at luxury brands which are posted online require school credit. 

You don’t need connections to get an internship at a luxury brand. Candidates have to go through a strict application process when applying online, and the best candidates are selected based on the strength of their application, skills, and the performance at the job interview—not their connections.  

It’s true that connections can open more opportunities that are not advertised, but they are usually reserved for more advanced roles—not internships. That’s why I also reinforce that you need to start with internships. Once you are inside the company, you will develop connections that can be beneficial to advance in your career. 

3. Perfect Your Resume, Cover Letter and Portfolio for Luxury Brands

Many of my students got internships at Dior, LVMH, Burberry, Tiffany&Co., Tory Burch…with ZERO connections—all thanks to their ability to craft a strong application. 

First things first, you need a strong resume in order to stand out among over 500 applicants on average who apply for the same internship at Chanel, Dior, or Prada. Clearly written and structured resumes are especially important at luxury brands that value attention to detail. 

In addition, you should attach a personalized cover letter for each application. Explain in your cover letter to Chanel, Dior, or Prada why you want to get an internship or job specifically at their company. Tell them why YOU would be an ideal fit, how your values coincide, and how your background can be a good fit for the company. 

Finally, a must-have for creative roles and a nice-to-have for business-oriented careers in fashion, yet often overlooked is a portfolio. You can build it from your school or personal projects, or works you did just to apply for the specific position. 

4. Reach out to recruiters and professionals directly by sending a cold application

One of the reasons that can push someone to think they need connections in the fashion industry is the struggle to get in touch with the company and show them directly your application. However, asking your connection to do it for you is not the only option.

I want to introduce you to my old-time favorite cold e-mail strategy. It’s when you send a spontaneous application (so without applying through a job board) directly to the recruiter or fashion professional. This strategy puts you in direct contact with them, eliminating the need to rely on connections. I teach about the cold-email strategy in my free webinar. 

5. Learn about the Brand Inside Out

A strong knowledge of the brand can set you apart from other candidates. A candidate who demonstrates in their application that they did more research about the brand can be that one thing that sparks the recruiter’s interest and confidence in you. 

• Research the brand history online or by reading books and watching documentaries. 
• Get familiar with the brand’s website, study the pages, and collections, and subscribe to their newsletters.
• Watch the runways, campaigns videos and behind the scenes on YouTube and take notes of your favorites. 
• Search on Google for Chanel, Dior, Prada..campaigns and write down your favorites as well as favorites from the past.
• Visit a store if you can take notes of displays, talk to a sales assistant, take a look at the collection, and mention that you did this research during the job interview.
• Take online courses about the company you aspire to work at, if possible. For example, if you apply at Dior which is part of LVMH, you can take the “Inside LVMH” certificate. 

6. Remember: Passion goes a long way 

Whether it’s in their mission statement or the job description, every luxury brand reinforces that passion is one of the key ingredients to success in fashion and land an opportunity. Believe it or not, but passion and motivation for the role can often outweigh formal requirements like what you studied and how much previous experience you have.

When you are genuitely passionate about fashion, the company, and the role and showcase it, you don’t need to rely on connections to make your application stand out—your passion and motivation will do it for you. Chanel, Dior, Prada, and any luxury company will always prefer hiring someone unknown who has proven passion, rather than someone through a connection who fail to showcase a strong motivation.

7. Stay persistent

You may not land a job at Chanel, Dior, or Prada from the first try (though it is possible if you follow my strategies), and get rejected by companies before you finally land a position. In the face of extreme competition and rejections, it’s important to stay persistent. Every “no” is a “not yet” and the opportunity to refine your application and strategies you use to apply. 

If you don’t live in France or Italy where most luxury companies have their headquarters, explore the opportunity to relocate if you don’t find an open position at Chanel, Dior, or Prada in your country. 

Don’t let struggles make you lose sight of your end goal, and keep applying to your favorite luxury brands. 

Networking In Fashion Without Traditional Industry Connections

If you don’t have industry connections, who says you cannot build them even as a starter? While connections are not the golden ticket to land a job or internship at a luxury brand, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be cultivating them at all; you do need to leverage your connections throughout your career. But instead of relying on connections as a quick way to get you a job, embrace it as a long-term strategy and invest your time in building long-lasting connections. 

• Connect with recruiters and industry professionals on LinkedIn.
• Attend fashion industry events, job fairs, and brand activations. 
• Use informational interviews to learn from fashion professionals whose role and career trajectory inspire you and cultivate relationships with them after.

I teach about how to network at the beginning of your career in my online course Break into the Fashion Industry. 

Where to find jobs at luxury brands

Visit the Career pages of luxury brands and groups. 

You can filter the open positions by job category, geographical area, and contract type (permanent, intern, etc.). Read the job description carefully, prepare the required documents, and apply online. 

Apply for fashion jobs on LinkedIn

Most luxury companies post their job vacancies on LinkedIn frequently. For example, today, as I am writing this article, there are 635 internship and entry-level job postings at Chanel, 213 at Dior, and 14 at Prada.

Find fashion job postings on 365 Days of Fashion 

Every Monday, we send an issue about the best latest fashion job openings of the week in our newsletter 365 Days of Fashion, so you don’t have to search. 

Landing a job or internship at Chanel, Dior, Prada, or another luxury company without connections is possible. While leveraging industry connections is important on a long-term basis, not having any at the start of your career in fashion won’t be an obstacle to land your dream role at your favorite luxury brand. Focus on developing the necessary skills, craft a strong application, and build direct contact with recruiters through a cold e-mail, and never stop learning more about your favorite brands. 

So, dear friend, if you’ve been holding onto the myth that connections are everything in fashion, you can finally break from it and say YES to your dream! Are you ready? Enroll in my online course Break into the Fashion Industry, where I explain in depth about all the strategies shared in this article.