How To Start A Career In Fashion

Hone in on your goals so you can find and follow the right path. Here’s how to do it.

• Define what you want.

  What does your career in fashion look like? There are so many areas to get involved in beyond designing runway shows and working for top fashion magazines. Narrow in on your niche and your goals as early on as possible so that you can pursue the right steps to getting there.

• Get educated.

  From fashion undergraduate degrees to more (or less) extensive programs, most fashion careers begin in the classroom. The more that you can learn in terms of industry know-how and skills, the better set up you’ll be to succeed.

• Apply for internships.

  A great fashion internship is often essential, particularly when it comes to narrowing in on your niche and making important network connections. If you’d rather get paid experience, look for entry-level jobs in fashion, which offer similar benefits and some cash on the side.

• Build your network.

  The more people you know, the better. Many successful careers in the arts start with landing in-network opportunities—and to increase your chances of snagging them, you’ll need to have some connections. Jobs, internships, schools, and networking events are crucial for this, as is staying in touch with your peers, since you never know who will end up where.

• Know what your strengths are.

  Throughout all of the stages above you should have one major objective top of mind: finding your forte and establishing exactly what you can bring to the table. The more you can identify and build on your strengths, the more confidence you’ll build—and the more attractive you’ll look to potential employers.

Each of the steps above is designed to help you narrow in on the things that turn career visions into career opportunities: what you’re good at, what you enjoy, and what skills, qualities, and talents you can turn into a profitable position. If what you’re doing isn’t bringing you closer to this important objective, then it may be time to switch gears and look for a new route to pursue.