by Andrew Edwards
The road to a career in fashion is fierce and competitive but well worth the effort. UCLA students are well positioned for immersion, as Los Angeles is one of the world’s fashion capitals joining cities such as Paris, New York, Hong Kong, and Milan.
The processes for obtaining internships and entry- level positions are similar in many ways to applying for a job in other industries. Companies will request a resume and cover letter, and most likely additionally require a list of references, a writing sample or portfolio. Preliminary goals for finding an internship or job in the fashion industry are to research and to find out what exactly inspires you about the industry. A motivated individual must research local and top global companies, such as Condé Nast and TimeWarner, Inc. for competence and possible openings. For example, a Promotion Copywriter position currently posted on Condé Nast requests applicants have excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills, and ability to think creatively under tight deadlines. A position for Promotion Coordinator at Condé Nast requires applicants to possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, professional phone skills, attention to detail and ability to function in a fast-paced environment.
Fashion industry careers are extensive, such as fashion designer, photographer, model, editor, or marketer. The job of a fashion designer varies between designing clothing labels to supervising a design team at a company. The future fashion designer has knack for drawing or sketching, which is essential in order to create a marketable portfolio. Similarly, becoming a fashion photographer requires a portfolio demonstrating photography skills and experience. For candidates aspiring to be fashion models, an agent is an invaluable and necessary resource. Los Angeles has many agencies searching for talent, such as Elite, Wilhelmina and L.A Models.
The fashion editor career has two different paths – in-house fashion editor or market editor. An in-house editor is the creator of the themes featured through fashion editorials, while the market editor is an expert of the magazine, traveling to different cities and establishing relationships with designers and showrooms. Both positions require candidates to work their way up from an assistant, possibly even beginning at a non-fashion magazine. Yet another career path in the fashion industry is that of fashion marketer, which involves elements of sales, advertising, design, and business administration. Marketers are responsible for determining which products are most likely to be successful by analyzing pop culture as well as predicting future trends. They analyze the best ways to reach potential consumers. These five possibilities are only a few of many possible careers within the fashion industry; one can also become a personal stylist, graphic designer, public relations specialist, product manager, or show-room manager among others.
Due to fashion’s competitive nature, positions require diverse and unique qualities from applicants. Many of the job postings look for candidates that are organized, energetic, fast learners, detail-oriented, skilled in Photoshop and above all have an interest in fashion. Each position and each company will have different standards for the new hires, which is why it is very important to research the companies beforehand.
The most direct way to get hired at a fashion company is contacting human resources or responding to an online job posting. For example, if you want to work for a fashion magazine, contact a company such as Condé Nast Publications or Time Warner, Inc. Condé Nast owns Vogue, Lucky, Allure, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Modern Bride and more, while Time Inc. owns Essence and InStyle. You can find their contact information and job postings on their websites. Both companies have special internship programs that recruit starting around February through their websites, while full time recruiting happens more heavily. There are postings now on BruinView and the company websites for full time positions. Search through the company websites about deadlines and due dates if there aren’t current listings now for the type of position you want. Also, don’t be afraid to email the human resources department with your credentials and the types of position you are seeking so that they can contact you when a position becomes available. When contacting the human resources department, include any material that may be applicable to the position being sought. Lastly, there are third party websites dedicated to careers in fashion, such as StyleCareers, so be sure to scan these for opportunities as well.
The road to becoming a top fashion editor in a magazine such as Vogue, might require one to start as an assistant performing simple administrative tasks. When starting out and even at senior levels, gaining experience and networking are essential to advancing within the industry. Highly successful individuals in fashion combine creativity and vision to drive companies forward.
