I am interested in fashion buying or fashion marketing. I need
to find out more information about these jobs and possible internships.
Thank you!
From: Nicole Whitson, Sophomore, University of Missouri-Columbia
ANSWER FROM BRIAN KRUEGER:
Hi Nicole -
Your question
is a classic networking question. You're doing the right thing by reaching out to others for answers you don't have. And understand that in networking your way to the answer, you may find many people that don't have the
answer, yet can steer you toward someone that does.
That's a quick way of saying that I don't have a direct answer for you, but I can steer you in the right direction.
First, before you do anything else, do proper
career planning. The exploration of specific fields will be the latter part of this (and subject of the next several points), but first you need to evaluate your applicability for this field. Missouri-Columbia has an
excellent career planning center where you can go through a series of tests and counseling sessions to better evaluate if this would be the right profession for you. Specifically, you should evaluate your personality
fit (via a test such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), your interest match (via a test such as the Strong Interest Inventory), your aptitude for the field, and your value orientation (via a program such as SIGI). Yet
all these tests need to be subjectively evaluated, so it's important to work with a career guidance professional in interpreting and applying the results.
Second, do your library homework. There are several books in
general written about the fashion merchandising (the general name for the field you are looking into). Make sure you check the copyright for one written in the past 2 years, since this field is subject to more rapid
change than others.
Third, ask for informational interviews with individuals presently in the field. Don't feel that you have to find the Lead Buyer for Macy's. Anyone that's been in the field for 2-3 years would
probably have more applicable information for you about what to do to prepare for the entry level. Don't know anyone at that level? The best bet is to look for recent graduates from UM--either through your placement
office or alumni office--they usually are more than happy to help out. Have your questions planned out in advance. Thoughtfully consider these questions ahead of time so that you thoroughly cover the topic.
Fourth,
make sure your major and course curriculum match the path you need to enter the field. Maximize your courses in the field, not only with the required core for the major, but even using all your free electives to take
the upper level courses in the major.
Lastly, seek out an internship with companies in your field. Your placement office at UM should be able to tell you what companies are currently hiring Fashion Merchandising
majors there at UM, and these should be your initial target. But don't be afraid to take a "normal" summer job working in retail sales, especially this summer between your sophomore and junior years. Next
summer will be more important, but this summer's work will form the basis for whether or not you get an internship next year. The internship is the most critical item in your background for consideration at the entry
level.
Keep in mind that positions at the entry level for Fashion Merchandising majors are very competitive. It draws many people into the academic program ("I'd love to shop for a living..."), but many
fall out of the field shortly after graduation, often staying in retail, but away from merchandising. Others never make it at all and switch occupations. The trick is to maximize your potential at the entry level. You
might find yourself in a less than glamorous position to start, say as an Assistant Buyer (if you're lucky) or even administrative support in the Purchasing Department--many graduates have used this as their entry
point, then worked their way up through the department. But the key is to prepare yourself now to establish the highest possible entry point. It may not include the weekly trips to New York and Paris from the start,
since that part of the job is typically reserved for the Senior Buyers or Managers, but getting established in the field will allow you to work your way up through the ranks.
Good for you for starting your planning early. Happy hunting!
Brian Krueger
Author of College Grad Job Hunter
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