Like anyone who has a passionate interest or hobby, many people who love fashion want to turn their hobby into a career. Perhaps when you think of jobs in the fashion industry you immediately think of being a fashion designer or maybe a fashion journalist. But there are lots of roles you can take on in the fashion industry, and they don’t have to involve being artistic. If you love fashion, but you don’t feel like you have the skills to get involved in the creative process, there are other ways you can work in the industry. Although many people dream of being a designer, journalist or photographer too. The world of fashion is vast and can stretch from runways to retail. Whether you want to work as a makeup technician or a salesperson, there are lots of routes into fashion to help you land your dream job.
Education
You won’t get far in the fashion industry if you don’t know what you’re talking about. Educating yourself doesn’t have to mean getting a formal education, but it could help. If you want to work on the creative end of the spectrum, a fashion-focused degree from a fashion school in London could be a good choice. You’ll develop your skills and have some good examples of what you can do with your knowledge and creativity. For people who want to look at a career that’s not as focused on the actual creation of fashion, you don’t necessarily need to look at degrees so closely related to it. For example, if you want to work as a PA, you can learn how to apply your skills to the fashion industry later. Qualifications aren’t everything though and, whether you get a degree or not; you need to get to know the industry. Decide which branch of the fashion world appeals to you best and research how to get involved.
Who Speaks to You?
If you have an area of fashion in mind, narrow it down even further. You probably already have your favorite designers, magazines and makeup artists. So work out what it is about them that appeals to you. Perhaps you’re drawn to sustainable fashion or designers who push the conventions and buck the trends. If you want to find a job in fashion, you need an idea of what sort of people you want to work for. It’s tempting to take any job that you can get when you’re just starting out. But you’ll do your best work if you feel a connection to the company. Make a list of the companies you love that you want to target – they will know if you have a passion for their work.
Killer Applications
Just like any industry, the world of fashion is a tough one to make it in. There are often hundreds of people competing for any one job, so it’s important that you make yourself stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re applying for an internship or your first full-time job, make sure your cover letter and resume are well-written and that you’ve put a lot of thought into it. If it’s just like all the others, you’ll be passed over for someone else. It’s important that you customize both your resume and cover letter for each job application. Applying for jobs is not a “one size fits all” situation. You need to write individual applications for each company to show you’ve considered the position carefully.
Internships
The fashion industry is one of the places where internships can be very useful. Contacts are important in the fashion world, and an internship can get you both contacts and experience. You may be running around getting coffee and doing the photocopying. But you’ll get to see how a company in your chosen field operates. When you’re interning, try to have a “can do” attitude. Put yourself forward for tasks and go above and beyond what you’re asked or expected to do. You’ll stand out as someone who’s dedicated to becoming successful. Some companies will even try their best to find you a job at the end of your internship, whether it’s with them or any company.
Making it Through Interviews
Interviews can be one of the most stressful things about applying for a job. It’s a thrill knowing that your application was good enough to get you an interview. But you’re still in direct competition with everyone else who made it. You need to make a good impression right from the start, including looking professional. You might be applying for a job in fashion, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to look smart. You can inject a bit of style and personality into your outfit, but if you’re in doubt try to stay fairly conservative. When it’s time for an interview, don’t just wing it. It may be tempting, if you’re a confident person, to just go in and say whatever comes into your head. But preparation is key if you want to give considered and professional answers. There are many standard interview questions that you can prepare answers for, but don’t learn anything word for word. You don’t want to sound too rehearsed.
Show That You’re Switched-On
It’s not just your resume, cover letter and interview technique that will help you stand out. Show that you’re passionate and knowledgeable, even if you don’t have much experience. You can keep a blog or even a Pinterest board, showing that you keep up to date with the things you’re interested in. These things will help you to demonstrate that you’re opinionated and dedicated, as well as helping you to stand out from the crowd.
When you’re applying for jobs and attending interviews, don’t forget the little details. Things like being punctual and polite may not seem a big deal, but they can make all the difference. You don’t want the interviewer to remember you as the person who turned up late for their interview. Make sure you leave a good impression and don’t let your positives be overshadowed by silly mistakes.