Entry level fashion jobs

The range of entry level fashion jobs is very broad and spans from models, fashion designers, fashion consultants to fashion merchandisers and so forth. The education and experience requirements, as well as, job outlook can be very different depending on which path of fashion you are interested to pursue.

• If you have an interest in modeling, keep in mind that workers in this profession start very young and usually, while their career can be very exciting and intense, it is also often short lived, because of the high turn around in this industry and the pressures to retain a certain physique. The competition in the modeling industry is expected to intensify, even though the profession is anticipated to have higher than average growth, according to the BLS. The wages for models vary greatly depending on the demand for and notoriety of that particular model. There are no education requirements to become a model—most have only a high school degree.
• Working very closely with models, fashion designers are yet another glamorous career that attracts a lot of young talent and therefore stiff competition. In order to work as an entry level fashion designer, you will need to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree in fashion design, and have some experience with different textiles and fabrics. A lot of fashion designers are self-employed, other work with merchant wholesalers and apparel manufacturers. The median annual wage for fashion designers was $61,160 in May 2008, according to BLS data.
• If you love fashion, but your mind means business, fashion merchandising may just be right for you. This occupation includes professions such as purchasing managers, retail buyers, and purchasing agents. A college degree is expected and often a masters or an MBA required to advance in certain career paths within this field. The median annual wages of wholesale and retail buyers were $48,710 in May 2008, according to the BLS.

No matter what field of fashion you choose to specialize in, remember to follow your passion for this art, despite the tough competition and the challenges of the profession.