Style Nine to Five Founder Christie Lohr is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to careers and especially careers in fashion. She’s constantly being asked for tips and advice on all things career-related and here are some of the most common questions she gets asked, along with her professional advice!
1. I haven’t heard back about the job I applied for. Should I follow up? And when is it appropriate to?
Absolutely. You would be surprised at how many hiring managers are just busy and honestly how infrequently people actually do follow up. That follow up makes you stand out, it shows your passion and excitement for the job and puts you top of mind for a busy manager. Just like brand recognition, seeing your name in their inbox can give you a leg up.
Usually a week is a respectful amount of time to give before a follow up. This is enough time for the manager to have reviewed applications, but still fresh enough that they are likely still considering applicants and doing initial callbacks for interviews.
2. I see X company is hiring for a different role (and they didn’t hear back from another one they applied for), should I apply to that one as well?
There is definitely no harm in re-applying to a company you previously applied for, especially if you have your heart set on a specific company. There could be many reasons why your previous application was overlooked. If you’re going to re-apply, we recommend polishing up your application, maybe getting a bit more experience under your belt, or taking some courses to add skills to your resume.
3. Should I apply to multiple roles at the same company all at once?
Similar to question number two, but a bit trickier. For this one, we would recommend holding off on sending multiple applications all at once. You want to appear intentional in your job hunt and sell yourself as the ideal candidate for the job.
That being said – if you have a skill set that lends itself to multiple roles you may be able to apply to a second. Let’s say you work in marketing, many marketing roles can be specialized to say copywriting, social media, or communications, but similar skills are applied to all. Maybe you apply to a marketing coordinator role, but where you really excel is in social media management. If a social media role were to come up with the same company, you could apply to that as well.
The main thing you want to remember here is that the skills and pay grade should be similar. You could also include a P.S. At the bottom of your cover letter explaining that you are very interested in the company and explaining why you applied to two roles. For example:
P.S. I am a huge fan of Style Nine to Five and always looking for openings on the marketing team. I originally saw the Marketing Coordinator role, and applied as many of my skills apply to the position. However, when I saw the Social Media Manager role pop up, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to apply to this role as well. Instagram and TikTok are where my marketing skills really shine! I would be delighted to join the marketing team in either of these capacities with my transferable marketing skills.
Never underestimate the power of transparency and communication when applying to a job.
3. I made a mistake on my application, should I email the recruiter explaining the mistake?
This one is all about context. If you have made a glaring mistake that will stand out to the recruiter and possibly put you in the “no” pile of applications – send a friendly follow up to explain.
For example, let’s say you wrote the wrong company name, here’s how you could address it. Something short and sweet:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I was just reviewing my application for [insert role] and noticed I accidentally included the wrong company name on my Cover Letter. I just wanted to apologize and acknowledge this mistake. I have a job template that I return to when applying to new jobs and in my excitement to apply to this role, I forgot to update the company name from the last time I used this template. Please know that I remain very excited about the opportunity with your company and hope that this won’t disqualify my application for being considered. I hope to be able to speak with you soon in further detail about my fit for the role.
All my best,
Taking accountability for your mistake is a great way to lead and show your maturity and accountability. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s how we handle those mistakes and fix them that is most important.
4. I want a hybrid role or a remote role but the job is in the office, Mon – Fri. Should I still apply? What should I say?
Definitely! These kinds of details can be discussed in your interview and even further negotiated during your contract. There is almost always some wiggle room when it comes to the full details of a contract such as remote vs. in-person, salary, vacation days, etc. If you are the best candidate for the job your employer will likely be amicable to working out these details with you and finding a solution that works for you both. Just be sure to bring it up early in the conversation and not blind side your employer with this – communication is key.
5. I really want to work for Lululemon. Can you help?
You’d be hard pressed to meet a Canadian fashion girl who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to work for Lululemon. If you’re a follower of Style Nine to Five, you’ve come to the right place! We often have Lululemon jobs listed in our job board. As for getting you hired – Christie being a leader in the fashion career world in Canada and a West Coaster has a lot of experience with the brand. If you are super invested in landing an interview with Lululemon, consider booking a consultation with Christie to finesse your application and do some interview prep in advance.
6. I got the interview for my dream company. So nervous. Any tips?
This is what Style Nine to Five and Christie does best! Here are some of our blog posts to use as great resources for any kind of pre-interview nerves:
Common interview questions to prep for
What NOT to say in a job interview
How to stand out after your interview
7. I’ve been working at X company for over 10 years and I’m ready to make a change. How do I change industries confidently?
This is a great question, but needs a bit of tailoring for each individual. Christie offers Virtual Career Meetings where she can help guide you on all the steps you can take to make a specific change, tailored to your career path and skillset.
In the meantime here are a few tips that can be applied to any career change:
• Do your research: what is the climate like, is this new career in-demand?, what skills do you need?
• You will likely take an initial salary cut, are you prepared for this?
• Take inventory of what transferable skills you have
• What skills are you missing, do you need to return to school for those, or take a night course or online education?
These are the most frequently asked questions of Christie – did we answer yours? If not, make sure you’re following the Style Nine to Five Instagram account where Christie is always sharing more quick tips for all things career.
Have a career question that wasn’t answered above? Ask Christie One Career Question via email.
Sheila O’Neill is a creative, innovative and inspiring storyteller with a background in fashion.