The majority of individuals who want to work in fashion come into this industry because their love for clothing. Whether it’s styling themselves or other people they love playing around with different pieces and putting outfits together. However fashion isn’t just about the clothing or knowing how to style an outfit, there are so many different types of jobs that require all sorts of different skills.
When coming into the industry don’t limit yourself to only a couple skills even if you know what job you want, the more knowledge you have about the industry the more opportunities that will arise. The biggest mistake young professionals make is not continuing to learn after they’ve finished school or have found a job. Even successful entrepreneurs or CEO never stop learning and improving their skills.
If you limit your skills you are limiting more job opportunities for yourself, also employers love to hire someone who is versatile so have multiple skills in various areas rather than just a couple. You want to be that employee that can jump into any scenario and help out rather than being the one to say “Oh sorry I don’t know how to do that!”
A lot of times I see people getting discouraged by not finding a job in the industry right away or they may be having troubles switching jobs, my biggest pieces of advice is to learn a new skill or find a way to improve your current skills. Head online and learn from Youtube tutorials, Skillshare, find some local workshops, or even an online Certificate/Course you can take. Not only will you get to add a new set of skills to your resume but you will also be continuously motivated and training your brain to open up and learn new things again…which keeps the brain sharp!
The more you exercise your mind the better focus you will have, even if it’s the smallest thing like picking up a fashion magazine and analyzing the contents to get familiar with upcoming trends, news, or editorials. Have a daily routine where you are filling your mind with new knowledge, subscribe to fashion newsletters for morning motivation, listen to a podcast every morning, read a chapter from a self-development book etc. However, don’t just read fashion magazines or fashion website/blog, read and watch news not only on your city but global news as well. A lot of current events and politics can also affect the fashion industry drastically so it’s important to know what’s happening around the world.
If you’re a designer don’t be afraid to venture off into learning some business/marketing, it’s a great tool to have if you want to run your own brand someday or even working for a brand it can help you come up with new design concepts by not only thinking like a designer but also as a marketer. There are so many different skills out there to learn that can help improve your job search and also spice up your resume!
Below I have provided examples of some of the MANY different skills you can dive into that can help broaden your skillset and land your dream job!
- Writing/Journalism: Whether you take a short writing course or even a diploma there are many different options for writing courses varying from Creative Writing, Journalism, Public Relation Writing, Professional/Business Writing etc. Having this on your resume is a huge asset as it shows you have excellent communication and writing skills which is a must in any business setting.
- Finances/Accounting: I know…this probably sounds boring, but if you’re looking at getting into Sales or Buying at all this is a MUST. Having skills revolving around money and budgeting will definitely help you land a job as a Buyer, Sales Manager, or even working in the Accounting department of a brand.
- Visual Design/Photography: If you’re wanting to dive into the world of fashion magazines having a background in Visual Design and/or Photography is essential. Whether you’re in the Editorial, Beauty, or even Sales department, knowing what to look for in a good image or what not to do for a layout is incredibly important. Fashion magazines can be more competitive to get into so having skills in not only styling and writing but also design and photography will give you an advantage. These skills are also great for anyone looking to get into the Marketing Department, Advertising, or Social Media Management.
- Sewing: If you are on the business side of fashion you may not need to know how to sew or how garments are constructed but it can help you immensely if you’re trying to market an item or even styling a client. If you want to be a stylist its essential to know the basics of sewing, you never know when you may need to do a quick fix on set.
- Public Speaking: Being well-spoken in extremely important in this industry whether you’re on the design or business side. If you’re a designer you will have to do presentations on your collections and try and sell your ideas to others which requires great confidence. On the business side almost every job requires some kind of presentation whether it’s giving sale updates, editorial pitches, marketing strategies, or even being a sales associate at a small boutique.
