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How to land your first role in a fashion head office
Words Robyn Scorr
Sales and Service Training Consultant gives us tips on how to get that top role in the fashion industry.
For the past 4 years I have worked as a trainer and Learning & Development specialist for some of the leaders in the world of luxury fashion retail. My career in developing people began at NET-A-PORTER and has since brought me to Selfridges, where I specialise in clienteling and service training. My background, strangely enough, is in Music which doesn’t have very much to do with my current role apart from the fact that I once considered becoming a music teacher and I now work in Learning & Development. When I completed my Music degree, I moved straight to London and got a full-time job as a sales associate. I knew from the moment I was trusted with upskilling the new starters on my team, that I wanted to work in Learning & Development, but until recently I might have told you that I got my first training role in head office for a luxury fashion company through absolute fluke. My then manager, took a chance on me when she offered me the role of Sales and Service Training Consultant at NET-A-PORTER, and I really believed it was because the recruitment agency I worked with had spoken quite highly of me. I now know that I actually did receive that job offer on my own merit. But what exactly was it about me and my approach that secured me the role? I’m going to share some tips with you on how to bag that luxury fashion head office role.
Tip 1
Do your research. It should go without saying, but you’d be surprised at the lack of candidates’ knowledge about the companies they’re interviewing for. The more you come to learn about a brand or company’s history, the easier it is to understand their ethos and values and this will allow you to decide whether or not they align with your own personal values.
Tip 2
Prepare genuine answers based on your actual experience because if you are bluffing the interviewer will notice. Try using the STAR method to answer questions (Situation, task, action, result) as it gives our answers a solid structure.
Tip 3
Most fashion companies today have set themselves incredibly ambitious goals around sustainability. If you can somehow incorporate this into your interview, do! If you are required to make a presentation of some kind, think about how you can use alternative tools and solutions other than printing handouts. Even better still, if you can also speak about or incorporate sustainable brands in your interview, this will show the interviewer that you have good commercial awareness.
Tip 4
Put some effort into your outfit, it’s a role in fashion you’re aiming for after all! Remain true to your personal style. Yes, it’s a corporate office environment and that means you may be required to dress quite smartly, but, if grey pencil skirts and black court shoes aren’t your thing outside of the office, don’t make them your thing inside the office. I like to think of fashion and style as form of self-expression; use your clothes as a means to showcase your personality.
Tip 5
Be transparent – if you don’t know everything there is to know about a certain aspect of the job description, say that! Show curiosity and ask them questions about it, then focus on the strengths and skills you have that are applicable.
Tip 6
Character and behaviours can go further than experience and skill. Technical skills can be learned over time, but your character is who you are as a person. Let them see this. I’ve interviewed many candidates over the years and have always chosen those who were willing to embrace change and learn, over those who had tonnes of experience on paper.