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Depending on where you went to school and did your internships, you may have a specialized knowledge of some aspect of fashion or a generalized knowledge in all areas. When you apply for a job, it may be beneficial to know where your strengths lie, and apply to positions accordingly. The most common areas of focus for fashion designers include: clothing design (including men's, women's, children's, maternity, and intimate apparel) accessory design (including handbags, suitcases, belts, scarves, etc.) costume design (for performing arts, as well as film and television) footwear design Your resume should highlight your education, work experience, and any skills/qualifications you might have. It should look professional, of course, but because you're applying to a design position you may have a bit more creative license to stray from the traditional resume format. Put your name and contact information at the top of the resume. List your education and work experience in reverse-chronological order (meaning most recent degree first, followed by earlier degrees (if applicable), most recent job first, etc. List some responsibilities and achievements for each job. This will let your prospective employer know what exactly each job/internship entailed. Research each position you apply to and tailor your resume to highlight the specific skills required by each employer. In the fashion design industry, your portfolio is at least as important as your resume. It is an important part of your employment application because it highlights the work you've done in school, through internships, and at any relevant jobs you may have worked. It can also serve as an indication of your potential for future work. Your fashion design portfolio should include: creative research work that displays a working knowledge of social and cultural aspects of fashion development of a concept, from sketch to design to photographs of the finished product (no actual garments should go in your portfolio) well-drawn and presented sketches/illustrations flat drawings of clothing that are correctly proportioned and display the necessary details required for actual manufacturing of the garment work that is relevant or appropriate for the company you are applying to work displayed in reverse-chronological order (most recent first) an edited collection (in other words, don't include very single thing you've ever done), but one which does not leave any portfolio pages blank Some fashion designers may find employment by talking to network contacts (former professors, internship supervisors, colleagues, etc.). If you do not have any network contacts, you can search for fashion design jobs online. You can also seek out specific companies or design firms you're interested in working for and check their employment openings online. Recognize that depending on where you live, you may need to relocate for a fashion design job. The highest employment levels of fashion designers in the United States are in New York, California, Texas, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. The highest concentrations of fashion design jobs and location quotients in the US are in New York, California, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Kansas. Many of these jobs tend to be concentrated in and around urban areas. These include the NY/NJ metropolitan area, the greater Los Angeles area, San Diego, Dallas, Kansas City, and Boston. Because you are interviewing for a fashion design position, you should dress appropriately for the position. Men should wear business attire (suit with or without a tie, depending on how corporate the job is). Women should wear business attire for corporate positions, or something that matches the style/personality of the business for an agency or design firm position. Recognize and discuss the brand of the employer you're interviewing with. Bring your portfolio and at least one copy of your resume to each interview. Illustrate the desired qualities of a fashion designer: a strong business sense, good communication skills, a skill for creative work, the ability to collaborate, and a strong knowledge of current fashion trends. It can take a while to accumulate the necessary experience before you can advance your career. Many designers start out working as an assistant designer, or working with a team of creative designers. As you gain experience and make connections, you can advance to chief designer, head of the design department, or even creative director.
Choose an area of focus. Put together a strong resume. Add to your portfolio. Find and apply to jobs. Give a strong interview. Gain work experience.