What information are you giving the people in your network about yourself and your activities and what are you doing to build your network?  Why do I keep blogging about this? Because, it’s that important.  Keeping your network up-to-date with your activities, job situation, etc. is one of the most important things you can do for your career.  If you’re not on LinkedIn yet, better get started right away. It’s free, and it’s one of the best investments you can make in yourself. 

Go grab a glass of milk and a cookie – I have a story for you with a very happy ending.  Who doesn’t like a happy ending, especially in this economy – and it all has to do with networking.   A client of mine was in a pretty desperate situation – her production manager gave notice right before their busiest season ever.  While it may still be an employer’s market out there and hundreds of resumes for every available position, it’s not always easy to find the right candidate for the job.  

Think about this…have you ever gone to DSW in search of a pair of shoes, only to come home with one or more boxes of shoes, none of which was exactly what you were looking for but still suits your needs?  I usually walk out of DSW with a major headache and no shoes to show for it, but I digress.  Anyway, my client felt like she was shopping for shoes at DSW – plenty to choose from, but not exactly what she’s looking for. 

I racked my brain to see if I could find anyone in my network for her, but there was no one off the top of my head that seemed like the right person for the job.  I asked around and got some recommendations, but again, not the right person for the job.  The thing about your network, especially when job hunting, is quality, not quantity.   The more you know – professionally - about your colleagues the better off you all are.  It’s not just the skills you, or they, currently have, but your past skills, your interests, your activities and more.  Make sure your profile is up to date and includes these things as well as your work history. 

Back to the story – I was looking through my weekly LinkedIn update – the email I receive with updates from my network on all of the items mentioned above – new jobs, updated positions or skills, activities, reading lists and more.  I came across the name of an old colleague of mine and decided to click on her profile to find out what she had been up to.  Turns out, she was looking for work.  I was only familiar with the work we had done together, but by looking at her profile, I realized she had many of the skills my client wanted.   I quickly sent an email and just as quickly received a response.  She came in that day for an interview and left with a job!  A JOB!!  Both she and the client, hopefully, have their happy ending.  It didn’t hurt that I knew her personally and could vouch for some of her work experience and her management style, but she got the job on her on skills and merits. 

So what are you waiting for?  Go out and update your network today.  You may have a job by tomorrow!

Jill Mazur is an independent apparel business and technology consultant working with Fashion Business, Incorporated.  Email:  jill@fashionbizinc.org

Fashion Business, Inc. is asking for your input to help us conduct a study of the apparel, footwear, textile and accessory industries. Specifically, how the recession has affected job opportunities within these industries over the past 12 months.

We’d like to know a few things about your business. This study is anonymous – any information you include about your business will be kept confidential and only used for data gathering purposes. We will be happy to provide you with the results of the study, should you so desire. Please indicate this on your response, along with your email address.

1: What is your sales volume today (in dollars)?

2: Over the past 12 months what percentage of your sales volume has increased or decreased?

3: In the past 12 months, have you had any layoffs or reductions in staff? If so, how many people or percentage of your work force.

4: In the past 12 months, have you hired staff for any existing positions?

5: In the past 12 months, have you hired staff for any newly created positions?

Thank you very much for your time today. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Jill Mazur

Independent Apparel and Business Consultant

Email: jill@fashionbizinc.org

What sets you apart from all of the other people out there searching for jobs?  Is it who you know?  Is it your winning personality?  Is it your past experience?  The answer is “Yes” to all of the above.  But you already knew that.  What else can you do to set yourself apart?  I’d say it’s “What You Know,” at least as far as it relates to software.  Yes, software.  “But I’m a DESIGNER!” Or “MERCHANDISER!” Or “SALES REP!” Or “Fill in the Blank.”  “What do I need to know about software?”  As much as you can.  A talented designer should always be able to sketch.  But can you scan the sketch into Adobe Illustrator© or a similar tool – add colorways, create an inspiration board or portfolio?  Merchandisers, can you create a line sheet or look book to knock a buyer’s socks off?   Sales reps, how are you analyzing your business these days?  Are you able to look up your customer’s information and create your own reports and queries from your manufacturing system or reporting tools or are you relying on some else to do the heavy lifting?  Skills like these that set you apart from your peers and open up new doors. 

These days it’s not enough to know basic Microsoft Office© tools like Outlook©, Word© and Excel©.  Keep adding to your repertoire.  It never hurts to list the software applications you’ve used on your resume.  Employers may have resume scanning software that looks for key words such as Illustrator©, PLM, Excel© or more, since those are the skills they require.  If you don’t have those skills listed, your resume might get passed over even though you’re highly qualified for the job. Think about the tools you currently (or previously) used at work.  Think about how you can improve your knowledge, and then do it.  Does your company offer system training or tuition re-imbursement? Are there classes you can take at night or on the weekends?  Is there a “Super user” in your department who’s willing to give you some extra training sessions during lunch?  Is your company installing a new software application?  Can you volunteer to work on the project?  Update your resume with your technical skills and don’t be surprised if more companies start showing interest in YOU.

Jill Mazur is an independent apparel business and technology consultant working with Fashion Business, Incorporated.  Email:  jill@fashionbizinc.org

Hiring interns can be a great way to train a potential future employee–off the payroll (whew!)–and at the same time providing an ambitious student with much needed experience.

While you may not have an official “internship program,” here a few tips to create what can be rewarding experience for both you and the student……

1. First You Have to Find One–Many people find interns by placing an ad on a random job search site like craigslist.  However if you don’t feel like going through a flood of resumes you may want to work directly with the career centers of fashion schools such as the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Otis College of Design or The Art Institutes.

2. Make a Plan–Interns like everyone else in the world still love the classic radio station WII-FM, also known as What’s In It For Me.  While you set your expectations for the work experience make sure you get feedback from the student on their short and long term goals.  With this in mind you may choose to design pet projects that will keep your students engaged, loyal and motiaved in the absence of a paycheck.

3.  Put their Web Skills to Work–Your intern may be inexperienced in fashion but its likely these young 20 something’s are ahead of the curve when it comes to new media like blogging and social networking sites.  If this is the case reserve some one on one time for brainstorming sessions to figure out how you can up your company’s online marketing game.

All in all, interns can be a great asset.  It’s important not to take them for granted…and always make an effort to create a win-win situation.

Making a living as a freelancer is not for everyone.  While working at one job you’re looking for the next.  You may even be working multiple jobs at once…adjusting yourself to the demands of each company like waitress on a busy lunch shift.

It’s hard.  But given the current economy now is not the time to specialize in “Inflexibility.”

While juggling different hats may not be appealing for the long term…it could be a great short-term solution, keeping you afloat financially as well as giving you some leverage as you negotiate a permanent gig.

So while you are working towards getting your dream job… try marketing yourself as an independent agent.

Here’s a few tips to get you started….

1.  Place an Ad–Take out a Work for Hire ad in a trade publication, such as California Apparel News.  Many of the papers are struggling too so ad rates aren’t as high as you might expect.  You can also split the cost with another type of worker that would complement your services. Example:  Patternmakers and Graders.

2.  Get Some Cards–Showcase yourself as a true professional.  Simply print up some cards with your name, the services you can provide and your contact information.  Keep them on hand for networking events and and even job fairs to help you stand out from the crowd.

3.  Approach the Competiton–If you’ve been laid off from a company, let them know you’d be interested in freelance assignments….if that is the case.  If working at your old job is not possible…or appealing look towards their competitors who may be able to use your skills and experience.

In partnership with Microsoft Corporation, Fashion Business Inc.  launched the first class of its Free Apparel-Specific Job Skills Training Certification Program today.

This 8 week program offers:

–AIMS Certification

–Advanced Apparel-Specific Training in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

–Tech Packs Using Excel 2007

–Accounting for the Apparel Industry

This exciting new program is offered completely free of charge to apparel workers who are currently unemployed, with at least 2 years of industry experience– or are graduates of a 2 year apparel related education program.

For more information about future classes which begin in April, please email your resume and cover letter to info@fashionbizinc.org.

If you’ve been in this industry more than a minute you probably have had some type of money issue with your customers.  Whether it’s paying late…chargebacks…or not paying at all, this is business and those things happen.  You just want them to happen…not so much.

Well, there are a few things you can do to spare yourself the drama of collections and the bad will that can accompany the process.

1.  Ask for a Deposit–While this is not as common as it needs to be…there are some companies that are very successful with collecting deposits prior to production.  Perhaps they have a very unique product or arrange to give their customers a small percentage off.  Keep in mind this is a bit of a unique request so try to be flexible with the details.

2.  Use a Reputable Showroom or Factor–People that screw people don’t always discriminate…but they may hesitate to play games when showrooms and/or factors are involved.  Using these outside agencies for sales and financial support can not only be extremely helpful with the cumbersome process of collections but they can also help to separate your brand from the big bad creditor.

3.  Don’t Do Credit--Some stores will demand credit in order to buy.  If its a fantastic, brand building store you may want to check their credit and opt to take the chance.  Otherwise defer to charging credit cards before shipment or collect COD.

Most importantly be clear on your terms and conditions and make sure expectations for delivery are explicit.  Pull out important tid-bits from your fine print and make sure your customer understands.

Ok if you’ve been living anywhere other than under a rock you know business is really tough for a lot of folks right now.  Hey one of those folks could be you.

However it’s no time to drop the ball.  Right now…you can’t just freeze.  You have to Keep moving…Keep developing and Keep improving your product and your company.

One way to do this is sharpening your skills as well as the skills of your employees.

Right now at the FBI we have two programs available where you and/or your employees can update or learn new computer skills at little to no cost.

Whether you’re an individual or a company owner…if you’re in the state of California government funding for job training could be available to keep you in the game.

Give us a call at 213.892.1669 or shoot us an email at info@fashionbizinc.org for more information.

Did you know if you’re a California Company with at least one employee you and your employees may be eligible for Free Job Skills Training through Fashion Business Inc.— made possible by the State of California Employment Training Panel.

Although California companies are required to pay into the program as a part of their business taxes…few companies take the time to cash into the programs extraordinary benefits.

ETP job skills training can be completely contoured to the needs of your apparel business.  Including Photoshop, Illustrator, CAD, PAD, Sales and Marketing courses at little to no cost to you.

To see if you meet ETP requirement for free or low cost job skills training at the FBI give us a call at 213.892.1669

It’s been said that good managers don’t manage…they MOTIVATE.

Most of us perform a lot better with inspriation, motivation and good will than we do on intimidation and fear.

If you’ve suddenly found yourself managing people in your new business its important to be able to reconcile the personal goals of your employees with the goals of the company.

This may be reflected through a generous bonus structure, subsidized education or opportunties for advancement.

However large or small the gesture, simply showing employees you care can make a big difference in your business. People will work harder, save your company money and produce better results.

The best part about good will is that whatever you do it generally ends up paying for itself.