Navigating LinkedIn: A Guide for Students and Recent Graduates to Attract Fashion Recruiters and Job Offers

I always say that you need to be proactive in your job search if you want to get a job in fashion. A career opportunity is not going to knock at your door, not even if you studied at the top fashion school.

But there is a way that job offers could actually come to you and that is via LinkedIn. 

If you want to get a job in fashion and the only tool you are working on is your resume (and cover letter, I hope) add LinkedIn to your arsenal if you want to accelerate your job search. LinkedIn stands out as the go-to platform for connecting with industry professionals, finding job opportunities, and showcasing your skills and experience. By harnessing the power of LinkedIn, you can significantly enhance your chances of attracting fashion recruiters and job offers. 

There are two main reasons why you have to use LinkedIn if you are looking for a job or internship in fashion.

First of all, thanks to its features it can open you more career opportunities and secondly nowadays recruiters look for more information about you online when they receive your applications. 

So you have to use LinkedIn effectively to

1. attract more jobs and internships
2. convince recruiters that you are perfect for the job when they land on your profile after you applied for your dream role

Maybe you didn’t know it but actually, if your profile is optimized properly, you can receive a message from a recruiter who invites you over for a job interview even if you didn’t apply for any job or you were not looking for a new role. Recruiters use LinkedIn’s advanced search features to narrow down their search criteria. They can filter candidates based on various parameters, such as location, industry, experience level, skills, education, and more. This allows recruiters to identify potential candidates who meet their specific requirements. Your profile can appear in their search results if you optimize it.

Sounds great right?

Navigating LinkedIn: A Guide for Students and Recent Graduates to Attract Fashion Recruiters and Job Offers

In this article, we will explore actionable strategies tailored specifically for students and recent graduates to leverage LinkedIn effectively and stand out in the eyes of fashion industry professionals.

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile serves as your digital resume and the first impression you make on potential recruiters and employers. Start by adding a high-quality headshot that presents you as a dedicated and professional individual.

Then move on to the next parts:

Craft a compelling headline 

The more keywords you use, the more your profile will appear in the search results when recruiters are scouting new candidates. Recruiters use LinkedIn Recruiter, a tool used to find candidates filtered by certain keywords and skills. Consider LinkedIn as a search engine, like Google. The more your profile is optimized, the more chances you have to feature at the top of the search results when recruiters are looking for people to hire. Use keywords relevant to the job or internship you want to get to attract recruiters. 

For example:

Marketing Student with a passion for the fashion and luxury industry

Recent Graduate Seeking Fashion Marketing Roles

Fashion Graduate with a passion for Sustainable Fashion

Management Student looking for Buying opportunities at Luxury and Fashion Brands

Showcase projects and achievements

Include fashion-related projects, coursework, and internships in the experience section. Emphasize your roles, responsibilities, and outcomes. If you have never worked in fashion before you can even just create a relevant project and save it as a PDF as a sort of portfolio. 

Gather endorsements and recommendations

Request recommendations from professors, mentors, or supervisors who can endorse your skills and work ethic. To make it easier for your endorsers or recommenders, you can provide a brief outline or specific points you’d like them to include in their endorsement or recommendation. This helps ensure that the content aligns with your goals and highlights your strengths.

1. Navigate to the “Skills & Endorsements” or “Recommendations” Section on LinkedIn which is typically found below your summary or experience sections.

2. Click on “Ask to be Endorsed” or “Request a Recommendation”: within the respective section, click on the relevant button to initiate the process. For endorsements, you can click on “Ask to be Endorsed” next to the skill you want to be endorsed for. For recommendations, you can click on “Request a Recommendation” and select the specific relationship you have with the person (e.g., supervisor, colleague, etc.).

Connect with Fashion Industry Professionals 

You might have heard that connections can help you with your career in fashion and this is true. Many jobs are assigned through word of mouth. Thankfully, you can start building your fashion network from scratch via LinkedIn. Not only can connections open doors, but they also play a crucial role in optimizing your visibility on the platform. LinkedIn’s algorithm tends to prioritize profiles of candidates connected to individuals within the desired organization. Imagine a Dior recruiter searching for new talent. With the right keywords and connections, your profile has a higher chance of appearing at the top of their search results. By cultivating connections with professionals already working at Dior, you increase your chances of catching the attention of recruiters and positioning yourself as a strong candidate. LinkedIn’s network-building capabilities provide a valuable opportunity to bolster your career prospects and maximize your visibility within the fashion industry. 

Here’s how students and recent graduates can do it effectively:

a. Connect with classmates, alumni, interns, and assistants. Start by connecting with classmates and alumni who are already working in the fashion industry. Reach out to them, mentioning your shared educational background, and express your interest in their career paths. If you find it intimidating to connect with managers, connect with interns and assistants instead, as they are a few steps ahead of you and can share interesting information.

b. Engage with fashion groups and communities: Join LinkedIn groups dedicated to fashion, such as fashion design, fashion marketing, or sustainable fashion. Engage in discussions, share your insights, and connect with like-minded individuals.

c. Attend virtual events and webinars: Many fashion organizations and professionals host virtual events and webinars. Participate actively, ask questions, and connect with speakers and attendees.

d. Utilize LinkedIn’s “People Also Viewed” feature: When viewing a profile, LinkedIn suggests similar profiles under the “People Also Viewed” section. Explore these profiles to find professionals working in fashion-related roles and connect with them.

Showcase Your Skills and Creativity

To attract fashion recruiters and job offers, you must demonstrate your skills and creativity. You can demonstrate your knowledge and interests even if you don’t have a job yet or you have never worked in fashion before. Use these strategies:

a. Create a portfolio of your work: Utilize LinkedIn’s multimedia features to showcase your fashion design sketches, marketing campaigns, styling projects, or fashion-related artwork. Visual content can captivate recruiters and demonstrate your talent. You can “invent” your project to showcase your skills. It doesn’t necessarily need to be something you did in your previous work experience.

b. Share relevant content: Regularly share articles, blog posts, or news related to the fashion industry. Provide your insights and perspectives to engage with your network and establish yourself as a knowledgeable individual.

c. Write engaging articles: Demonstrate your expertise by writing articles on fashion-related topics, such as emerging trends, sustainability, or fashion industry challenges. Share your unique insights and encourage discussions in the comments section.

Leverage LinkedIn’s Job Search Features:

LinkedIn offers valuable tools to help students and recent graduates find fashion-related job opportunities:

a. Set up job alerts: Customize your job preferences and receive email notifications when relevant fashion positions become available. This feature allows you to stay updated on the latest job openings without constantly needing to look for jobs on the platform manually.

b. Use the job search feature: Use LinkedIn’s job search feature to explore fashion-related roles. Filter by location, entry-level positions, or internships. Save the job postings that interest you and follow the companies for updates.

c. Engage with fashion company pages: Not only this will give you much information about what’s it like working at that brand and their values that you can use to customize your applications but also by engaging with their content, leaving thoughtful comments, and sharing your enthusiasm for their work, you may catch the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

LinkedIn has revolutionized the way students and recent graduates can connect with fashion industry professionals and secure job offers. By optimizing your profile, expanding your network, showcasing your skills, and utilizing LinkedIn’s job search features, you can attract fashion recruiters and unlock exciting opportunities in the dynamic world of fashion. So, harness the power of LinkedIn, and embark on your journey to a successful and fulfilling career in the fashion industry.

Want more tips to break into fashion? Register for my free webinar here.