BUILDING A 'SHOP FRONT': BEING A PROFESSIONAL

Within a large and diverse industry it can be hard for individual to stand out - there are many various roles, all reliant on particular skills and qualities which may be manifested in a large number of hopefuls all fighting for one particular role, so it is important to ensure that you promote yourself and your 'brand you' as the one that they want. The important question is: 'why should they pick you?'. This is the case in the fashion industry, where to an outsider it is apparent it is big business but, when looking at the figures it is surprising how big it actually is.

Fashion as a business is estimated to boost the economy by an estimated £26 billion - but its not just dresses and shoes and handbags making this contribution, under the fashion 'umbrella' is design and marketing that collaboratively make up the largest part of the creative industries (marketing, art etc.) Fashion as a diverse area also inter laps into the services sector, making up four fifths of the overall economy. With such as wide spread across the market, it is apparent the jobs available are ranging but each one is very specific to contribute to the whole, making each position very competitive in such a profitable market, so it's no surprise its everyone for themselves, all after that dream job.

As an individual in the Fashion Business, you have to be aware of the competitive nature of the industry, and the qualities of ambition, dedication and drive are essential as in order to succeed. To achieve your desired role is it essential to be a successful ambassador or 'Brand You', the brand you create for yourself has to convey to industry your skills, talents and personality - these are the aspects of a person that will set someone apart from 'a fashion degree' that many others will also possess. Your own brand apart from being appealing in person, must also be represented well on other platforms, on your person literature when your not present - you must create a strong 'shop front'. 

Your shop front is your presentation of you on platforms such as your CV, Cover  Letter and social media channels such as Linked In - it must be coherent and catchy, grabbing who ever is reading's attention from the first line. The objective is to sell yourself - if you don't sell brand you, then who will? Brand you is dependant on a successful shop front, so pack a punch, big yourself up and promote the reason why a employer should pick you.