There isn’t any definite way to
set up a solid future in fashion, but it can’t hurt to try! Through my
experiences, I am sharing my “To Do” list to make my future as definite as it
can be.
1 Make
a list of connections.
It may sound like a trivial task, but
by talking about your desire to work in fashion with everyone you can
dig up some good connections in the industry. The fact of the matter is, when
you need to get your first internship or job, these connections are going to
help you a lot. When you find out that your cousin’s friend is the CEO of some
brand or company, write it down. Seriously, write it down immediately. Asking that cousin to ask their friend if they would meet
with you might be an intimidating experience, but without that connection,
would you have the chance to talk to that person at all? Probably not.
I have a document on my Google
Drive that is shared with both my parents, so if anyone of us learns of a
connection, we can write it down and all the references are compiled in one
place. I would suggest writing down whom you know personally, what their
relationship is with the contact and the contact’s name and job. For example:
Connections:
-Joe Smith (cousin) friend is Gloria Smith- CEO of MadeUp
Brand
2 Talk
To Everyone
Whenever you get the chance, talk
to people. This is the key to Item 1 above:meeting new people and making
contacts. If you are able to go to an event at Fashion Week, or a conference,
or any place where there are people who work in fashion, you have to talk. Introduce yourself, make
conversation, and give them a reason to remember you. Personally, I know that
it can be scary, especially as a teenager, trying to talk to adults and get
them to talk to you as a professional, not as a child.
Important: Try to have a brief ‘speech’
prepped about the one thing about you that will help people remember you. For
me, it’s my blog and the experiences I have gotten from having a blog, like
going to Fashion Week. Once you figure yours out, it makes starting and holding
a conversation a lot easier.
3 Take
Advantage of Opportunities
Adults always tell teenagers to
take advantage of the opportunities given to them. In all honesty, it’s good
advice, although it pains me to admit that.
If you get the opportunity to
listen to a speaker from the fashion industry, make sure you introduce yourself.
If you can’t introduce yourself after they speak, try to get their contact
information to thank them for speaking and let them know that you learned
something from them.
If you take classes about fashion,
whether it’s at a university or at your high school, keep in touch with your
professors. They have a lot of knowledge and possible industry contacts that
may come in handy for getting that first job.
There are so many possible
opportunities that may come your way, but let me just say this: be prepared so
that if you end up in an elevator with Anna Wintour, don’t let her leave
without knowing who you are and having your contact information.
4 Write
your Resume
Even if you have job/internship experience, making a
resume can be a daunting task. First, your resume should have a simple,
organized design. Don’t pull an Elle Woods with pink scented paper; it won’t
actually work to get you that internship (and most are submitted by email now
anyway).
Second, all resumes should have
your basic contact information, which would be a phone number, email address
and home address. Most resumes have
different sections to categorize the information being given. Mine, for
example, has Education, Experience, Activities and Skills.
Under the Education section, I listed
my high school, graduating year and current GPA, as well as all the precollege
classes I have taken at FIT.
Under the Experience section, I listed
my internship and what I did for the company I worked for, the shows I have
covered at New York Fashion Week, my blog and the tasks required in the
production of my blog.
Under the Activities section, I
wrote down the clubs and sports teams I am a part of, and how long I have been
involved in each. Tip: If you don’t have a lot of job experience, focus on this
section. Group sports and clubs can show dedication, teamwork and other
important skills that employers look for in the workplace.
Under the Skills section, I listed
the different computer software I am
proficient in (Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop,
InDesign…), and the character traits I have that I feel will be most
translatable into the workplace.
Basically…
I wanted to
share this with all of you, because as teenagers, it can be really hard trying
to get internships or get noticed. Hopefully these tips will help you out in
some way! Let me know if there is anything else you have done to set yourself
up for a future in fashion.
xx,
Emma
