So you want to be in the fashion industry?  You’ve gone to school, you’re on top of the latest trends, or, at the very least you’ve seen every episode of “Project Runway” and you’re ready for the big time.  Not so fast…While most designers fresh out of school would like to have their very own couture line it’s not going to happen day one.  Nor should it.  You may have the design, draping and pattern making skills to create a fantastic line, but you also need the practical skills and business knowledge you can only gain by working for a variety of companies and a variety of people. 

How do you get your foot in the door?  Where should you start looking for the kind of work that might lead you to your dream job?  Yes, it’s cliche, but start at the beginning.  You may be a talented artist or designer, but you might need to start out as a design assistant.  Cutting swatches and creating color boards may be a tedious job, but it’s how most people get started.  Look for openings at some of the bigger companies in your area.  They’re usually a great place to start and a talented design assistant can move up quickly.  Are your skills more technical or merchandising related?  Look for assistant positions in pattern making, technical design or merchandising.  Again, focus on larger companies. Smaller companies are looking for someone with an existing skill set, they don’t have time to train you.  The larger companies usually do. 

Can’t get a job with a brand name label?  Look for private label manufacturers.  It may have less “Brand recognition” but the job functions and opportunities are the same.  Or, think about companies that are apparel and footwear companies, but maybe not what you’d traditionally think of as “Fashion.”  Uniforms are a big business, and much more stable than fashion brands.  Lifestyle brands focus on one or more types of activities such as golf, swimming, skiing, surfing or more.  Orange County, CA has a much larger base of lifestyle brands that Los Angeles, the fashion capital of California. 

Maybe this is taking you away from your ultimate goal of having your own couture line?  Probably not.  Where do you think Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and more got their start?  All of them benefited from a hands-on fashion industry education by working for other companies before starting their own. 

The biggest mistake you can make…Don’t go into an interview expecting them to offer you a head designer or merchandiser position.  Be prepared to show samples of your work, if relevant to the job.  Talk about what you can bring to the job.  If you don’t have work experience, talk about your enthusiasm, your desire to learn, your desire to work for this particular company.  Most interviewers know that someone interviewing for an assistant position won’t have much experience so they want to know who you are and why you will benefit the company, not the other way around. 

Finally, What do when you get the job?  Make yourself invaluable.  Don’t be the person who shows up late, or worse - hung over, to the office.  Be on time, be presentable. Do things you swore you’d never do like get your boss coffee.  Most important, be a sponge, soak up everything you can.  Ask questions, take notes, be prepared and get your work done.  Establish yourself as an asset to your company and to your boss and, when the time is right, ask for an opportunity to do more. 

Looking to learn more, come by our FBI networking event Wednesday, July 28 at the California Market Center - 110 East 9th Street, Suite C786, Los Angeles, CA  90079, meet professionals in the Fashion Industry and start networking your way into a new job. 

Jill Mazur is an apparel industry consultant with Fashion Business, Inc.  email:  jill@fashionbizinc.org

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