Can’t get a job in fashion? You might be making one (or all) of these 7 mistakes

So… you want to get that job in fashion. It’s your biggest dream. The thing that would make you really happy. You close your eyes and you see yourself working at your favorite fashion office. You’re living the life you’ve always dreamed about.

But then, you open your eyes, and again you are not getting the job.

You refreshed your CV though, wrote a new cover letter, and you are convinced that this time it would be O.K… but then you check your inbox, and nothing, no fashion company responded to your application or invited you over for a job interview… two, three, four weeks… again nothing. You might think: “What’s wrong again? I updated my resume, I wrote the cover letter again… I did everything and still no answer.“

Well, my dear friend, first of all, let me honestly tell you that even if you think the problem is you because maybe you don’t have a fashion background or you don’t have experience in fashion, well that’s not.

Everyone started from scratch and so can you.

The fashion industry hires even those with no experience. It’s a fact. Or no one would work in fashion. 

If you think your lack of fashion degree or experience is the problem maybe it might reassure you knowing that fashion graduates and those with experience also struggle to get a job. This goes back to the fact that indeed the way you apply for jobs and internships matters. 

It’s not enough to just add another prestigious fashion degree to your resume to land a position. Fashion is competitive. Many do already have several masters in fashion. So, this is no longer the only thing you need to secure a position in fashion.

The point is – how good you are at convincing the recruiters. How good your applications are? 

As a fashion career mentor, I review many fashion job applications. So, I thought it was useful to share what are the most common job application mistakes so perhaps you can spot yours and you can start using the correct ones. 

Can’t get a job in fashion? You might be making one (or all) of these 7 job application mistakes.

Job Application Mistakes 

MISTAKE #1 Use of a messy and generic resume and cover letter

One of the biggest mistakes job applicants make is sending the same generic resume and cover letter. Applicants send this to every fashion job they apply for. To stand out, tailor your resume and cover letter to each position. Highlight relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that directly relate to the specific job you’re applying for. This demonstrates your genuine interest and understanding of the role. Pay attention to the layout of your resume as well. This is fashion and a visual representation of you matters. Make sure your resume fits in one page only. It has a polished and professional template and again, use the right keywords. 

MISTAKE #2 Not submitting a portfolio or sending one with a poor quality

For creative positions in the fashion industry such as designer, photographer, stylist, graphic designer, or writer, your portfolio is a critical element of your application. It’s even more important than your resume especially when you don’t have experience. Not including a portfolio is a big mistake but I also do find that those who submit it still can’t land a position because of the quality of their portfolio. 

Common fashion portfolio mistakes include submitting low-quality images, disorganized work samples, or failing to showcase your best projects or those relevant to the position. Make sure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. As I said, a portfolio is not only for creative roles thought. If you submit it also for other roles such as buyer, merchandiser, marketing, PR, events, etc. you can skyrocket your chances of landing the position. 

If you are unsure about how to build a professional portfolio and you need guidelines about the projects you can include, check out the Break into the Fashion Industry course where I teach this step-by-step. 

MISTAKE #3: Applying via job boards only

Many of you tell me that the number of fashion jobs and internships posted online is very limited. And it can be true, especially if you also don’t know what websites to look for jobs and fashion internships. However, to the students of my Break into the Fashion Industry course, I do not recommend looking at job boards online only if you want to have more chances. I teach, indeed, to cold email their favorite brands, recruiters, editors, stylists… directly to request a job or internship. This strategy is way more effective for these reasons:

1. You don’t have to wait months until your favorite companies will finally post a position that matches your preferences.
2. You impress companies with this initiative showing you think out of the box so you can land the position even if you lack some experience or requirements.
3. You are NOT competing against the average 500 applicants who apply for the same position.
4. You show real and genuine interest in the position. 

So start thinking out of the box if you want to land a job or internship in fashion quickly. 

MISTAKE #4 Failing to research the company

Not taking the time to research the fashion company you’re applying to is a common blunder. Employers appreciate candidates who show a genuine interest in their brand. Also here at Glam Observer, I receive many applications from people who want to work there and I noticed that 70% of them are just generic ones. Recruiters can spot in one second if you applied for the position because you are applying for many jobs and internships just to get one, or if you apply for a role because you truly want that position. Research the company’s history, values, and recent projects. Mentioning these details in your cover letter or job interview can set you apart from other applicants.

MISTAKE #5 Poor communication skills

Clear communication is essential in the fashion industry. Mistakes such as typos, grammar errors, and unclear writing in your application materials can be a major turn-off for employers. Proofread your resume, cover letter, and any other documents carefully to ensure they are error-free.

MISTAKE #6 Neglecting to follow application instructions

Fashion job postings often include specific instructions for applicants. Ignoring these instructions can be a major setback. Whether it’s asking for a specific subject line in your email, requesting samples of your work, or a certain format for your application, follow these guidelines to demonstrate your attention to detail and professionalism. I again noticed this mistake also when I was hiring for Glam Observer. In the job description, I requested to submit article ideas for the Editorial Assistant position and I received many applications that didn’t include them. I quickly discarded those applications without looking at the resumes at all. So you might be perfect for the role but if you fail to read carefully the instructions, companies will believe you won’t be professional in your job as well.

MISTAKE #7 Applying for the wrong jobs

You can’t imagine how many times the problem is the fact that you are applying for a job that is not made for you. This doesn’t mean that there are some jobs you can’t do. I always say you don’t need to meet all the requirements to apply for a job and that you can acquire any skill outlined in the job description. However, there is one requirement that it’s absolutely necessary to take into consideration: the years of experience requested for the role. 

And before you say all the jobs require previous experience, this is not true. In fact, internships and some entry-level jobs don’t require previous experience. 

One thing that can be misleading when you are looking for entry-level jobs is the word “assistant”. In fashion, this word is quite tricky because an assistant position requires previous experience of one year minimum. Maybe you read Assistant Buyer, Assistant Designer and you applied without reading carefully the job description that states point blank that they are looking for someone with 1-2 years of experience in a similar role.

So if you apply for these kinds of jobs when you have 0 experience and you are not hearing back from the hiring manager, then, in this case, the lack of experience may be the reason why you are not getting the job.

It’s important to apply for jobs that match your level of experience. Applying for positions you’re overqualified for may give the impression that you’ll quickly become dissatisfied, while applying for roles you’re underqualified for can be seen as a waste of time. Focus on roles that align with your current career stage.

Have you spotted any mistake you are currently making? By learning from these common mistakes and taking steps to improve your application, you can position yourself as a strong candidate and move closer to your dream career in fashion. If you are interested in learning how to do a mistake-proof and effective job application in fashion even if you don’t have experience yet, register for my free masterclass to stop the job search struggle and finally find your dream place in fashion. As I always say: don’t change your dream, change your actions.