Very often I hear people saying that getting a job in fashion seems impossible and many people give it up for this reason.
You can’t give up without fighting for your dreams. If you believe in what you want and you work hard, you can get everything. Visualize the results you want to get and work hard to reach your goals!
If you want to work in fashion after university or you want to change industry after 10 years, you can do it, if you really want it. I’m not saying it will be easy, but you definitely can make it if you work hard and are passionate.
More than ever today you can create your opportunity if there isn’t. The social media and Instagram especially, have brought careers that did not exist before. Someone has a normal 9-5 job and then works in the fashion industry thanks to his or her Instagram profile, blog or Youtube channel.
If you want to work in fashion, but you think you do not have the right skills for this industry, Â there are still ways to build those skills that you’re missing.
Become a fashion journalist, a photographer or stylist is not like years ago.
Nowadays you don’t have to wait for a big magazine to hire you to become a fashion editor. With all the blogs out there, some even more popular than traditional media, career opportunities in fashion are much more open. You do not need to have studied at the most famous fashion school and be overqualified.
If you want to become a stylist, you can start your Instagram profile and find people, brands, photographers and makeup artist to collaborate with to build your portfolio. If you want to write about fashion, you can contact those who have a blog or start your own, same if you want to work on editorial shots, you can collaborate with some influencers or stylists.
If you already have a job and want to do a career change in fashion, you could start working on some projects online or during the weekend (offer to assist some stylists, help backstage during fashion week, write articles for an online magazine) for a few months until you start gaining experience and create connections in fashion, two key factors to get a job in fashion.
Don’t let your fear of being unqualified to stop you from applying. You never know how a fashion company could consider your personality and your experience.
Even if you do not have some skills yet, play a little with the CV (which does not mean adding false information) and make it interesting for fashion companies in order to increase your chances. Take a look at the CV Review service and I will help you structure your best CV ever to get a job in fashion.
Even if you haven’t studied fashion, you can become an expert with online courses, reading books, listening to podcasts and staying constantly updated about the industry.
Remember also that your connections are everything. I will never stop repeating how important it is to build your network and never stop growing it. You could get a job in fashion just because someone referred to you.
If you want to get a fashion job without the entry-level requirements, start working on yourself. Create your opportunities. Enroll in an online or evening course, attend industry events, establish relationships with people in the industry through Instagram or LinkedIn, start working on your project or offer to help someone else, update your CV and above all not be afraid to apply for positions only because you think you are not qualified enough. Explain well in the cover letter why you would like to work for that company and how you fill your gaps in the industry. Many fashion recruiters and employers have confirmed that passion is what matters when choosing a candidate over another.
