How To Fill The Gap of A Formal Fashion Degree On Your Resume

If you have been following me for a while, you know that I often say you don’t need a fashion degree to work in the fashion industry. I was surprised as well years ago when, during my first fashion internship at Alexander McQueen, the majority of my colleagues did not come from a fashion school. I expected the opposite. Most fashion graduates were working in the design department. If you want to pursue a career in fashion design, a design degree is recommended to learn the right techniques. However, there are exceptions here as well, with successful self-made fashion designers.

For roles in fashion marketing, PR, styling, eCommerce, trend forecasting, buying, and others, you can definitely do it without a fashion degree. If you read some job descriptions, you’ll often see they mention a formal degree in marketing, management, etc., but it’s only for design roles that companies require a fashion degree.

Among many myths in the fashion world, there is one that a fashion degree is necessary to succeed in the industry. I’ve been in fashion for a decade and I can tell you that’s just a myth. 

But you might still wonder how to fill the gap of a formal fashion degree on your resume.

Actually, there wouldn’t be anything in particular or different you need to do if you didn’t study fashion. You can apply for fashion internships just like a regular fashion student or graduate. However, I know because I’ve been there, that you are not feeling enough with your current resume that lacks a formal fashion degree so you are looking for ways to make your CV more attractive, which is a good thing because it means you really care.

I remember that when I was a management engineering student, I was always looking for ways to tailor my resume to fashion.  So each summer, when I had more free time from my classes, I connected with my passion for fashion. I read more books, started some fashion projects like a blog and illustrating, and took online fashion courses to boost my resume with certifications. And it paid off big time! During my job interview at Alexander McQueen, the recruiter was more impressed by those short online summer courses than the master’s degree in fashion management that I later obtained after my management engineering bachelor’s degree.

So here are my tips on how to fill the gap of a formal fashion degree on your resume to break into fashion.

How To Fill The Gap Of A Formal Fashion Degree On Your Resume

1. Fit Your Resume To The Position

With or without a fashion degree, you need to tailor your resume to the position. How? Use the right keywords, particularly in your skills section. Read the job description and incorporate relevant terms into your resume. For example:

• For Digital Marketing roles: Include skills like social media management, content creation, and SEO.
• PR: Highlight skills such as press release writing, event coordination, and media relations.
• Styling: Mention skills in trend analysis, and client consultations.
• eCommerce: Focus on skills like Google Analytics, digital marketing, and data analytics.

Do you lack some skills? Acquire them. Everything is at our fingertips nowadays. You can spend a couple of hours on an online course to become the queen of Excel, add it to your resume, and become more qualified for your dream position immediately. Use a proactive approach instead of getting discouraged when reading the requirements of a position you have just found. And remember, when you are starting out without experience, you need to apply for fashion internships which normally don’t have a super long list of requirements as companies know they will fill these positions with people without experience. You’ll learn everything on the job.  

2. Build Your Education Section With Online Fashion Courses

You might think those with a fashion degree have a competitive advantage and will land a job quickly, but it’s not exactly like that. They are also struggling to land jobs because it’s a very competitive industry. Recruiters are used to receiving many applications from fashion students, so having a fashion degree is no longer a significant competitive advantage. You still need other things to reinforce your application.

If you don’t have a formal fashion degree, taking online fashion courses is a more convenient, affordable yet effective solution to give a boost to your knowledge and your resume. Make sure the courses you take are from trusted sources; paid online courses often provide you with more support and a certification than free online fashion courses, so try to do a mix of both. As I shared already in the paragraph above, online courses made a difference in my application and impressed recruiters more than my formal master’s in fashion management because they showed my passion, interest, self-initiative, and commitment to long-term learning. 

I took online courses especially during the summer because I had more free time. If you need some online fashion courses to take this summer, our Summer Fashion Camp kicks off on June 17th, and registrations will open this week! Click here to join the waitlist and be the first to know. 

3. Work on Fashion Projects  

Even if you have never worked in fashion before, proving to recruiters that you know about the industry despite lacking a formal fashion degree is invaluable. However, you cannot do this with a resume only. That’s why I recommend adding a portfolio to your applications. 

Portfolios are not just for fashion designers. You can create one even if you want to work in marketing, PR, styling, or any other fashion-related career. Examples of projects for your portfolio include:

• Digital Marketing: Create a social media campaign for a hypothetical fashion brand.
• PR: Write a press release for a fashion event.
• Styling: Put together a lookbook or style a photoshoot.
• Buying: Conduct a competitor analysis for a fashion brand.

You can work on these projects even if you have never worked in fashion before. A great project is a great project; it doesn’t matter if the press release you have on your fashion PR portfolio is from a real previous work experience or if you wrote it just to build your portfolio. Recruiters will focus on the output so just focus on building a professional one.

If you need guidance with projects and your portfolio, our Summer Fashion Camp allows students to work on projects that span from doing a competitor analysis for buying and marketing to designing a collection, writing a press release for a fashion event, and styling celebrities. Sounds like something you want to work on? Join the waitlist of the Summer Fashion Camp.

4. Learn How the Industry Works

Just because you didn’t attend a fashion school doesn’t mean you can’t learn how the industry works from the inside via other sources. Understanding best practices in the industry will help you stay ahead of the game and land your fashion job easily. 

Ask those working in the industry about their experiences, what companies look for when hiring, and how they prefer to receive a resume. Finally, there are many sources to read about the business side of the fashion industry, such as Women’s Wear Daily, The Business of Fashion, and our newsletter 365 days of fashion.  

If you need guidance from a professional in the industry and learn together with fellow fashion enthusiasts like yourself, join our Summer Fashion Camp, where you’ll learn everything you need to break into fashion.

5. Build Your Network In The Fashion Industry

Applying for fashion jobs and internships online is not the only option. For a more proactive approach and to expand your search, build a network of fellow fashion enthusiasts to land jobs via word of mouth. Attend industry events, join fashion groups on social media, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. Networking in fashion can open doors to opportunities that might not be advertised.

Landing your first fashion internship without a formal degree is possible with the right approach. Leverage online courses, highlight the right skills, develop a strong portfolio, network actively, gain practical experience, emphasize transferable skills, craft a compelling cover letter, and stay informed on industry trends. Your unique journey and passion for fashion can set you apart and help you secure that coveted internship. Remember, your dedication and proactive approach are your greatest assets in this competitive field.

Are you looking to spend your summer immersed in the world of fashion and learn everything you need to know to break into this glamorous industry? Our Summer Fashion Camp is designed to equip you with the knowledge, tools, skills, and connections you need to break and thrive in the world of fashion. Join the waitlist here.