We Answer: Is The Fashion Business Hard To Get Into?

We live in a world that does not have the economy to sustain most new businesses. However, the fashion industry is something else altogether. While many businesses in several different areas are having to close their doors, fashion businesses are thriving more than ever. In fact, according to Fashion Innovation, the fashion industry is currently worth more than $1.65 billion, and has grown by 5.91% over the last three year. Now, That’s What I call thriving in a down economy! If you are thinking about going into the fashion industry, now is a better time than ever to do it. However, the the burning question of the moment is “How hard is it to get into fashion?” Allow me to answer that question for you…

The fashion business is hard to get into. While it can be difficult to break into any industry, the fashion business is quite competitive, especially if your goal is to break into fashion design. Whatever career path you choose in the fashion business, you will have to put in an extensive amount of work both before and after college. Some of the factors that make getting a job in the fashion business a hard career to get into include:

  • Lack of experience
  • Current level of education
  • Your location
  • Not knowing where to start
  • The skill set you have
  • Not enough high paying jobs

These are the main reasons why breaking into the fashion business can prove to be a challenge, especially if you are currently enrolled in school or if you are just graduating from school. However, you should not let this deter you from pursuing a career in fashion. As is the case with many businesses, the fashion business may find it difficult to get your foot in the door, but it is possible. Let’s read along as I break down each of the factors that make obtaining that illustrious career in fashion you seek a difficult task. My goal is to help you obtain a better understanding of why it is difficult to break into fashion. This way, you are armed with the knowledge necessary to pursue your career, while not only being aware of these obstacles, but also having the knowledge and ability to overcome them.

Lack of Experience

We Answer: Is The Fashion Business Hard To Get Into?

Okay, let’s get this one out of the way first. What do you think is the most challenging obstacle you will face when trying to break into any industry? You guessed it. Lack of experience will prevent you from getting into any high-level industry, and the fashion business is no different. Most people believe that education equals experience. Well, they couldn’t be more wrong. That is why it is of the utmost importance to put in a serious amount of work not only while you are in college, but after you graduate. Most businesses in the fashion industry are not going to hand you a job the minute you graduate from school. They want to see your work history so they can get an idea of what kind of experience you have in fashion. That is going to help you land your dream job in the fashion business.

When you are first breaking into any industry, you may have to start at the bottom of the corporate ladder. The fashion industry is no different. You may have to do several jobs that you honestly didn’t see yourself having to do before you are able to get your dream job in the fashion business. For example, if you want to be a fashion designer, you may have to start as an assistant to a more experienced fashion designer. Once you have paid your dues as an assistant, you should have no trouble landing a job as a fashion designer. If you will allow me to speak matter-of-factly, you may have several offers from many competing firms looking to obtain your services as the next big fashion designer. None of this may have happened if you haven’t paid your dues and started as a fashion designer’s assistant. Starting your career in the fashion industry at a lower position allows you to get the experience you needed to get the job you truly wanted.

Current Level of Education 

In the previous section, I mentioned that most employers are not going to hand you a job solely based on your level of education. While it is true that they want experience first and foremost, Employers in the fashion business will want to see what kind of education you have before giving you a job. Please forgive me if I state the obvious, but the first thing prospective Employers in the fashion business will be looking for is a degree in fashion. Let’s face it. If you want to land a job in the fashion business, a degree in psychology probably won’t be much help. However, if you have a degree in business, there might be a career with a company in the fashion industry available to you. 

It all boils down to this. It’s not the fact that you are capable of learning. When trying to pursue a career in fashion, it’s what you have learned. However, having a degree in fashion design may be a nice start to a career in fashion, but mini of the prestigious companies in the fashion business will be looking for candidates who have a master’s degree. Besides, most fashion designers will tell you that the level of education they received while pursuing their master’s degree has given them lots of information that they have found quite useful. If you have the means and the time, I would highly recommend getting your master’s degree. After all, your education is something that can never be taken from you, no matter what field of work you choose to get into.

Your Location 

We Answer: Is The Fashion Business Hard To Get Into?

I want you to pay attention to this section more than most of the others. There is a strong possibility that there are no jobs in the fashion business where you are currently located. In other words, you may have to move if you want to work in fashion. According to the website Target Jobs, the following four areas are essential oils-ruining-environment considered to be the fashion capitals of the world:

  • London 
  • Milan 
  • New York 
  • Paris 

Now, it goes without saying that you will not have to move to one of these four cities to get a job in the fashion business. There are several other cities that are considered to be fashion-forward, and have plenty of jobs available for qualified applicants who wish to work in the fashion business. Here are 10 more cities that are making a serious mark on the fashion industry, and are some of the newest hot spots to find a career in fashion:

  • Amsterdam 
  • Barcelona 
  • Berlin 
  • Copenhagen 
  • Dubai 
  • Los Angeles 
  • Shanghai 
  • Sydney 
  • Tokyo 
  • Vancouver 

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Not Knowing Where to Start 

Now this is a big one. Perhaps the biggest reason that people do not break into their chosen field is because they have no idea where to start. While I am sure that school can point you in the right direction, the fashion industry is a huge business. It can be intimidating, to say the least. Some of the larger, more well-known fashion retailers offer graduate jobs, but these are definitely in short supply. With that said, if your goal is to land one of these graduate jobs, your university’s job board would be a great place to start looking. You can also look for jobs and internships on a website hosted by the University of the Arts called Creative Opportunities. This is a great place to start if you are seeking a career in the fashion business.

We Answer: Is The Fashion Business Hard To Get Into?

This may sound a bit old-fashioned, but another way to get your foot into the door in fashion is to send resumes out to prospective companies that you would like to work for. Let’s get this straight, though. I am not talking about mailing out paper resumes to businesses. We live in a digital age where email is more common than any other form of business communication. Use this to your advantage. Besides, it is much faster than the traditional method of printing out dozens of copies of your resume; going to the post office; purchasing postage, and putting them in the outbox. Another effective method of breaking into the fashion business is by going through an agency. They do all of the leg work for you, and all you have to do is show up to the job they have gotten for you. Now, there may be a fee associated with going through an agency, but it beats not being able to land your dream job at all.

The Skill Set You Have 

The skills you possess will most certainly have everything to do with the job you are able to get in the fashion business. Make no mistake. Your skill set is every bit as important as your level of education, and they can work in conjunction with each other. However, skills are more often obtained through experience rather than through education. If you are lucky enough to land an interview with one of the major companies in the fashion industry, they will undoubtedly ask you not only what you know, but also where you learned it, as well as what you can do. If you are fortunate enough to possess a skill set that is desirable in the fashion business, this will be your chance to shine, as you have both the knowledge and the ability to cut it in fashion. However, the combination of education and skill is not found very often in the fashion business.

If you are one of the many people who have the desire to work in fashion, but do not know what skill set is required by most companies in the industry, I have good news for you. The desirable skills in the fashion business are not exclusive to fashion. Here is a list of the most frequently sought after skills in the fashion industry, but can be applied to practically any job in any field:

  • Attention to detail 
  • Communication 
  • Creativity 
  • Commercial awareness 
  • Teamwork
  • Problem solving 
  • IT skills 

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Not Enough High Paying Jobs 

Unfortunately, as is the case with many Industries, there are not a plethora of high paying jobs in the fashion business. While that fact may not deter some people from seeking out a career in fashion, it may be enough to prevent others from chasing their dream job. Of course, pay will depend on two key factors, which are education and experience. Obviously, some of the more well-known businesses in the fashion industry may have the means to pay their employees more than some of the smaller businesses. Secondly, while it may be true that if you happen to make it big in the fashion industry, you will earn a much larger salary, you have to keep in mind that not everybody makes it big.

We Answer: Is The Fashion Business Hard To Get Into?

For example, if you start with an entry level position in buying and merchandising, you can expect to earn a salary of approximately $21,000 to $25,000 per year. Keep in mind that this is for an entry-level position. You will earn more money as you become more experienced in your field. More experienced individuals working in buying and Merchandising may earn around $63,000 to $88,000 annually, which is a much more enticing and probably more along the lines of what you were expecting to make in fashion. Fashion photographers can make up to $78,000 per year, but they even start at around $22,000 per year. Just keep in mind that while the fashion industry may indeed be glamorous, not every aspect of it will be. Every industry has jobs nobody wants to do, but they may be an opportunity for you to at least get your foot into fashion while waiting for your dream job to present itself.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, we have determined that the fashion industry is quite a difficult business to break into. A few of the factors that can make the fashion business a hard business to get into include lack of experience; not enough education; your location; not knowing where to start; not having the right skill set, and a lack of high paying jobs. However, it can be done with the right attitude;  a strong work ethic; a desire and the ability to learn; the ability to accept that you may not start at the top, and a few lucky breaks. As long as you remember that it will take a combination of all of these things plus education and experience, you should be able to land your dream job in the fashion business with as few hiccups as possible. Keep in mind that you do not have to stay in that entry-level job for the rest of your career. Express a strong desire to move up, and put your motivation to work daily, and always remember that baby steps are still steps.

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Related Questions 

What are the top five highest paying jobs in the fashion business?

While there are a few occupations that afford you the opportunity to earn a good living in the fashion industry, there are some occupations that present you with the chance to make more money than most of the others. These five occupations include:

  1. Sustainability Officer – $184,460 per year 
  2. Garment Technologist – $145,909 per year 
  3. Fashion PR Coordinator – $135,580 per year 
  4. Creative Director – $134,317 per year 
  5. Trend Forecaster – $102,227 per year 

Which country has lowest paying jobs in the fashion business?

There are both high paying jobs and low paying jobs in the fashion industry no matter what country you happen to live in. However, the country with the lowest average pay rate in the fashion business is the United Kingdom. On average, the fashion industry in the United Kingdom pays its workers approximately $1,250 per year leass than any other country. 

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Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.