subject: Careers in the Fashion Industry [print this page] For a fashion designer like Simon, any given day involves working on creative projects, including design research, design development, color development, or producing runway shows. In his line of work, constant communication - with project collaborators, fashion students, models, ad agency representatives - is expected, so knowing how to deal with diverse people is key. Similarly, Vicki's job as a talent agent involves frequent phone and in-person interactions that introduce her to new and different people every day. Because she works with potential talent from babies to grandmothers, and manages clients interested in video, film, print media, and television exposure, she engages in continuous networking and negotiation.
On the fashion business side, Tara typically works with new employees participating in training and mentoring programs, or interacts with college students interested in career options in retail. She enjoys the leadership role her job requires and appreciates the opportunities she has to meet motivated young adults transitioning from college to career. Emily spends much of her work day collaborating with her team of merchandisers and planners on four fashion seasons simultaneously to determine the fashion trends in women's accessories for Banana Republic. Proposals for new looks of the incoming season are compared with the current and previous seasons to strategize how the group will proceed with their product distributions.
Across the board, the pane lists agreed that interpersonal and networking skills are crucial to creating positive relationships with others they encounter on the job, whether they are a potential new modeling client or an assistant fashion editor. Learning to become a good, clear communicator by honing your writing and public speaking skills not only helps in possibly landing your first fashion job, but also makes it easier to give high-quality presentations of your work to an audience of hundreds who are attending a fashion show you are directing. One panelist's suggestion to develop stronger interpersonal skills was to become involved in a variety of extracurricular activities so you can meet new people and practice the art of networking.
Several panelists emphasized the benefits of gaining a solid sense of business and marketing either through classes or work experience. Because Vicki runs her own company, she finds herself having to deal with multiple aspects of the talent business, including financial management and marketing concerns. In Emily's case, when she interviewed for her job, she encountered a series of math tests because her analyst position is very numbers oriented.
Technical skills are also essential, whether the job involves spreadsheet work in MS Excel or artistic editing using software programs such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Specialized technical skills (in painting, drawing, or photography) are necessary for positions such as Simon's where hands-on creative work is integral to the fashion design process.
