When they hear about the fashion industry, most people think about beautiful models swishing their way on the catwalk, but there’s much more to it. Behind every fashion show, there’s an army of designers, seamstresses, consultants, PR guys, and so on.
This means a lot of jobs and high-paying ones for that matter. How do you go about securing such a nice job in Australia? Here are a few pointers to help you start on the path to a glamorous career.
What do you need to work in the fashion industry?
The most important thing is talent, whether you dream of being on the catwalk or working behind the scenes. Even if you have the physical attributes for being a model in Australia, you still need the talent to walk down the catwalk. You have to be natural, as people in the business call the capacity of withstanding that sort of pressure, and still be graceful and seem perfectly at ease.
Talent also refers to your whole attitude when you strut along on impossibly high heels parading a glamorous new collection. The dress is important, but it’s often the model that sells it.
Another thing you need to work in the fashion industry is the ability to work very hard under rigorous time constraints. This concerns those working behind the scenes as well as the models.
If you’re preparing for a job interview in this industry, you should think up ways of showcasing such qualities.
Do you need work experience?
If you’re looking for a job as a model, previous work experience might not be that important. Everybody knows that talent scouts are always looking for fresh faces. People pay to see the supermodels on the catwalk, but someone has to look out for the next Naomi Campbell.
If you’ve done small advertising jobs here and there make sure to mention this in your application and include some pictures.
On the other hand, if you’re applying for a job as a designer or a seamstress, they are bound to want to see your previous work. Sometimes you can send images of your most outstanding works via email, but if you’re heading for a job interview you should consider preparing a photo album. That always makes a good impression.
Do you need a background check to work in the fashion industry?
Like many other Australian companies, those in the fashion industry often require background checks on all their employees. The main reason is that there’s a lot of money involved in this business. These people invest a lot of money in creating a brand new collection and they’d be ruined if someone sold their designs to one of their competitors. Also, in this business they need reliable people, and having them submit to a background check is a good way of making sure of that.
If you want to increase your chances of getting a job in the fashion industry you should order a background check on yourself and put it in your file when you send in your application. You can easily do that by using an online character check agency. Options include the ANCC (website link: https://www.australiannationalcharactercheck.com.au if doing it online) or Express Check which can provide you with police clearance, mostly in a matter of 2-3 days.
When they have to decide between two candidates having roughly the same qualities, the one who was thoughtful enough to present a police check stands a better chance of landing the job.