How to Start and Build a Career in Fashion

The Fashion Industry is highly competitive, but there are also great opportunities. Do you know that H&M created 13000 new jobs in 2016 and 145.000 people work at LVMH?. So there are a lot of opportunities in this industry. The main problem is that the amount of people who dream to work in fashion is also quite high. That’s the reason why I started this membership: to help you find a place in the fashion industry.

If you follow our tips, your opportunities of finding a place in the fashion industry will grow a LOT!

We have also just launched a JOBS page where we list the best job opportunities in fashion. Bookmark it so you can quickly check this page often through the week as we will update it frequently.

Decide a Specific Area

Before starting a career in fashion, the first thing you have to do is deciding which specific area you are interested in. And I’m here to help you. To know more about the different role so the fashion industry, you can browse among our interviews with fashion professionals and check our posts that explains the different careers in the fashion industry like the role of the buyer, merchandiser, the jobs in e-commerce or retail.  If you want to know about a specific position leave a comment below or email me at [email protected].

Internship

When you have chosen the area, it’s time to look for a job. Internships are your starting point. Even if you’ve studied something fashion-related, nothing beats real-world experience. They are also a great way to understand if the role you initially decided to go for, is the one you like. Once you’ll start working in fashion, you’ll have the chance to see what all the departments in a company are doing, and you’ll understand better what is the right role for you. So don’t worry if at the beginning you don’t know what career is the right one for you. This is normal, and if you need help you can email me at [email protected], and I’ll help you figure out what career could be the right one for you according to your interests and background.

Be realistic and think strategically: if you want to become a buyer, you won’t start your career as a buyer, but try something like assistant buyer or also a role that works closely with the buyer, as a merchandiser assistant for example.

Stand Out

Getting an internship in fashion is not so easy. There are lots of people who are applying for the same position so you have to find a way to stand out. When applying to a company, your only chance to get the job is your CV and cover letter, and they need to be super powerful and effective.  I wrote a guide: Stylish rules to write the perfect CV to Work in Fashion” where you’ll find all the insider tips to build a resume to get a job in fashion. You can shop it here and because you’re a member, you can get 10% off using the code “MEMBER.”

“A professional looking CV will be enough, but in a creative industry, it helps to be clever with the design of your CV, especially when applying for a design position. We’re looking at your creativity always,” says fashion designer Phoenix Keating. So build your CV carefully, you can check our CV Design Service if you need help.

Where to look for a Job

The most important lesson to learn is that there are more role players in this industry than Vogue and Gucci. Fashion start-ups often offer opportunities where you’ll learn more, gain more experience, and receive more recognition.

Keeping this in mind, the best way to find a fashion job/internship is online. You can now check often our JOBS page, but you should also have a look at the Careers page on the brand’s websites and even on Linkedin. Apply as soon as you see a job opportunity that could be interesting for you.  Recheck your CV and make sure it fits that company and job and write a killer cover letter that shows your interest in the company and position.

Be present online

Today we have the opportunity to use social media and blogs to showcase what we can do. When it’s time to start your career, set your LinkedIn and Instagram profile at its best. You need to use LinkedIn to create connections as you know networking in fashion is a must. Someone may call you for an interview after checking your LinkedIn profile, so make sure everything is set correctly and start connecting with the right people. You should connect with whom works at your dream company and start a relationship by asking for advice about working in fashion or how they started their careers. Then use Instagram as your creative portfolio, especially if you want to pursue a creative career such as the role of the stylist or designer where visual is everything.

Featured Photo Vogue