How to create a hireable fashion portfolio

 (FOR THOSE WHO ARE JUST READING NOW...PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS IS THE LAST POSTING...PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO SEE THE FIRST AND WORK YOUR WAY UP)

So this is the sad but essential end to my journey; But also the terrifying and rigorous beginning of your journey. If this blog were to continue in a never ending lesson, then you would never finish a single project/ portfolio to get hired with.

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If I find that there are crucial tips that were previously overlooked I will state them. To identify these new Tips look for this... IN ADDITION:

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 NOW...

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GETTING HIRED IN FASHION- 101: (I bet you wish this class existed at college)

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 1. Experience is Vital- to gain a paying job in the future... You must first be willing to work for experience, which is more precious than money

•   Search for Internships far & wide, high & low
•  Talk with professors to see if they know of any opportunities
•  Your college might have an internship department that can help you
•  Ask friends who already have internships, if they can use more help
•  Search online at sites like Craigslist, WWD, Linked In, Free Fashion Internships, Intern Zoo, Fashion Internships, Fashion Tool, Ed internships (there are so many more ways to search for internships that I'm sure I have missed...so please do your homework and look carefully)

 * If you have the financial means I highly recommend doing an international internship. They will most likely be pricey, but if you can afford it there is no price you could put on international fashion industry knowledge. This will exhibit so many positive aspects about your character when presented on a resume, you can't even imagine! Here are a few organizations to help you on your search:

• Global Experiences
• Intern Abroad

* If you are in a financial bind where you need to have a paying job, then it becomes quite difficult...but not impossible. I have a friend who attended college full time, had a paid fashion internship, had a part time waitressing job on the weekends, and comutted 2 hours every day...Mind you, she also passed all her classes with flying colors. I always wondered when she found time to sleep and she would say " I can sleep when I'm dead". Now if you aren't willing to make that kind of a commitment to fashion, then I warn you to get out now...Because this will be no picnic.

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NOTE: you should have a few substantial internships in order to pad your resume. For example if you are in school for 4 yrs, then every year you should get a new internship. Each new internship should teach you different things about the industry than the previous one. This can be presented on your resume and will exhibit you to be a jack of all trades in the fashion industry. Also while you are there you absolutely must LEARN, LEARN, LEARN, ask questions (but not to the point of being obnoxious) about how things work in that company, so you can get a better feel of the industry.

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2. Build up your Resume- with all of your experiences you can now present who you are to the professional world

•  Your resume should present your strongest qualities & should have structure
• For an example of how to organize your resume. Click Here to see mine.
• To see how others set up their resumes you can browse around the profiles on Linked In or Google "Sample Resumes" / "Resume Templates".

3. Create your Cover letter- make a professional auto-biography of who you are as a designer

• Your Cover letter should be a short and concise description of what journeys you've taken as a fashion designer.
• For an example of how to organize your cover letter. Click Here to see mine.
• To see how others set up their cover letters you can browse around the profiles on Linked In or Google "Sample cover letters" / "cover letter templates".

4. Know what kind of job you are looking for-

• What division of apparel do you want to go into? Sleep Wear, Swim Wear, Outer Wear, Evening Wear, Lingerie, Accessories etc...

• What position are you looking for?
• What kind of salary do you need?
• How far would you be willing to commute to get to your job?
• What kind of a company do you want to work for? small family owned, semi corporate, or a huge corporation.
• How much responsibility are you capable of taking on?

5. Start your job hunt!- If you look above, where I mention how to search for an internship...you can use those same techniques when looking for a job. Professors, School, Online websites...But here are a few suggestions which are not posted above...

• Contact past internships to see if they have any available positions or if they know of any other companies that have any available positions
• Send emails to the HR departments of larger companies (i.e. Chloe, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Rucci...etc) Usually large companies don't post available positions because they can promote from within, or hire friends of existing employees.
• Don't be afraid to send ACTUAL mail to designs companies. Send a little design package of your cover letter, resume, business card, and pieces of your strongest works. This makes a much larger impact than an email that they can easily delete.
• Hit the pavement...What's harder to ignore than ACTUAL mail? An ACTUAL visit to the company!!! Go to the company of your choice, dressed to impress, With all of your fashion portfolio essentials. Ask the receptionist if you could meet the head designer of (insert design label here) for a 5 min introductory meeting. Mention "If now isn't a good time I could come back whenever he/she would like...I assure you, I will only be 5 minutes". NOTE: IT TAKES GREAT COURAGE TO DO THIS, WHICH IS WHY IT WILL BE SO IMPACTFUL!

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* BE AWARE: People would do anything to get a good fashion job...I promised myself that if I didn't get a job within 2 months after graduation I would set up a small fashionable table in the center of the garment district (in NY where I live) full of brochures, business cards, resumes, cover letters, recommendation letters, samples of my work...etc. FOR ALL OF THE FASHION PROFESSIONALS TO SEE. It takes bold moves such as that to make it in this highly competitive industry.

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6. Interview Etiquette- selling yourself in person is crucial...this will ensure you to get your professional position in the industry of fashion.

•  Dress fashionably and professionaly
•  Speak clearly, calmly, and confidently
•  Turn off all electronics & never answer anything during an interview
•  Don't chew gum, Don't be dirty, Don't smell ( of filth or intense perfume)
•  Don't be nervous...People want to hire a confident capable employee
•  Educate yourself on upcoming trends and the latest fashion news...For example if you are looking for a job in England and the interviewer says "so how do you think the fashion world will handle Alexander McQueens death"...don't respond by saying something like "Ahh, what he died!!!" or "Who is Alexander McQueen?"
• Speak honestly...Don't pretend that you can do things that you know you are incapable of handling, because that will not end well for you. If asked to do something you know you can not do then say that you are familiar with it and you are a very fast learner.
• After every interview remember to send a thank you email to your interviewer

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WARNING!!!!! WHILE APPLYING FOR JOBS DON'T GIVE ANYONE YOUR SS# , ACCOUNT INFORMATION OR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION...THIS COULD BE A SCAM...ALSO PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ANY ARTWORK YOU GIVE WILLINGLY TO COMPANIES (i.e. on your website, via email, via postal mail) CAN BE USED BY THOSE COMPANIES WITHOUT COMPENSATION TO YOU. SOOO ANY ARTWORK YOU PART WITH, YOU NEED TO ACCEPT THAT IT MIGHT BE USED ELSE WHERE WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE! UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS THE WAY OF THE FASHION WORLD...CREATIVE THEFT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND LAWS HAVE NOT YET BEEN CREATED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT.

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SOOO!!! GOOD LUCK TO ALL, AND TOO ALL... MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR FASHION SOUL!