I am double majoring in Apparel Merchandising \& Textiles
and International Business. I want to work for a fashion designer like Donna Karan or Armani. I have called both places for the name of a contact person to send my resume to, but how can I get a better chance at being a
representative for one of these designer's when I don't know anybody there. All my professors tell me it's "Who you know, not what you know, that gets you in the door."
HELP!
From: Kristen Benda, Senior, Washington State University
ANSWER FROM BRIAN KRUEGER:
Hi Kristen -
First of all, DON'T call to ask who to send your resume to. Call to ask who the person is who is responsible
for hiring in your target area of interest. Then call that person and only send a resume when requested.
Just because you "don't know anybody there" should not stop you from making contact. Don't think
you're doing all you can do just by sending a resume. In most cases, that won't do it. You need to be proactive in making contact.
Also, keep in mind that you may not know someone who works there, but you may know
someone who does. Continually ask people in your network of personal and professional contacts about those two companies (and any others you are interested in). Eventually you will get a hit. Also check the alumni roles
there at WSU--if you find an alum that works there, make the call!
Remember that job search is a series of "No's" on the way to one eventual "Yes." We may not know where that "yes" will
come from, but we have to keep seeing past the "no's" to find it.
Do you have a question that you would like to have answered here in this forum? Send your question direct to Brian Krueger.
All job search information at this forum is provided by Brian Krueger, author of the book College Grad Job Hunter, the definitive guide for college grad job search. Used by permission of the author.
