How to Get a Job in the Fashion Industry

Fashion is important for most people, whether you're an average Joe or the Duchess of Cambridge.

Fashion has long been in the minds of both men and women. From the ancient Egyptian women who constantly wore wigs and Egyptian men who wore kilts to the more modern natural hairstyles and fashionable jean attire of today, fashion is an industry that doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. To get your foot in the door and begin your career in the fashion industry, you'll need to amass a vast knowledge of fashion. Connecting with a few people in the industry will also help your cause.

Instructions

1. Determine which area of fashion you're most interested in. The fashion industry is comprised of several different layers, from the designers themselves to the marketers who assume the responsibility of telling everyone why they need to buy the newest style of jeans. Each position carries a host of different responsibilities.

2. Study courses that relate to the area of fashion you wish to pursue. For example, if you're interested in design, most colleges offer courses and entire programs that focus on fashion design. If you're interested in fashion marketing, you would benefit most from majoring in marketing.

3. Read about the fashion industry and fashion designers, and explore what makes certain companies more successful than others. While a formal education will teach you the ins and outs of the fashion industry, you need to dissect every angle of the industry yourself and pay attention to what makes something popular and what makes other designs seemingly keel over.

4. Apply for internships. Both major and small-time fashion companies offer internships to interested college students. It's unlikely that you'll receive monetary compensation for your work, but you will gain valuable contacts that you can use for networking and reference purposes when you graduate. While interning, ask questions, explain your enthusiasm for fashion and jot down the names of people you talk to.

5. Follow up with your contacts when you graduate. Explain that you just graduated and you're interested in a job in the fashion world. Keep each conversation light; ask for advice, what positions you should look for and which companies are currently hiring. After talking to each person, you'll have at the very least gathered valuable information that you didn't have before.

6. Search for available jobs at companies you're interested in working for. Most companies have websites that detail their various employment opportunities. Look for openings that coincide with your expertise. Almost every company you apply to will want to see your resume. Include on your resume any job or internship you've held relating to fashion and any degrees or credits earned relating to the industry. Be sure to include your contacts in the fashion industry as references.

References

• Women in the Ancient World: Women's Clothing and Fashion in Ancient Egypt
• "Teen Vogue": Fashion Industry 411
• Vault: Getting Hired in the Fashion Industry
• History on the Net.com: The Egyptians - Clothing