While the diversity of fashion jobs is ever-expanding, the industry is still notoriously hard to break into, especially for recent graduates looking to land their first nine-to-five.
Navigating the application and interview process (especially the rejections) in a competitive market can be gruelling. It often feels like there’s some secret code you’re supposed to crack just to get your foot in the door.
This is where a specialist recruiter can help. Consider them a matchmaker, but instead of blind dates, they set you up with interviews. Recruiters can help you find your dream match by pitching you to employers, coordinating interviews, relaying feedback and providing insight into the realities of a role.
If you were to find the best matchmaker in the Australian fashion industry, Angela Briggs would probably be your woman. As the director of UMENCO, a recruitment agency specialising in career development across fashion, beauty and lifestyle, Angela has over 20 years of experience helping people find fulfilling careers in these industries.
Luckily for me (a journalism student in the last week of my internship with FJ), Angela is the opposite of a gatekeeper. She’s literally published a playbook that shares career advice and insights from local and international fashion talent, from design assistants to CEOs.
Whether you’re looking to start your career, or you want to transition into a role in fashion, Angela’s practical advice will help you stand out so you can impress the right people and land your ideal job.
Fashion Journal: Hi Angela! Thanks for agreeing to answer my burning questions. Firstly, how can a candidate be seen by a recruiter? Is there anything they should have prepared in advance?
Angela: When you’re meeting with a recruiter, it’s important to ask questions and have a clear understanding of what your experiences to date have been, and what you want to achieve.
For a creative role, I love to see a body of work. It’s important to have an up-to-date CV that’s concise and accurate. I also recommend creating a LinkedIn profile from the early stages of your career. A well-put-together portfolio that clearly demonstrates your aesthetic, your work and what you can bring to a role can help start that initial conversation with a recruiter.
I’m also a huge believer in a reach-out. I love it when people contact me directly and send me their portfolios. I’d say a huge majority of junior emerging roles come from people who’ve reached out to me with their portfolio and written a compelling and committed email. Where possible, I always make time to meet with those people and they’ve led to some of the most rewarding placements in UMEMCO’s history. So, have a LinkedIn profile but don’t be afraid to reach out directly to people, to present your work and ask for an opportunity to meet up.
What stands out to you in a fashion resume or portfolio?
I love reading a CV that’s concise and well-articulated. There’s no requirement for it to be long and heavy. Doing a spell and grammar check is also really important. There’s no point saying you have attention to detail and then spelling a brand name wrong in your resume.
Cover Letters also often get overlooked. People may see taking time to write considered emails or cover letters as a waste of time, but I absolutely think they can lead to exciting opportunities.
What are some common mistakes you see in resumes?
A lack of accuracy around tenure is a common one. It’s important to be transparent about the tenure of your roles and be able to speak articulately and honestly about the responsibilities you held in those roles. I also recommend having a short profile or bio section at the beginning of your CV, where you’ve written something honest and compelling about what you’re looking for, and what you can bring to the role. Try to make this statement unique and avoid using buzzwords.
We often hear the phrase ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ thrown around in the fashion industry. How important is networking?
Taking the time to build great relationships is super important and can lead to valuable connections and exciting opportunities. I like to think of networking as a way to not only create wonderful connections but also an opportunity to hear from different perspectives and broaden my thinking. Those emerging within the industry have great insights to share and I believe we can all learn and develop with each other.
My networking tips would be to remember to always remain genuine and respect people’s time. You can also approach networking in a way that aligns with what you’re most comfortable with. For me, I love nothing better than to sit with someone and have a one-on-one chat, but I know other people might prefer to be social butterflies and have short chats with various people. There’s no wrong or right way to network.
As someone who speaks to both candidates and employers after interviews, what advice do you have for someone navigating the interview process?
See it as an opportunity to learn and to gain information. It’s also important to be able to speak to your own experiences and reflect on what you learnt from the interview and potentially what you would do differently, particularly in behaviour-based interviews.
When I’m working with people around interview preparation, I get them to review the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action and Result). Demonstrating that you can reflect on experiences and that you’re self-aware is also super important and creates the foundation for a robust conversation.
What are some questions candidates should always have prepared to ask employers?
I know people often say ‘have questions ready to go’ and that’s absolutely a good hint. I’m not saying don’t get questions organised, but I think it goes a bit further than that. My recommendation is to be engaged and actively listen during the conversation. This way you can ask questions that specifically relate to information they share, which shows the interviewer you are engaged.
I also recommend asking questions about the leadership within the business. Take the time to ask questions about who you will be working with. Choosing roles where you’re influenced by good leadership is crucial in the early, formative stages of your career. It can shape the type of leader you will be in the future and what experiences you have as you’re growing.
What’s your advice for candidates who find themselves in an endless loop of rejection?
Rejection happens at all the different touch points of your career. I understand how disappointing setbacks can be, we’ve all experienced them. But it’s important to remain confident in what you’re doing and in yourself and take every setback as an opportunity to learn, develop and grow.
For more advice on landing a job in the fashion industry, read this.
This article A fashion recruiter’s advice for breaking into the industry appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-02-11 04:42:00
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