This is the 2nd part of a 2-part series that focuses on creating a strong fashion resume
By taking your most important industry experiences and showcasing them in a way that will help you stand out among your competition.
In the last episode we went over:
- How to focus on skills you acquired at your previous internships
- Linking these skills to specific projects and responsibilities
- Quantifying your achievements by identifying growth, impact and measurable results
- Why including notable collaborations is so important and what it highlights
- Identifying positive outcomes resulting from your work and contributions during your internship
In this post, we’re going to be taking ALL of the information you identified and gathered from last week’s lesson and translating these experiences into a powerful fashion resume that shows off your experience while also helping you stand out to hiring managers.
Here’s the deal: nailing the art of communicating your past experience on your fashion resume is an absolute must if you want to catch the eye of industry employers. We’re talking about making a killer impression that screams, “Hey, look at me!”.
Let’s dive in and discover how 3 very specific strategies can help you create a fashion resume that does exactly that!
Strategy #1: Use Specific Action Verbs
Action verbs are a game-changer when it comes to grabbing employers’ attention and showcasing your role in internships, volunteer gigs or jobs. They bring life, excitement and impact to your fashion resume – making it stand out and leave a lasting impression. When you use action verbs, you’re showing off your go-getter attitude, taking initiative and proving that you can make things happen.
Choosing Strong Action Verbs:
When it comes to making your fashion resume a showstopper, it’s all about choosing the right verbs to kick-start each bullet point under your fashion experience. Forget those tired old generic verbs like “assisted” or “worked on” that leave your contributions hanging in the shadows. Embrace those powerful action verbs that paint a picture of your amazing tasks, achievements and major responsibilities.
Ready to be inspired and make a statement with your fashion resume? I’ve got three powerhouse examples just for you:
1. Created:
Unleash your creativity and show off your innovative spirit. You can say: “Created and executed window displays that grabbed attention and boosted foot traffic by 20%”.
2. Coordinated:
Let your organizational prowess shine and demonstrate your project and event management skills. This can be written as: “Coordinated and flawlessly executed a high-profile fashion event, handling schedules, logistics, and team coordination”.
3. Collaborated:
Highlight your team player side and showcase your ability to collaborate. For this one you can say: “Collaborated seamlessly with a dynamic cross-functional team, crafting a marketing campaign that resulted in a 30% increase in brand awareness”.
Using words like the ones in these examples is your secret weapon to add that irresistible flair and showcase your fashion experience.
Maximizing the Impact of Action Verbs:
Let’s dive into the art of unleashing the power of action verbs in your fashion resume. Here are some savvy tips to help you make them work their magic:
Be specific: Choose action verbs that paint a clear picture of your tasks, responsibilities and achievements. Think about the specific areas where you excelled and let those verbs showcase your expertise like a boss.
Quantify your wins: When possible, give those accomplishments a numerical boost. Whether it’s numbers, percentages or specific metrics, quantifying the impact of your actions adds a touch of credibility and highlights your measurable triumphs.
Customize your verbs: Don’t be afraid to mix it up! Tailor your action verbs to fit each unique experience and the roles you rocked during your fashion internship, volunteer opportunity or previous job. This will show off your versatility and adaptability.
Harnessing the power of action verbs is a total game-changer when crafting your fashion resume. By kicking off each bullet point under your experience section with these dynamic verbs, you’ll captivate attention, showcase your active involvement and give a glittering spotlight to your contributions.
So, go ahead and handpick those impactful verbs that align with your specific tasks and accomplishments. Oh, and don’t forget to sprinkle in those numbers to really make an impression. With the right action verbs, your fashion resume will shine like a runway under the spotlights, increasing your chances of landing your dream job in the industry.
Strategy #2: Industry-Specific Terminology
Crafting your fashion resume requires more than just looking the part. It’s about speaking the language of the industry, showing off your insider knowledge and proving that you’re fluent in fashion’s unique dialect.
To truly make a statement, it’s important to infuse your resume with the language of the fashion world. Swap generic terms for industry-specific terms that show hiring managers you’re serious about the industry and your career.
For instance, instead of simply mentioning your role in visual merchandising, showcase your expertise with terms like window display design, mannequin styling or store layout optimization.
The Value of Industry-Specific Terminology:
You may be wondering what this concept has to do with your experience.
In the competitive world of fashion, incorporating industry-specific terminology into your resume is an absolute game-changer. It’s not just about being well-versed in fashion concepts, trends, and practices. It’s about radiating your undeniable depth of knowledge and passion for the field.
When you add these keywords throughout your fashion resume, you’re showing potential employers that you’re a force to be reckoned with. You’re the kind of candidate they crave – knowledgeable, dedicated and ready to take on any tasks that come your way.
Examples of Industry-Specific Terminology:
To make your fashion resume more impactful, replace generic terms with industry-specific ones.
Here are some examples to help you get started:
Visual Merchandising: use terms like “Created compelling window displays to attract customers and increase foot traffic.”
Trend Analysis: Highlight your understanding of fashion trends by using terms such as “Conducted in-depth trend analysis to inform design decisions and ensure product relevance.”
Showcase your technical skills by mentioning your involvement in “Developing and constructing high-quality garments using advanced sewing techniques and industry-standard equipment.”
When it comes to crafting your fashion resume, incorporating those industry-specific terms is an absolute must. It’s your golden ticket to showcase your boundless knowledge, expertise and unwavering dedication to the fashion industry.
Now, here’s a little secret:
Tailor those terms on your fashion resume to match the role you’re applying for. Let each word accurately describe your unique experience and skills, like a perfectly tailored garment that hugs your curves in all the right places. By doing so, you’ll capture the attention of employers and increase your chances of securing your desired role in the industry.
Strategy #3: Showcase Metrics and Results
When it comes to your fashion resume, numbers speak louder than words. By showcasing measurable metrics and results from your internship or job experience, you provide concrete evidence of your accomplishments and the impact you made.
Paint a vivid picture of your accomplishments by highlighting quantifiable impact. Whether it’s the percentage increase in sales generated through that marketing campaign you played a role in or the surge in social media followers under your management, let those numbers work their magic. Metrics provide that undeniable proof that speaks volumes about your achievements.
So, don’t hold back! Embrace the power of numbers and let them tell the inspiring story of your fashion experience. Your accomplishments deserve to be celebrated and with those measurable metrics in hand, you’ll leave potential employers in awe of your undeniable impact.
Identifying Relevant Metrics:
To showcase the impact of your internship experience, start by identifying the most relevant metrics. Reflect on your accomplishments and consider the quantitative aspects that best demonstrate the value you brought to the table.
Pause for a moment, my friend, and let the spotlight shine on your achievements. Take a deep dive into the world of numbers, exploring those quantitative aspects that truly showcase the value you’ve brought to the table. It’s time to celebrate your wins and let those numbers tell the inspiring story of your remarkable fashion career journey.
Here are some examples of metrics you can include:
- Sales and Revenue: If you contributed to a marketing campaign or sales initiative, mention the percentage increase in sales generated or the revenue generated as a result of your efforts.
- Social Media Engagement: If you managed social media platforms during your internship, highlight the growth in followers, the increase in engagement rates, or the number of likes, comments, and shares your posts received.
- Operational Efficiency: If you were involved in streamlining processes or improving efficiency, quantify the impact by mentioning the percentage of time or cost savings achieved.
Presenting Metrics on Your Resume:
Now that you’ve identified the metrics that truly matter, it’s time to present them with clarity and precision on your fashion resume.
Use bullet points:
Include your measurable achievements as bullet points under each relevant experience. This makes them easily noticeable and allows employers to quickly grasp the impact you made.
Provide context:
In addition to the metric itself, provide a brief description of the project or initiative you were involved in. This helps employers understand the scope and context of your achievements.
Be specific:
Include specific numbers, percentages, or figures to accurately quantify your results. This adds credibility and demonstrates the level of impact you had.
Focus on outcomes:
Highlight the positive outcomes that resulted from your contributions. Whether it’s increased sales, improved brand awareness or enhanced customer satisfaction, emphasize the tangible benefits.
Incorporating measurable metrics and results into your fashion resume can be a game-changer, especially when you’re just starting out in your career. It’s a powerful way to showcase your achievements and the impact you made during your internship or job opportunity.
By providing concrete evidence of your contributions, you demonstrate your ability to drive results and make a meaningful impact in the industry. Identify the most relevant metrics, like specific accomplishments or outcomes, and present them clearly on your resume. It’s all about highlighting the positive outcomes that resulted from your hard work.
With a metrics-driven fashion resume, you’ll stand out from the competition and increase your chances of securing your desired fashion role. It’s like having a secret weapon that captures attention and shows potential employers the value you bring to the table. So, take a moment to reflect on your achievements, identify those measurable metrics and let your fashion resume shine as a testament to your success.
What to Do If You’re Just Starting Out
Now, for those of you who are just starting out and find it hard to quantify your experiences so far, there is something you can do too! Remember that just because you can’t necessarily quantify the contributions you’ve made so far in your internships or jobs, doesn’t mean they aren’t important or shouldn’t be mentioned in your fashion resume.
Here’s what you’re gonna do: you’re going to create a “Key Achievements” subsection within your resume.
I know, this isn’t something many people do or even suggest, but it’s a completely acceptable area to add to a fashion resume, especially when you’re first starting out.
It will be a small section that can include 2-3 achievements you’re able to justify and highlight in 1-2 short but powerful sentences.
Select Impactful Achievements:
First, reflect on your experiences and identify specific instances where you made a significant impact, even if you can’t assign numbers to them. These achievements should demonstrate your skills, initiative and positive outcomes.
Provide Context and Detail:
Next, provide a brief context or background for each achievement. Explain the specific challenge or objective you faced, the actions you took and the results you achieved.
Even though you may not have exact numbers, use descriptive language to show the significance of your accomplishments and the positive outcomes they produced.
A great way to do this is to first write out a few sentences explaining what you worked on, how you did it and the impact or result it had. Then using this information, editing it to fit your fashion resume.
Here are 2 examples – one from the perspective of an intern and the other of a fashion student, just so you can see it’s 100% possible to do this even with no formal titles or experience in the workforce itself.
Example 1:
During my internship with a local fashion designer, I took on the challenge of assisting with the creation of a lookbook for their latest collection. By meticulously styling and photographing each outfit, I successfully captured the brand’s aesthetic and vision, resulting in a visually captivating lookbook that received positive feedback from industry professionals.
For the fashion resume:
Assisted in the creation of a visually captivating lookbook for a local fashion designer’s latest collection, showcasing strong attention to detail and the ability to capture the brand’s aesthetic and vision through styling and photography.
Do you see how I took the same information, but made it shorter and to the point – making sure to highlight the most important aspects of my experience?
Example #2:
In my fashion studies, I was assigned a group project to create a sustainable fashion line. As a team member, I actively contributed by researching eco-friendly materials, suggesting innovative design elements and collaborating with classmates to produce a cohesive collection. Our sustainable fashion line received recognition from our professors, highlighting our commitment to ethical fashion practices and creative design thinking.
For the fashion resume:
Collaborated with a team to create a sustainable fashion line as part of fashion studies, researching eco-friendly materials, suggesting innovative design elements, and contributing to the cohesive collection. Recognized by professors for a commitment to ethical fashion practices and creative design thinking.
These examples demonstrate that even with limited experience, you can highlight your contributions, enthusiasm and dedication to the fashion industry in a way that is impressive to hiring managers. While it doesn’t quantify your experiences, it does showcase your skills in a different way.
By selecting a few significant achievements and providing compelling details, you can effectively showcase your contributions even without precise metrics.
Make sure to customize and adjust your key accomplishments to match the requirements of the job or opportunity you’re applying to. This ensures that they align with the skills and qualifications the employer or hiring manager is looking for.
FROM THE EDITOR
As early fashion career professionals, remember that your journey is unique and your potential is limitless. The power to shape your destiny lies within your hands and it starts with a customized, tailored fashion resume. It’s not just about ticking off boxes or fitting into templates; it’s about showcasing your passion, your growth and your unwavering dedication to this chaotic world of fashion.
By creating a strong fashion resume, you’re not only telling your story but inviting employers to be a part of it. You’re creating a connection, a bond and an opportunity for them to witness your evolution from a budding talent to a future trailblazer. Your customized resume is your calling card, your chance to leave an unforgettable impression and ignite that spark of curiosity in those who hold the key to your dreams.
Let your fashion resume be a testament to your authenticity, your growth and your unwavering determination. Following the steps in both of these episodes will bring you that much closer to creating a one you can be proud of.
But if you find that you still need some help, please feel free to reach out. I offer Resume Review Services and can help take this off your hands!
Also, as a way of saying thank you for being such an incredible member of this community, I’ve put together a guide to go along with this episode that will help you break down each strategy with a little more clarity. You can access it here.
Rate, Review and Follow on Apple Podcasts
If you love what you hear, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support fashion professionals – just like you – get closer to their career dreams in the industry. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode.
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I add episodes to the feed every week and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!
