Uncover the newest job alternatives on BoF Careers, with 2,600+ world roles out there at the moment.
For rising expertise and seasoned professionals alike, the style trade has a extremely aggressive job market. With usually lots of of candidates vying for the roles, candidates face distinct challenges to face out of their functions and interviews when showcase their differentiating expertise, expertise and understanding of the function and hiring firm.
In an effort to raised equip candidates with recommendation on the best way to distinguish themselves in an oversaturated market, BoF Careers spoke to style recruiters, hiring managers and DEI leaders attending occasions hosted by BoF Careers this 12 months — from panel discussions on Defending Vogue’s DEI Efforts Throughout Market Disruption in March to The Subsequent Technology of Vogue Expertise and the Office in November.
Uncover under a spotlight of the insights and recommendation gathered by BoF Careers, to raised perceive how candidates can stand out, whether or not trying to enter or progress within the style trade at the moment.
In November, BoF hosted a panel with trade consultants Rhianna Cohen, artistic director at Mørning, Pavel Dler, founder and CEO at Culted, and Erifili Gounari, founding father of The Z Hyperlink, to find the best way to meet the wants and expectations of Gen-Z as they enter the workforce.
Hosted on the Jimmy Choo Academy in London, the viewers of trade executives and HR leaders represented the likes of Chanel, Threads Styling, LVMH, Karla Otto, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Home of Sunny, Margaret Howell, ASOS, Roksanda, Delos, Halfpenny, Fable & Mane and London Faculty of Vogue, amongst others.
Assessment Your Purposes Completely
“I obtain lots of CVs and lots of them are Phrase paperwork. PDFs at all times feel and look rather more skilled. I believe they’re not essentially checked over as a lot anymore. It’s not a great first impression — it takes longer to load and you may see the place the spelling errors are,” mentioned Molly Bray, artistic growth strategist at Home of Sunny.
“Positively take note of ending touches — how [your application documents] are despatched over and the professionalism of the e-mail,” mentioned Camilla Williams, managing director of Home of Sunny. “And ship a great physique of textual content in your electronic mail as nicely. Use it as a chance to speak in regards to the model and why you wish to work for that firm particularly, in addition to simply in your cowl letter,” she mentioned.
Embrace Change and Be Adaptable
“There are going to be so many new platforms coming in that can assist you to do your job so significantly better,” mentioned Lily Stephens-Benjamin, hiring supervisor at Karla Otto. “Lots of people may be used to utilizing older platforms that they’re comfy with and so they may be much less comfy with fixed change whereas the brand new technology are simply adaptable to new know-how.”
It’s important to do something you can to face out. Don’t do the naked minimal in any respect as a result of as of late everybody goes the additional mile.
Stephens-Benjamin advises leveraging tech savviness and highlighting your flexibility: “Know your worth and use that to really feel assured. Should you suppose that you’re value greater than you’re being supplied, [have faith in that] and at all times push for extra.”
Emphasise Your Individuality
“The sheer quantity of roles in the meanwhile is difficult [to navigate]. And HR nonetheless should be so selective on this market,” mentioned Caitlin Culverhouse-Steadman, expertise coordinator at Threads Styling. “It’s important to do something you can to face out. Don’t do the naked minimal in any respect as a result of as of late everybody goes the additional mile.”
“Go to networking occasions, attain out to individuals on LinkedIn and in individual,” Culverhouse-Steadman added. Networking can assist you higher perceive who the important thing resolution makers are, who you’ll handle your utility to and who can assist you progress in your profession.
Ask About Development and Improvement Alternatives
“Working with some younger individuals — they’re coming by way of with sure expectations of what a job ought to contain, what the office ought to seem like, the perks, the development,” mentioned Hannah O’Byrne, hiring supervisor at Halfpenny. “They’re extra fast-paced — they wish to go from zero to 100 immediately as a result of everyone seems to be a lot extra formidable now.”
“At all times ask if there’s development within the function. I believe lots of people come face-to-face with that barrier — particularly when coming right into a junior function — the place they get caught. I’ve labored for firms previously that present a transparent five-year development span. You’ve bought to have one thing to work for and work in the direction of,” she added.
Broaden Your Search Standards
“As soon as you’re in, it’s a lot simpler to manoeuvre and make contacts. Nevertheless it’s actually onerous to get into [the fashion industry] within the first place. And lots of internships and placements don’t pay — that’s an actual problem,” mentioned Honor Gell, PR and advertising supervisor at Roksanda. “Positively try to go for an company first. I believe getting expertise in-house units you up a lot and preserve occurring careers platforms, speak to individuals.”
In March, BoF Careers and The Outsiders Perspective co-hosted a panel dialogue about how style firms can shield inclusive recruitment and retention methods in at the moment’s unstable financial market, with an viewers of range, fairness and inclusion (DEI) professionals, expertise executives and other people crew leaders from manufacturers together with Burberry, Selfridges and Alexander McQueen.
BoF Careers talked to among the occasion attendees to seek out out what they search for in expertise, and the way candidates can stand out within the utility and interview course of at the moment.
Exhibit a Willingness to Be taught
“After we search for expertise out there, we’re on the lookout for people who find themselves hungry, who wish to develop — who’ve a progress mindset, and who’re additionally model ambassadors [and] love the model,” mentioned Scarlett Phillips-Jacovides, senior expertise and growth supervisor at Alexander McQueen. “It’s about your angle relatively than your expertise, as a result of expertise you possibly can develop — you possibly can develop them, we are able to train them. […] Anybody can develop, anybody can be taught, that’s the simple half. The onerous half is having the starvation and want to try this.”
“I believe simply that they wish to be taught, we don’t care when you don’t have the expertise. Attempt to make a private reference to the model [or] firm. [Establish] why, what you suppose you possibly can convey and what you wish to be taught. That’s at all times what I wish to hear from younger expertise,” mentioned Ffion Collins, EMEA Recruiter, Deckers Manufacturers.
Present Your Ardour for the Model and Function
“We’re on the lookout for candidates at the moment who’re passionate in regards to the model, who’re tenacious to work in an trade that may be tremendous powerful, and who’ve the abilities — perhaps not the trade expertise, however the expertise to suit the profile of the function,” mentioned Melissa Boyd, human assets director at Victoria Beckham.
“I believe simply doing their analysis, ensuring they had been actually conscious of the enterprise and the place the enterprise is in, together with ardour for what they do. Eager to be taught, wanting to realize and wanting a profession — not only a identify on their CV — eager to be right here for the lengthy haul and eager to progress within the enterprise,” mentioned Salma Sodawala, expertise acquisition supervisor at ASOS. “We now have bought nice tales of inside expertise that has been within the enterprise [for] 10+ years, a few of them beginning as graduates, so we’d like to see extra of that.”
Having your personal narrative and your personal place is at all times a profit in my thoughts.
“I believe ardour is a key [aspect]. Somebody that enjoys what they’re doing, that enjoys the method and somebody who seems to be forward. At Selfridges, we very a lot sit up for the long run, we wish to be the trailblazers, so somebody that can take pleasure in that journey with us actively, not solely assist, however […] that desires to make a change inside the trade. It may be at any degree, simply having that keenness,” mentioned Jacqueline Celis, head workplace recruitment supervisor at Selfridges.
Be Genuine and Sincere
“What I’m on the lookout for in expertise in the meanwhile can be authenticity [and] honesty, so simply being trustworthy about your expertise and finally trustworthy about the place you wish to go and what it’s that you simply’re on the lookout for. I believe that’s most necessary,” mentioned Jordan Hudson, company expertise acquisition at Alexander McQueen.
“Lean into your uniqueness and your understanding of one thing. I believe lots of the time, individuals anticipate in the event that they had been to go and take another person’s ideas or sentiments, that can open the door for them. Having your personal narrative and your personal place is at all times a profit in my thoughts,” Geoffrey Williams, world vp of range, fairness and inclusion at Burberry.
“One [piece] of recommendation that I’ll give is that, there isn’t any fallacious reply so long as it’s one thing that you simply actually imagine in, your work ethic, the way in which that you simply work. You’ll at all times shine by way of your solutions, being your genuine self is essential and that’s what I search for,” mentioned Jacqueline Celis of Selfridges.
Tailor Your CV to the Function
“For junior expertise, I do know it sounds old style and I do know it sounds boring, however I believe the CV might be crucial piece the place you stand out as a result of that’s your preliminary introduction, it’s your preliminary screening,” mentioned Lubomir Jets, EMEA expertise acquisition supervisor at Deckers Manufacturers.
“You’d be shocked what number of candidates nonetheless don’t tailor their CV for the function that they’re making use of for. It will get worse in additional aggressive roles, particularly in product roles [or] advertising roles the place you get 200 CVs, and 180 of them are precisely the identical. So I’d say [unique] CVs stand out probably the most, that’s your first contact with the model.”
Attain Out to the Recruiter
“Perceive precisely what the function is. I don’t thoughts in the event that they electronic mail straight typically and ask fairly particular questions, I believe that exhibits that they’re prepared and so they’re eager. That may not imply that they’ll get put on the high of the checklist for the function, however it undoubtedly exhibits an curiosity,” Melissa Boyd, human assets director at Victoria Beckham. “Be practical about what the necessities for a job are, and the way [your] expertise and talent map throughout to that.”
“Don’t be afraid to get in contact by way of channels like LinkedIn — that may also make you stand out. Get in contact with the recruiter, with the expertise supervisor, allow them to know that you’ve got utilized,” added Lubomir Jets of Deckers Manufacturers.
Uncover the newest job alternatives, with 2,600+ roles on BoF Careers at the moment.
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