In a world where a person’s appearance is everything, the resume is often overlooked. A lot of people would rather spend obscene amounts of money on clothes and cringe at the idea of spending 10 dollars on professional development to get ahead in their career. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Making your resume look stylish and chic will catch an employer’s eye and help them see what you can bring to the table as far as personality. An effective resume is a tool that can help you make a lasting impression on potential employers. You may have heard it before, and it’s true – your resume must sell you.
Here is your resume help guide to landing your dream job in fashion:
1) Use action words
Action words better describe what you did for each job instead of just listing the jobs. This will make it easier for someone reviewing your resume to see how much responsibility you had and what kind of tasks you’ve undertaken.
2) Get yourself a professional resume service.
Do you have a fashion-related degree? Do you work in an industry related to fashion? Is your resume rooted in fashion? These are all things that point toward needing a professional resume service.
The resumes for this industry are typically very different than the ones offered by most services and require specialized knowledge. This is because so many of these jobs hinge on how well you can sell yourself—which includes looking nice, presenting your ideas with flair, and demonstrating your knowledge of the fashion world. Often, resumes for this industry need to be more creative and visually appealing than others.
3) Keep it simple and concise.
Limit your resume to one page. If you absolutely must include more than one page (perhaps because you’ve worked in different industries), make sure that each section is formatted into three columns wide so that there’s plenty of room for all vital details.
Fashion is a fast-paced industry with a lot going on, so they won’t want to read through a long resume. Keep it short and sweet—preferably one page—so they can easily skim through it and get a quick understanding of your experience and education. A good rule of thumb is to avoid listing out all the aspects of your job on a resume. Instead, it’s best to select the three most important duties or responsibilities.
4) Showcase your experience.
In the fashion industry, like any other field, it’s about what you know and can do. After all, hiring managers want to see what you’re capable of (and a resume can help point them in the right direction). You need to make sure your portfolio showcases your best work before you send it off while also highlighting any personal skills that may set you apart from the crowd.
If you have an opportunity to meet with potential employers, they’ll usually ask you a few questions and then have you show your work on-the-spot. If this isn’t an option—say, because there are no openings or they’re on the phone with you—then it’s all about standout materials: a quality portfolio that shows off your best work.
5) Include your measurements.
As a fashion professional, it’s important to include your measurements where possible. Consider including your dress size, bra size, shoe size, and even ring size. This can help if you’re applying for a job that requires clothing fitting.
For instance, if you’ve worked as a model, mention your height and weight. If you’re applying for a job in retail, also state your dress size. These are often essential pieces of information for employers when they’re considering hiring someone for public facing roles.
6) Showcase your personal style.
Include your personal style in your resume so it doesn’t feel like a generic document.
Many people think that a fashion resume should be all about the clothes, but experts say it’s more than just that. It’s about being able to articulate your personal style and what you bring to the table. Show examples of your work with sketches, or maybe a sketching program like Adobe Illustrator. What does this do? It shows off your creativity and helps show that you can think outside the box.
“A good resume for fashion shows a candidate’s sense of style and ability to work with other people,” says Laina, who once served as a freelance stylist in New York City. “It can convey someone’s fashion sense, attention to detail, and relationships.”
Therefore, it pays off to put not just your outfits on display but also your accomplishments. For example, one way you can do this is by highlighting any past experience with creative teams or giving shout-outs to brands you have worked with.
7) Describe runway work experience.
For runway work experience, it’s not enough to list what you did and when. You want to explain the scope of your work—what you were responsible for during your time there. Walkways, collections you were involved in, etc., are important because they paint the picture of your experience.
8) Don’t forget the basics.
Just because this industry is all about style doesn’t mean you should leave out key information like date, phone number, email address, etc. Make sure there are complete contact details on every page as well as at the top and bottom of the page for easy navigation for busy employers who may be viewing or printing from their computer screens.
So, what makes a great fashion-forward resume? The truth is that there are no hard and fast rules—just like there are no two people with the same style. Remember that hiring managers tend to make their decision within the first few seconds of looking at a resume, so ensure its appearance matches the quality of work you put into it. So now you know what to do when it comes to writing a killer resume. Keep these tips in mind and you will be able to start your next job hunt with confidence.