Applying for fashion jobs huh?
You’re finally here. You are near your computer getting ready to start submitting resumes and waiting around for interview call backs.
But wait!
Don’t do one thing else until you read the rest of this article and you’ve decided that you’ve the dedication required to apply for and work in fashion.
There are several crucial things you must know before applying for fashion jobs.
Sure the movie “The Devil Wears Prada” shows us some of the craziness of the fashion industry but let’s just discuss this a bit more and give you some realistic expectations before you decide to proceed.
Contents
Top 5 Easy Tips to Get Fashion Jobs
1. Managing Expenses and Cost of Living
You might be doing fabulous work in your new job but if you don’t do the math right you could have to kiss it all good bye.
For instance, if you’ve been living and working in Florida (low cost of living), and you have your heart set on fashion jobs in New York City (high cost of living) make sure you budget not only for rent and transportation but also food, clothing, health insurance, utilities and other expenses you will probably have.
Make a list of all the possible expenses and see if it’s a wise decision. You don’t want your new job to be an expensive choice!
2. Rejection
If you don’t handle rejection well, then this industry is not for you; it’s as simple as that. You’ll hear “No” frequently and you have two choices: cry about it and give up or return to the drawing board and come up with another (better) plan.
Look at it this way, a lot of those applying for fashion jobs will in the end get tired of all the rejection and they will give up; when that takes place, do you want to still be standing?
If your answer is “Yes”, then guess who gets more opportunities? You! Use the negative feedback and turn it into constructive criticism. Learn, improve and try again!
3. You WILL be judged by your appearance
Yes, we’re taught to love and appreciate people for who they are but, honey, in case you are working in the fashion industry people will look at you and make up their very own reasons that explains why you got the job.
You don’t want them to look at you and think “SHE’S a stylist?!” or even worse, “She won’t belong in this industry!”.
Ouch!
It’s not as simple as just going out and buying expensive designer clothing. Chipped finger nails, wrinkled clothing, dirty shoes are just some of the tiny details that can make a significant difference in the world. Remember, fashion jobs are not all about appearance but they’re definitely a major aspect.
One of Many Fashion Jobs
4. Your first fashion job will be the first of many others.
PLEASE don’t be some of those people that think they have landed the best and most wonderful of all fashion jobs ever on their first try.
I’m not saying it’s impossible but I am saying it’s most likely not going to happen for you. You will most likely have to start at the bottom, probably as an intern (paid if you’re lucky) and will get stuck steaming the clothes, fetching the coffee, etc.
It’s not unless you prove yourself and gain the respect of your coworkers and boss that you’ll be able to stand out and come up the ladder.
It can take years and many job changes until you finally get your dream job. And even then, a ‘dream job’ in the fashion industry can have its share of nightmares too.
Fashion Jobs with Overtime
5. 40-hour five-day work week fashion jobs?! HA!
If this sounds like what you are searching for… um, yeah, you might as well just give up now. Rarely will fashion jobs offer such a predictable work schedule.
Not surprisingly, this will vary according to what you tend to specialize in but most people pursuing fashion jobs are not going to settle for being store managers with a set work schedule.
Many of you reading this dream of making it big, REAL big. Well, just remember that if you wish to get ahead you should work more and harder than everybody else and that includes being the first one in and the last one out.
Told you it takes dedication.