This isn’t your typical “get an internship and read Vogue” advice. We’re walking you step-by-step through how to actually land your first fashion design job—even if you didn’t go to fashion school and have zero experience.
TL;DR:
- Learn real-world fashion skills like Adobe Illustrator, tech packs, garment construction, and fabric knowledge
- Create a portfolio that reflects the self-directed learning you’ve done and shows the proactive steps you’ve taken to grow
- Write custom resumes and cover letters tailored to each job that show how your skills are transferable, your initiative to learn, and your hustle
- Make your application stand out by sharing a custom project for that brand
- Engage in the industry by attending virtual events, getting involved in your local fashion community (no matter how small), and getting freelance gigs on Upwork
This guide draws on my personal experience landing my first job in fashion without a degree or any experience in 2008, building up to earn a $100k+ a year as a freelancer, and interviewing over 250 fashion professionals on my podcast, Fashion Designers Get Paid. Expert quotes have been paraphrased for clarity and brevity.
Step 1. Learn Real-world Fashion Skills That Brands Look For
Being good at sketching and sewing won’t really get you far in fashion – if you want to get hired, you need the skills brands are actually looking for.
This includes:
- Adobe Illustrator – Create fashion flats and tech sketches.
- Tech Pack Creation – Spec garments clearly and accurately.
- Garment Construction Knowledge – Understand how clothes are put together, stitch types, and beyond. While you won’t be sewing on the job, this skill will help you have a better grasp on construction. You can take old clothes apart to learn.
- Fabric and Textile Knowledge – You don’t need to know it all, but you should understand the difference between knits and wovens and learn about various types of fabrics and their uses.
- Commercial Design Aesthetic – Show that you can design for the commercial market instead of overly conceptual artistic clothes for the runway.
- Bonus skill: 3D Fashion Design Software – While knowing tools like CLO3D, Browzwear, or Tukatech isn’t a mandatory skill yet (as of 2025), it’s emerging. I don’t believe you need to learn 3D to start, but at least know how they help with virtual sampling and reducing physical prototyping.
How to Learn These Skills for Free
You don’t have to go to fashion school. Search Google and YouTube, and use my free resources:
- How to Draw Fashion Flats (and other Illustrator tutorials for fashion)
- Step-by-step guide to Creating Tech Packs (with free templates)
- Free Fashion Croquis Templates + Drawing Tips
- Types of Seams for Garment Construction
- Garment Construction Dictionary (with pictures)
- Fabric Dictionary (with pictures)
Accelerate your learning and show your initiative by putting yourself out there for freelance projects. Platforms like Upwork are great for landing your first few gigs. Focus on building experience and skills rather than chasing high rates – you’ll be able to showcase that work on your resume and in your portfolio and impress hiring managers. Learn more in my Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Freelance Fashion Designer.
Soft Skills That Set You Apart
These might sound obvious, but I’ve done a lot of hiring, and it’s alarming how many candidates don’t have these traits or don’t convey them on their resume/portfolio.
- Attention to Detail – Fashion flats and tech packs need to be accurate and thorough. All details, specifications, and technical callouts need to be included.
Example: If a jacket has a metal zipper with single needle edge stitching, it needs to be drawn that way. Ensure the flats in your portfolio are accurate.
- Problem-Solving – Create solutions within limitations like fabric constraints, tight budgets, and brand guidelines.
Example: Consider fabric consumption for things like colorblock accents. Chances are, you’ll need to use that fabric elsewhere to meet MOQs (minimum order quantities). Make sure your portfolio shows this kind of thinking.
Want to know more fashion terms like MOQ? Here’s a list of the must-know abbreviations and terms in fashion
- Adaptability – Tools change and technology moves fast. Being able to pivot is essential.
Example: Show you stay up to date and that you’re at least aware of new tools, including 3D fashion design apps such as CLO 3D and Browzwear or AI tools such as NewArc.ai or Resleeve.ai. Include examples in your portfolio.
Step 2. Build a Portfolio That Gets You Hired
Your portfolio should include a few focused commercial projects that show the process, include accurate fashion flats and thorough tech packs.
Keep It Focused & Niche
Your portfolio is about quality, not quantity. For an entry level job, 2-3 projects that align with the brands or roles you’re applying for is sufficient. Each project should be intentional, on-brand, and relevant.
“It’s not about the quantity. You can have a few really well-done projects that reflect the aesthetic of the brand you’re applying to—and that’s going to make a much stronger impression than a portfolio that’s just packed.” — Bjorn Bengtsson (LinkedIn), former Design Director at Theory | 🎧 How to Get Your First Job in the Fashion Industry
Show the Process
Hiring managers don’t just want to see the final designs—they want to understand how you think. Include mood boards/inspo, flats and tech packs.
“Companies like to see your entire process—something that talks about trends that you’re seeing, have a mood board where you drive your inspiration from, hand sketching, and Illustrator flats.” — Shellie Simpson (LinkedIn), Talent Director at Atrium Staffing | 🎧 4 Best Practices for Fashion Job Search Success
Show Commercial Projects
Too many designers include overly artistic work in their portfolio. You need to show that you know how to design for the end customer and create work that’s commercially viable.
“If your portfolio is full of these beautiful, editorial runway pieces, but the brand is doing knit basics for $29.99—they’re going to be like, ‘Cool… but not for us.’ Show them you can design for their customer. That’s what gets you hired.” — Carla Stout, Fashion Designer for Mavi, Topshop | 🎧 A Day in the Life of an International Fashion Designer
Show Digital Fashion Flats (NOT fashion illustrations)
If you do loose hand sketches for ideation, it’s ok to include those in your portfolio. But remove fashion illustrations, whether digital or hand drawn. They’re not used in the industry, and most of the time look unprofessional. Technically accurate fashion flats in Illustrator should be your focus.
“The industry is shifting very much towards Illustrator. I think it’s much more important to be a brilliant Illustrator designer than to be a freehand sketcher. To me, freehand sketches are not important. I prefer Illustrator because that’s what most of you use in the industry today.” – Bjorn Bengtsson (LinkedIn), former Design Director at Theory | 🎧 How to Get Your First Job in the Fashion Industry
Remove Photos of Hand Sewn Clothes
Many new designers sew clothes and have their friends model. These photos do not belong in your portfolio. Keep your portfolio to mood boards, fashion flats, and tech packs. Only include professional product photos once your designs have made it into production.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but it’s like their friend took pictures of their handcrafted project. You’re doing yourself a disservice by showing that.” – Shellie Simpson (LinkedIn), Talent Director at Atrium Staffing | 🎧 4 Best Practices for Fashion Job Search Success
Follow The Portfolio Golden Rule
Any question you have about your portfolio? The Portfolio Golden Rule will help you answer it.
“This [project/collection/design] speaks to the brand, tells them that I understand their market, customer, and aesthetic, and visually shows them that I am the right [designer/TD/PD/etc] for them.”
It’s better to show a couple designs just for that brand than multiple irrelevant projects. And yes, it’s ok to include self-directed projects.
“Have your portfolio prepped for whatever company you’re going into. So if somebody’s interviewing with me for mass market activewear and their entire portfolio is dresses, that doesn’t give me any insight to your design aesthetic around activewear and athleisure.” — Oni Auer (LinkedIn), Head of Sustainability, Vans | 🎧 How to Advance Your Fashion Design Career
This advice may sound blindingly obvious, but it’s shocking how many applications I’ve received over the years from people with portfolios full of 12 different categories, or just completely irrelevant (like showing dresses for an activewear role).
For a more detailed step-by-step, read 6 Steps to Create a Fashion Portfolio.
Step 3: Write a Winning Fashion Resume
Your resume should be short and scan friendly. That means one page with only your most relevant work history, because you’ve only got a few seconds to grab their attention.
“They say it only takes like six seconds for someone to look at a resume and decide yes or no.” — Shellie Simpson (LinkedIn), Talent Director at Atrium Staffing | 🎧 4 Best Practices for Fashion Job Search Success
Here is a good resume example for someone with no experience who’s positioning themselves well to get a job as a fashion designer.
Use the example above for inspiration to create yours, focusing these highlights:
Show how your existing skills are transferrable
Brands won’t automatically see how your past work history crosses over to fashion. You need to show them. Whether you’ve worked retail, as a waitress, or done admin jobs, get creative (just don’t lie).
Consider these transferable skills for jobs you may have held:
Use this ChatGPT prompt to help (as always, refine, continue prompting, and edit carefully to ensure accuracy):
“I’ve worked [retail]. How would any skills from that job transfer to an entry level fashion design role? How can I write that on my resume?”
Prove that you’ve educated yourself
Listing self-directed learning on your resume not only shows that you’ve built the required skills, it also shows a huge initiative to learn.
Add a section called Career Development to reference online courses you’ve taken, skills you’ve acquired, how you’re engaged in your local fashion community, and beyond.
Don’t be afraid to make this section substantial to highlight all the work you’ve been doing.
Career Development Examples:
- Completed online training in Adobe Illustrator for fashion flats and tech pack creation
- Assisted with coordination and logistics at [City/Event] fashion week
- Attended online webinars and events through the Conscious Fashion Collective
- Took on freelance design projects through Upwork to gain hands-on experience
“Every single time I sent my resume, I got an interview. For the job I’m doing now, I asked afterwards, ‘What was it about my resume that you liked?’ And they said, ‘It’s because you clearly outlined the things that you’ve been doing whilst not working. You made that very clear that you are pushing yourself forward.’” — Nicola Osborne, Technical Fashion Designer | 🎧How this Mom Got her First Tech Design Job After a 12-Year Career Break
Customize your resume for every application
Before you send your resume, review the job description and make sure your bullet points use the same keywords in the job post, like “tech packs,” “product development,” “CADs,” etc.).
Pro Tip: Most fashion brands (even small ones) use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which scan your resume for keywords before a human ever sees it. If your resume doesn’t match the exact language, the ATS might filter you out automatically.
Step 4: Write Custom Cover Letters to Stand Out
Here’s a great example:
Don’t use a template and be a real human
Every cover letter should be customized for that exact role. Brands want to feel your enthusiasm and know why you want to work there, not just anywhere.
Tell them why they should care about hiring you, why you’re different from other candidates, and how this isn’t “just a job.” They should be able to feel your passion.
“Write a letter as if you weren’t sending it to anyone. Tell me why you love this company. And then we pulled out sentencing from that because that was just the realest thing ever. And it was so good and so genuine. So, yeah, take a deep breath, relax, and just be yourself.” — Dior Bediako, Fashion Career Coach | 🎧 How to Break Into the Fashion Industry With No Experience
Further explain how your skills are transferable
You’ve included this on your resume, but it’s good to explain further in your cover letter and address the elephant in the room.
“Write a blurb about yourself and why you’re a great fit for this job and how your skills translate. This will help them make the connections because they’re not going to make the connections themselves.” — Shellie Simpson (LinkedIn), Talent Director at Atrium Staffing | 🎧 4 Best Practices for Fashion Job Search Success
Use this ChatGPT prompt to help (as always, refine, continue prompting, and edit carefully to ensure accuracy):
“Write a blurb I can use in a cover letter to show how my [retail] skills are transferrable and why the brand should hire me even though I don’t have any fashion industry experience. Emphasize my drive with the self-directed learning I’ve done to teach myself Illustrator and tech packs, show enthusiasm, and add personality. Don’t be overly professional.”
Show that you’re hungry and want to hustle
Let your personality shine through and tell them why you want this role. I know how important these traits are when I hire, and have heard it from many other fashion professionals as well.
“I really look for a great personality that I connect with, number one. Number two would probably be willingness. Again, it’s that hustle. If I really sense that willingness and that hustle in somebody—from a genuine place, if you don’t feel that way, then don’t act that way. But if you are pumped to start this new brand with a new technology and it’s sustainable and it’s awesome. Like, that’s great. Everyone on my team is genuinely so excited about what we’re doing.” — Oni Auer (LinkedIn), Head of Sustainability, Vans | 🎧 How to Advance Your Fashion Design Career
When you apply from a true place of passion and excitement, this should naturally shine through. Write from your heart!
Freelance gigs—even small ones—can help you build experience, grow your network, and even turn into full-time offers. Many designers break in this way, especially when job boards come up empty. Check out my Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Freelance Fashion Designer.
Step 5: Find Fashion Design Jobs
Fashion Job Boards
They’re an obvious place to look, and they can work, but they shouldn’t be your only effort.
The big industry specific ones are StyleCareers, BoF Careers, Fashion Workie (UK) and Malakye (action sports).
When you apply for jobs here (or on other job boards), do some extra credit. Follow up after submitting your application, and send a customized sample project just for that brand.
Do some Google sleuthing to find the hiring manager, design director, or even a person on the team you want to join.
Find them on LinkedIn, connect, and send a message to further emphasize your excitement, explain why they should take a chance on you, and share your sample project.
“Create a capsule collection that you think will appeal to that particular target market. Work with the color story, with a fabric story, with the concept, with the inspiration and develop the shapes just as if you were given an assignment from any of those companies you’d like to work with.” – Bjorn Bengtsson (LinkedIn), former Design Director at Theory | 🎧 How to Get Your First Job in the Fashion Industry
Keep the message short and simple. Something like this is sufficient:
Ask for Opportunities Even When They Don’t Exist
As you build out your network and create relationships, don’t be afraid to pitch yourself. Reach out with messages that show genuine interest, share an idea, and give them some value.
“I had a friend who wrote to a company, and basically said, ‘I love your company. I use it every day. But this is what you’re doing wrong. If I worked for you, I’d add this.’ And they hired her and there was no job.” — Dior Bediako, Fashion Career Coach | 🎧 How to Break Into the Fashion Industry With No Experience
Think Beyond the Big Brands
Roles at big name brands like Nike, H&M, or Chanel are crazy competitive.
“Sometimes thousands [apply] for a role, all year around. So patience is crucial here. At H&M, we reviewed every single application to give a fair and equal opportunity to everyone.” — Virginie Tolly, Former Fashion Acquisition Specialist at H&M | 📖 How to Stand Out in Your Fashion Job Application
Meanwhile, smaller brands and manufacturers are hiring all the time, and they often struggle to find qualified designers.
“There’s brands that are located all over the US and internationally—I’m going to use air quotes here—but like all these random locations you never think of… The Targets, the Chicos, the Lands’ Ends of the world… they have to get people to come to their locations.” — Chris Kidd (LinkedIn), Founder of StyleCareers | 🎧Job Hunting & Resume Advice for Fashion Industry Professionals
My first fashion design job (without experience or a fashion degree) was for a little known golf and lifestyle brand called Tehama in Denver, CO. Over the next few years, I became aware of all the tiny brands located in the greater Colorado area. I previously had no idea we had such a fashion presence.
Two easy ways to find lesser known brands:
- Get creative with your Google searches. For example, I searched “fashion brands in Virginia Beach,” but that only showed boutiques on Google Maps. I then tried “fashion brands with corporate offices in Virginia Beach,” and found a few smaller name brands that are based here.
Ask ChatGPT to find brands for you. It took me 8 prompts to dial this in and ensure it was finding the right brands in the right locations. The results aren’t perfect, but they’re an amazing start:
Here’s the ChatGPT prompt to help (as always, refine, continue prompting, and edit carefully to ensure accuracy):
Prompt 1: “What are the top 10 fashion hubs in the US?”
Prompt 2: “Tell me 20 lesser known sustainable women’s activewear fashion brands that have small teams between 1-10 people that are located in the US. Include a link to their website. Do not include brands located in any of the top 10 fashion hubs you listed above.”
Smaller, lesser known brands are often more open to remote opportunities, so don’t be afraid to reach out even if you’re not local. You may also want to consider freelancing so you can work with brands anywhere in the world.
Once you’ve found brands you’re excited about, use the advice I shared earlier to build relationships, ask for opportunities (even if they’re not actively hiring), and grow your network.
Because finding your first job in fashion is often about being proactive and visible in the right spaces—not just applying and waiting.
Step 6: Network Using Strategies That Actually Work
Relationships lead to job offers more often than blindly applying.
No matter where you’re connecting with people, here are 2 things you want to focus on to maintain your “network.”
First, Build Relationships, Not A “Network”
You likely don’t have many connections or relationships, so you need to build from scratch.
Even if you don’t live in a fashion “hub,” I guarantee there are things going on in or just outside your city. Indie fashion shows, meetups, trade shows and beyond are great places to meet people. Make friends, talk about what you’re doing, and maintain relationships.
Instead of approaching people to “get something,” focus on building genuine relationships. Get curious, ask about their work, and find common ground.
“You don’t want to just talk about yourself, you know, it’s not like a job interview when you go pitch people. Really you’re just like—they’re trying to meet buyers, so you’re there trying to provide help for them. Get them talking and see that you can help them. Rather than just blindly, ‘Hey, I’m a designer. I’m looking for a job,’ they won’t wanna help you. It’s making it more about them than it is about you.” — Marissa Borelli, Freelance Designer for Lululemon & Athleta | 🎧 Freelancing Strategies for Fashion Designers
Second, Build an Online Presence (I Recommend LinkedIn)
The best place to build connections online is on LinkedIn. Here’s how to do it:
1. Optimize your LinkedIn profile
- Use a clear profile photo with a smile. Have a friend snap a photo using natural light from a nearby window against a clean background.
- Write a simple and specific headline. Reference the category you want to work in, and don’t be afraid to say, “entry level.” Brands are often looking to fill that exact role.
- Add your portfolio to your “featured” section. A couple PDF projects go really far here. Make sure to show your process (mood/inspo, flats, tech packs).
2. Connect and Engage with Designers
Find designers who are in roles similar to what you want. Engage on their posts and connect in the DMs. Be specific, genuine, and focus on them more than you.
Do: “I loved your recent post with the resortwear collection you just designed. It’s so cool to see how your inspiration translated into the final designs! I’m new and trying to break into fashion–if you ever have time to share, I’d love to hear more about how you got started and get any tips.”
Don’t: “I’m new to the fashion industry. Can you help me get started and find a job?”
(The “don’t” example may seem obvious, but it’s shocking how many messages I get like this!)
You should spend 80% of your effort connecting and engaging, but it’s important to put 20% into content creation to show what you’re working on. It exhibits that you’re a self-starter with ambition and drive.
Example post topics:
- Fashion trends you’ve been eyeing
- A new set of Illustrator fashion brushes you’re working on
- A self-directed tech pack you finished
Being active on LinkedIn will increase your chances all around.
“If somebody is looking to fill a position or even if they want to meet you before they even reach out to you, they’re going to be Googling you or searching your LinkedIn profile. I mean, they’re going to check you out before they ever make first contact.” – Malie Bingham, Fashion Designer, PVH | 🎧 Fashion Career Advice for Ambitious Designers
LinkedIn can also help you connect with brands who need to hire freelancers, which is a great way to get some base experience.
This works because many brands use LinkedIn as a search engine. They will literally type “streetwear fashion designer” into the search and browse through people to hire.
Tabitha Calvin (LinkedIn) used this exact strategy to land a huge fashion design project with a former NBA player even though she had no industry experience. She optimized her profile, posted, and engaged. He liked what he saw when he found her, and it turned into an amazing opportunity.
“I started posting on LinkedIn every day for almost a month, and he reached out to me. He looked at my Behance and the other things I posted and said, ‘I’d like to see if we can have a collaboration.'”
“He had searched ‘streetwear designers,’ and I came up. […] After meeting me in person, he said he really wanted to move forward because he thought I was nice and seemed professional.” — Tabitha Calvin, Freelance Streetwear Designer | 🎧 Tabitha’s First $1K Month (and Why She’s Quitting Her Day Job to Go All In on Freelancing)
3. Stay in Touch (Even When You Don’t Need Anything)
Networking isn’t a one-time thing. It’s about maintaining ongoing relationships, so people think of you when opportunities come up.
- Send a quick “congrats” on a promotion or job change
- Comment on their LinkedIn posts
- Share articles, trend reports, or insights they might find helpful
- Or just check in to say hi
“I always just try to check in with people. Not all the time—maybe every six months or so I’d just shoot them a message, like ‘Hey, how are things?’ Not asking for anything. Just being a human. That way when they do need someone, they remember me.” — Carla Stout, Fashion Designer for Mavi, Topshop | 🎧 Shanghai, Hong Kong and Istanbul: A Day in the Life of an International Fashion Designer
Treat your network more like relationships. Do nice things, be a real person, and make sure you ask about them (versus just talking about yourself).
Step 7: Prepare for Your Fashion Job Interview
In addition to the obvious advice of showing up early, presenting yourself professionally, and practicing common interview questions, here are 5 unique ideas that have helped other fashion designers land jobs.
Bring Physical Projects (beyond your portfolio)
None of these are required, but they differentiate you from other candidates. Try and bring at least one of the following.
Example Tech Packs:
Brands may not have fully browsed your online portfolio, or have forgotten what they saw. Bring a printed tech pack example and walk them through it.
Nicola, a mom who took a 12-year career break to raise her kids, did this to impress a hiring manager (and ultimately land the job!).
“She mentioned that she was impressed with the tech pack that I brought in to show. It didn’t even come up in the interview. I actually had to say, ‘Do you mind if I show you something?’ To see their faces light up—they actually kind of lit up.” — Nicola Osborne, Technical Fashion Designer | 🎧How this Mom Got her First Tech Design Job After a 12-Year Career Break
Sketchbook:
If you doodle or do loose hand sketches, this can give brands a glimpse into where your ideas come from. Don’t worry about it being perfect—these things should be rough and messy.
“Do you have, like a little notebook or a journal or something that you’re constantly drawing in or where you’re putting your thoughts and notes? A lot of designers do that. So I always tell those candidates, bring it with you.” — Shellie Simpson (LinkedIn), Talent Director at Atrium Staffing | 🎧 4 Best Practices for Fashion Job Search Success
A Customized Project:
Prepare something just for them that shows you’re a self-starter with a willingness to hustle (a key trait to getting hired). This could be:
- A 3-5 piece capsule collection to show you understand their brand aesthetic and know how to design for their customer.
- A few fashion flats or 3D renders of their existing designs to show your technical accuracy.
- A tech pack based off one of their existing designs to show you know how to accurately spec a garment.
Pull it out at the appropriate time and explain your desire to take initiative.
“I would do a trend report to understand what I’m seeing out there. Sometimes I would bring that with me to the interview. I remember I did that for a couple brands, and they were like, ‘Oh wow, this is super helpful. We haven’t seen it presented this way.’” — Leila Jalili, former Senior Designer at Under Armour | 🎧Learn How to Create A Stellar Fashion Portfolio
Do Deep Research in Advance
Beyond reading their website, dig deep to learn about their history, view recent collections, and discover any current initiatives or press coverage.
Search Google “news” for recent press, see who works there on LinkedIn (then browse their feed), and check out the brand’s Instagram to see what they’re sharing.
“Definitely research the company, look them up online, know their product, look them up on LinkedIn, look at the news, are there any recent articles, how is the company doing? What are they doing well in? Anything that’s relevant or newsworthy or new, you should be privy to that and be able to bring it up in an interview.” — Shellie Simpson (LinkedIn), Talent Director at Atrium Staffing | 🎧 4 Best Practices for Fashion Job Search Success
Focus on Problem-Solving, Not Just Aesthetics
Your interviewer doesn’t just want to know that you can design, draw flats, and create tech packs. They want to know how you work through constraints, collaborate with others, and deliver results.
“I never just talked about what I did. I would always say, ‘This is the problem I had. Here’s how I solved it.’ Because that’s what they care about. Anyone can say, ‘I did tech packs.’ Okay, great. But how did you make tech packs better? How did you save time or reduce sampling rounds? That’s what makes you valuable.” — Carla Stout, Fashion Designer for Mavi, Topshop | 🎧 Shanghai, Hong Kong and Istanbul: A Day in the Life of an International Fashion Designer
Get creative with past work history and how it can apply.
Here are 3 examples to show how admin skills translate and demonstrate problem-solving.
File Organization → Tech Pack + Sample Tracking
Admin Skill: You managed digital files, paperwork, or databases.
Fashion Translation: “I created a more streamlined filing system for our internal documents, reducing search time and confusion. That’s the same mindset I would bring to organizing tech packs, sample libraries, or trim tracking.”
Problem Prevention → QA / QC Mindset
Admin Skill: You caught mistakes before they became problems (double-bookings, incorrect info, missing paperwork).
Fashion Translation: “I developed a system to double-check meeting agendas and travel bookings — preventing at least 5 major errors per quarter. That same attention to detail is critical when reviewing line sheets, specs, or sample approvals.”
Coordinating Chaos → Managing Production Timelines
Admin Skill: You organized meetings, calendars, or managed multiple execs’ schedules.
Fashion Translation: “In my previous role, I had to juggle competing priorities and last-minute changes — similar to how production calendars shift in fashion. I created shared timelines and implemented reminders that helped our team cut down on missed deadlines by 30%.”
Use this ChatGPT prompt to help (as always, refine, continue prompting, and edit carefully to ensure accuracy):
“I have worked as a [role]. Five of my responsibilities were [insert here]. How can I translate those to a fashion design job?”
Be Real, Not Perfect
I always try to remember that the interviewer is a real person, and you should be too. Be yourself and show some personality.
“I hired people without a fashion college degree. The first job is really about personality. Once you get to the interview, I do believe what’s gonna land you the job is really up to you, who you are, what’s your outlook on the industry, what do you think is your good personal characteristics that you want to bring into the industry.” – Bjorn Bengtsson (LinkedIn), former Design Director at Theory | 🎧 How to Get Your First Job in the Fashion Industry
I also suggest addressing any elephants in the room. Whenever I interview people who are low on experience, I appreciate when they speak directly to this and share how their drive, ambition, and perseverance will set them apart.
I’m a big believer that technical skills can be taught, but work ethic is innate. If you can make it clear that your work ethic is exceptional, you’ve given yourself a huge advantage.
Don’t Be Afraid to Apply Multiple Times
Your skills will continue to grow over time, and you will learn how to present yourself as a stronger candidate. Keep putting yourself out there, even for roles at the same company.
“Even if your application has been rejected before, I always consider that the candidate can improve or become more suitable for a future role. So, I would advise you not to hesitate to apply again for a role six months or one year later if you’ve since developed related experience. A no is not a no forever; it is often a YES to something else.” — Virginie Tolly, Former Fashion Acquisition Specialist at H&M | 📖 How to Stand Out in Your Fashion Job Application
Kirby Nuñez didn’t go to fashion school. Everything he learned about design, he taught himself using YouTube, a lot of trial and error, and many late nights.
“In my last application, I let them know, ‘I’m really interested. And the reason I’m interested is because your company is doing, this, and this. And I see this as a place for me to grow and to learn and to be surrounded by these greater creatives who are in this place.’ And I think that really set me apart from all the other applications that I had sent in previously, which were generic.” — Kirby Nuñez (LinkedIn), Senior Designer, PUMA | 🎧This Fashion Designer Applied to Puma 7 Times. How He Finally Got His Dream Job.
Other (Realistic) Ways to Break Into Fashion
If you’re following everything in this guide but are stuck and aren’t having luck, you have other options.
Consider Internships
Most internships are unpaid, and while not everyone has the ability to work for free, they’re a great way to get that first bit of experience. This can make finding your first job easier.
Not only do they give you experience, but many interns end up getting hired by the same company or referred to another one by someone they worked with.
Follow the same advice in this guide.
Consider Freelancing
Freelancing is a great way to get some base experience and get paid. If you still want to pursue a job, you can show that work on your resume and in your portfolio. Or, build your own career as a full-time freelancer.
Follow my Ultimate Guide to Being a Freelance Fashion Designer.
It’s an Uphill Journey
Fashion is competitive, and while I don’t want to deter you, the road to landing your first job without experience will be long.
It will take perseverance, dedication, and a lot of getting outside your comfort zone.
But it is entirely possible, and the few who make it to the end are the ones who are really meant to make it in this industry.
Because it’s cutthroat and not for the faint of heart.
If you follow my advice in this guide, you will get there.
Here are some closing tips:
Immerse yourself
There are very few real-life resources out there with stories and advice about landing your first job. I’ve tried to fill that void with my content.
“One thing I did to help was just to listen to your podcasts and lots of other things, and read a lot and just get my head in that space so that I could talk about the industry. Find a few key things that you’re passionate about, that you can talk about in an interview, because they want to see that your knowledge is up-to-date and that you know what’s going on in the industry.” — Nicola Osborne, Technical Fashion Designer | 🎧How this Mom Got her First Tech Design Job After a 12-Year Career Break
Listen to these episodes from my podcast, Fashion Designers Get Paid:
- How to Get Your First Job in the Fashion Industry with Bjorn Bengtsson
- This Fashion Designer Applied to Puma 7 Times. How He Finally Got His Dream Job (without experience).
- How to Break Into the Fashion Industry With No Experience
- How to Get A Fashion Design Internship Right After High School
- Job Hunting & Resume Advice for Fashion Industry Professionals with Style Careers Founder
- 4 Best Practices for Fashion Job Search Success, with Recruiter Shellie Simpson
- How this Mom Got her First Tech Design Job After a 12-Year Career Break
Read these blog articles on my site:
- How to Stand Out in Your Fashion Job Application (advice from an experienced H&M recruiter)
- How to Prepare for a Fashion Interview: Beyond Generic Tips
- 6 Steps to Create Your Fashion Portfolio in a Weekend (for Job Seekers & Freelancers)
- 10 Best Careers in Fashion (#2 is underrated!)
- Must-Have Skills to Work in Fashion (sewing is NOT one of them)
Start before you’re “ready”
Don’t wait until you feel fully qualified. You’ll never feel 100% ready—and you don’t have to be. One of my favorite quotes is:
“If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you launched too late,” – Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn
Everything you create–fashion flats, tech packs, resume, portfolio–won’t be great the first time. Put it out there anyway. Keep learning, keep improving, and keep going.
“You’re not going to feel 100% ready. You just need to take the leap and figure things out as you go. That’s literally what every job has been like for me.” — Kirby Nuñez (LinkedIn), Senior Designer, PUMA | 🎧This Fashion Designer Applied to Puma 7 Times. How He Finally Got His Dream Job.
You got this. Me, my team, and everyone in the SFD community is rooting for you!
