How to Prepare for a Job Interview in the Fashion Industry
You've secured an interview with that dream fashion company, but there's still some work to be done before the big day. You will find plenty of books available on preparing for a job interview, but they're not tailored to the fashion industry. Certain questions are asked at nearly every interview in the fashion industry, and you need to be ready for them. With the right pre-interview preparation, you can arrive confident and prepared, one step closer to landing that dream job in the fashion world.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Research your potential employer's website. Learn who the brand's target customer is, and how the company's business is performing. You may be asked about this at the interview.
-
2
Visit the company's store. Spend time studying the merchandise and the customers. Try on the clothing.
-
-
3
Identify competing fashion brands and visit those stores. Study their merchandise and the customers shopping in the stores, looking for differences and similarities between their fashion assortments and that of your potential employer.
-
4
Analyze what you like and don't like about your potential employer's fashions as it relates to the position for which you are interviewing. Be prepared to provide specific critiques and suggestions, as your interviewer will almost certainly ask it of you.
-
5
Read magazines. Look for upcoming fashion trends. Depending on the area of business you are interviewing for, you may be asked to predict some upcoming trends. Don't just guess--take cues from the style trendsetters.
-
6
Plan your interview outfit. You won't be hired or rejected based on fashion choices alone, but fashion interviewers ARE looking at your personal style. Avoid wearing your potential employer's brand from head-to-toe. You don't want to appear as if you are trying too hard.
-
7
Prepare your documents. Bring a dozen copies of your resume. The fashion industry is big on teamwork, so you may be interviewed by a succession of people. A fashion designer must have a portfolio. If you're interviewing for a designer position, don't even consider arriving without one.
-
8
Be punctual, but don't arrive too early. Aim to arrive five to ten minutes before your scheduled appointment, but no earlier. The fashion industry is a fast-paced business, and your interviewer is probably very busy. It can be stressful to the interviewer to know that a candidate is waiting for a very long time.
-
1
