We’re going behind the scenes into Style Nine to Five’s Office Hours, where Founder, Christie Lohr, meets with fashion job seekers to answer their real-life questions. Today we’re talking all about how to land a fashion job when your experience comes from other industries. Let’s dig in for Christie’s advice on how to make a successful career pivot into fashion.
The good news is that fashion companies hire from a wide range of industries, but the trick is learning how to stand out. Christie says, “I’d say the only positions that you can’t just jump into would be fashion design or fashion buying. Other than that, you can be in social media, marketing, sales, operations, or other roles outside the industry. You can transfer from any industry into fashion, but you have to make hiring managers really visualize you in the role.”
Your challenge isn’t just convincing employers that you love fashion (although this is important—more on that below!). It’s showing them how your existing skills will help solve their business problems.
Focus on Transferable Skills
Most employers are less concerned about where you developed your skills and are more interested in how you can apply them. Christie shares an example. “A lot of companies now hire for e-commerce, so you’re helping with Shopify, helping ship orders, or, of course, working in customer service or retail. You might have that experience in another industry, but the skills carry over.”
Or, let’s say you have experience in email marketing. “Can you show us a successful email marketing campaign you worked on? How did you get a new customer as opposed to a returning customer? Did you do A/B testing? These kinds of tangible examples are what we’re looking for,” Christie says.
Other transferable skills to highlight include experience with email marketing, Meta ads, Google ads, events and campaign management, and AI fluency (Christie points out that The RealReal just hired its first-ever Vice President of AI, showing the importance of leaning into emerging tech).
Reinvent Your Resume
Remember that hiring managers only give each resume a quick skim (aka the six-second scan), so make your most relevant and important skills pop by putting them in concise bullets under your name, rather than letting them get lost in a sea of job duties.
“Create a section right at the top of your resume called ‘Relevant Skills’ or ‘Relevant Experience’ for that specific job, so everything else falls underneath it,” Christie says. “Even if it’s not in chronological order, you’re taking the most relevant stuff, you’re putting it in the hiring manager’s face, and you’re really making us see, ‘Okay, she really is passionate about this industry,’ because that’s the first place a hiring manager’s eyes will go.”
The body of your resume is where you’ll reorder your past roles to emphasize your applicable experience, remove anything outdated, and include any and all relevant fashion experience you might have, even if it was a retail job you worked years ago.
Get Real In Your Cover Letter
Sending the same cover letter to every fashion company doesn’t cut it. Instead of duplicating the same application package for role after role, take a customized approach, and don’t be afraid to get personal. For example, is there a specific style that made you fall in love with their brand? Are you a die-hard fan of one of their products? Use your cover letter opener as an opportunity to tell a story and make an authentic connection. This isn’t the time to play it cool—get excited and your genuine enthusiasm will come through.
Christie shares the success story of an Office Hours attendee. “I know some people think, ‘Is a cover letter still important?’ It actually really is. For example, I had someone apply for a role about a year ago who didn’t have much, if any, fashion experience. I remember her cover letter intro was something general, like, “I’m really interested in this position, and I’m looking forward to hearing from you.” But then I got another application from her a couple of weeks ago that was totally different and grabbed my attention because it was very obvious that it was catered to the job and the brand. This time around, the gist of her cover letter intro was, ‘I’ve been a follower of Style Nine to Five for many years. This is why I really want to work for you. This is what I can offer.” It created a wow-moment for me because, even though she didn’t have a ton of fashion experience, her messaging to me made it really obvious that she was a fan of the brand and that she really loved and aligned with it.”
Create Your Own Fashion Experience
When you’re working on getting into the fashion industry, look for opportunities to build fashion-related experience on your own. Fill in gaps in your experience with side projects, courses, and tailored mockups for the company you’re applying to. Not every fashion job requires a portfolio or examples of your work, but sharing it anyway can make all the difference in helping you stand out. It also lets hiring managers see your chops, so you’re walking the walk, not just talking the talk.
Even a small side project can give you something tangible to include in a portfolio along with your application. Christie gives an example of how to do this, even without work experience. “If you have zero experience, maybe you’re creating an Instagram account that has at least nine photos, and you’re linking to it on your resume as well as your LinkedIn. Maybe you did a review of a new fashion show, or maybe you talked about a few trends. You could just spend a day creating it, but it just makes our job easier. We want to visualize you in the role, so give us something we can easily look at to see that you’re tapped in.
When it comes to education, you don’t need to quit your job and enroll in full-time fashion school. There are plenty of online courses and certifications that can give your credentials an extra boost. Christie recommends the Inside LVMH Certificate, which is free, offered online, and covers luxury fashion fundamentals from LVMH leaders and industry experts. Adding a fashion-related certificate or two to your resume shows your commitment to working in the industry, even if that’s not where your current job is.
The Bottom Line
Transitioning into a fashion job doesn’t mean starting your career over, but it does require repositioning your existing experience into relevant skills and positioning yourself in a way that makes it obvious to the hiring manager that you’re a great fit for the role and the brand.
Remember that your previous career isn’t a disadvantage. It’s the source of your unique perspective, experience, and proven skills. Taking the time to create a strategic, tailored application and going the extra mile to create your own experience is what will turn a career pivot into a new fashion job.
Want to get in on the next Style Nine to Five Office Hours? Sign up and get Christie’s insider advice on how to get noticed by recruiters and the steps to landing your dream fashion job.
Do you have burning questions about getting a job in fashion? Get face to face time with Founder, Christie Lohr, by signing up for Style Nine to Five Office Hours and get insider advice on how to get noticed by recruiters and the steps to landing your dream fashion job.
Frequently Asked Questions
You asked, and we’re answering! Here’s what you need to know about entering a career in fashion from another industry.
Can you get a job in fashion without fashion industry experience?
Yes, it’s entirely possible to start a new job in fashion if you haven’t worked in the industry before. Fashion companies often hire from other industries for roles in marketing, sales, finance, human resources, customer service, technology, operations, and project management. The key is to demonstrate how your transferable skills and accomplishments align with the job requirements.
What transferable skills are most valuable in the fashion industry?
Some of the most sought-after transferable skills include marketing, communication, project management, leadership, data analysis, customer service, operations, and sales. Employers also value adaptability and the ability to work with relevant technology.
How do I make my resume relevant for a fashion job?
Tailor your resume for each position by using keywords from the job description, highlighting measurable achievements, and emphasizing transferable skills. Focus on the impact you’ve made in previous roles rather than the industry you worked in.
Should I write a cover letter when changing careers into fashion?
Yes, always include a cover letter in your application! A cover letter gives you the opportunity to explain why you’re transitioning into the fashion industry and how your previous experience makes you a strong candidate. Keep the focus on the value you can bring to the employer rather than your lack of fashion experience.
Do I need a fashion degree to work in the fashion industry?
No, you don’t need a fashion school background to work in the industry. While some creative roles, like fashion design or pattern making, require specialized education, many business, marketing, technology, operations, and corporate positions prioritize relevant skills and experience over a fashion-specific degree.
How important is networking when trying to break into fashion?
Networking can significantly improve your chances of finding opportunities. Connect with professionals on LinkedIn, attend fashion industry events, join professional organizations, and request informational interviews to learn more about the industry and expand your network.
What are the best entry points into the fashion industry for career changers?
Roles in marketing, ecommerce, digital content, customer experience, retail management, merchandising support, operations, supply chain, project management, finance, and human resources are often good entry points because they rely on skills that are transferable from many other industries.
Jeanine Gordon is a freelance writer, editor, and content strategist with a passion for creating stellar content for global brands and small businesses alike, specializing in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.