If finding a job in fashion was already hard, in these past few months it has become even harder. With the global pandemic that has not spared any country, the offices, and stores closure, and the lockdown, everything has changed. Getting used to wearing a mask in the office is not the only different thing, in general, the hiring and work process are no longer the same, at least for now. In a period of uncertainty like this where companies have canceled internships, stopped hiring and fired parts of the teams, I have received hundreds of emails from you with advice on what to do when you can’t find a fashion job or internship.
If it is true that it is a difficult period, it is not the time to lose creativity and confidence. Although the process has slowed down and the jobs available are fewer, it doesn’t mean that no company is hiring. Getting a job now is difficult but not impossible. Just the other day, a student of Break into the fashion industry told me that she had obtained a job interview with L’Oreal for an internship that will start in 2021, while another student got one for a PR internship at Hermes this fall! So don’t let not being where you want to be, discourage you from taking the steps to get there but let it spark a fire inside you to finally get to that place!
These are my tips on what you can do if you can’t find a fashion job or internship:
Be open to different opportunities
If there are restrictions in your country and you cannot travel at the moment to start the internship you dreamed of on the other side of the world in your favorite fashion capital, do not get discouraged and do not wait for the government to open the borders or you will waste precious time. Instead, use these weeks to do an internship in your city or where you are allowed to travel. The companies you know may not be hiring, but there are many other brands that are doing so, so don’t limit your job search to your favorite brands. Do not underestimate either a short internship of a couple of weeks or at an emerging brand, these experiences also build up a resume. You can still continue to keep an eye on and apply for internships in other cities and change as soon as you are allowed to travel but meanwhile, do what you can.
Online wins
Remote work increased exponentially when office closures were announced. All the fashion industry professionals have started working from home for months and, considering how long the lockdown lasted and the uncertainties in the future, many companies are now organizing themselves to offer remote job positions. So if you can’t move to a fashion capital and you can’t find an opportunity that interests you in your city, search for a remote fashion job in other cities.
Email everyone
If you’ve been reading Glam Observer for a while, you know how many times I have recommended cold emailing brands without waiting for your dream job offer to get published. This advice is still valid even post-pandemic, just in this case, it could be useful to add that you are available to work remotely. You can still make your dream of working at Vogue come true by writing articles and pitching them to editors from the comfort of your home until you can move to their offices. Freelance opportunities are on the rise following the uncertainties in the market after COVID and for companies, it is easier, faster, and less risky to work with those who don’t need a full-time job but are willing to work as freelancers. So do not underestimate the idea of working for different brands as a freelancer, you may find that you like this mode and maybe choose it even when you are offered a contract in the company.
Change your strategy
If your problem is not finding job offers but being able to get responses when you apply, rather than continuing to apply using the same CV template, cover letter, or email, change something in your application strategy. It could be that your CV doesn’t express your talent or the cover letter isn’t personalized enough. If fashion was already very competitive, with fewer vacancies available at the moment, it is even more competitive, so don’t make any mistakes during the application phase. In this free webinar, I teach 3 strategies to get noticed by a fashion company that you could try right away.
Take advantage of downtime
While you’re waiting for someone to call you after your application, use this time to connect with fashion professionals via LinkedIn and Instagram, and request informational interviews to make connections but also learn more about a role. Informational interviews are very useful for asking questions to those who work in the company to find out more about their role and, in this period you could also ask how the company is organized after COVID and if they are hiring remotely and regularly.
Think outside the box
Fashion companies like to receive a personalized application that proves that you are not randomly applying for 1000 companies just to get a job, but that you want to get that job. So in addition to customizing your CV and cover letter, why not also add a page to your portfolio dedicated to that brand or create an ad hoc PDF with a mood board or something that shows that you did your research on the company?
After reading your article I was amazed. I know that you explain it very well. And I hope that other readers will also experience how I feel after reading your article. Anyway, As a bag lover, I often find myself searching the Internet for new bags and coveted designs from Hermes brands like Kelly, Birkin, super fake birkin and Constance. Unfortunately, this means that I have also spent more than I would like to admit in the originals.