I need some advice from the group.  My daughter is looking for work in the fashion styling field.  She would like to work in styling photo shoots for magazines, etc.  However, there are no recruiters for the fashion/styling field that we can find. If she was an accountant or a marketing person, for instance, there are plenty of recruiters who are experts in helping one find a job in those fields.  However, in this "niche" field, how does one find employment?  She has a degree in Fashion Merchandising from Johnson & Wales University and she has a temporary cosmetology license.  (She's currently studying for the tests to obtain her permanent license).  She went to cosmetology school to expand her styling skills to be more well rounded.

 

We're stumped on how to get help in finding her a job in this field.  Any advice would be much appreciated.

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Quite a tough situation - for both of you! As the parent you probably feel the stress as much (or more) than your daughter.

Honest question - what's her network look like? Who has she been meeting and learning about/from? What organizations or committees is she getting involved with? Those folks (as well as professors) may have some initial industry contacts or places to look.

Thanks for the response, Kyle.  I think part of the problem is that she didn't graduate from a school in NYC where most of the fashion industry companies are located.  When she graduated, she didn't have access to the network of companies that schools in NYC have access to.  Therefore, her professors are really "out of the loop" in terms of industry contacts.  She has been networking with "friends of friends" who work for magazines.  However, they are all young people who are trying themselves to find good jobs.  As you said, it's quite a tough situation.  I'm sure she'll find something as she continues to build up her network.  Thanks again for the response.  I really appreciate it.
 
Kyle Schafroth said:

Quite a tough situation - for both of you! As the parent you probably feel the stress as much (or more) than your daughter.

Honest question - what's her network look like? Who has she been meeting and learning about/from? What organizations or committees is she getting involved with? Those folks (as well as professors) may have some initial industry contacts or places to look.

Hi Denise.  That's a good question and one that we are trying to find out.  I agree with both you and Kyle - she needs to build up her network in order to find work.  From all the research we have both done, that seems to be the best way to find work in this industry.  I feel bad for her because she's trying to follow her passion but it's in an industry that is very hard to break into.  Thanks for your response.  It is much appreciated.
 
Denise K. White said:

I'm not sure about this but do stylist work for the magazine or the photographer? Or are they a different service all together?

I agree with Kyle, she needs to network with the people she knows through school and any other connections she has. Someone maybe be able to help her out. Maybe a modeling agency could help, provide info on others in the styling field.
Good luck!

Ah - that's definitely the added layer of complexity. I'm not entirely sure what sort of professional networks or communities might exist for the fashion industry (or industries depending what areas she is considering) but if there are national and/or local chapters (I'm just thinking about things such as SHRM which has chapters down to the collegiate level) she can reach out to in say the NYC or other 'fashion hubs' it might turn some results.

It seems those communities are often more open to or easier to build networks from than just 'friend of a friend' or blind reach outs. Just a thought - best of luck to the both of you!

Doreen Koronios said:

Thanks for the response, Kyle.  I think part of the problem is that she didn't graduate from a school in NYC where most of the fashion industry companies are located.  When she graduated, she didn't have access to the network of companies that schools in NYC have access to.  Therefore, her professors are really "out of the loop" in terms of industry contacts.  She has been networking with "friends of friends" who work for magazines.  However, they are all young people who are trying themselves to find good jobs.  As you said, it's quite a tough situation.  I'm sure she'll find something as she continues to build up her network.  Thanks again for the response.  I really appreciate it.
 
Kyle Schafroth said:

Quite a tough situation - for both of you! As the parent you probably feel the stress as much (or more) than your daughter.

Honest question - what's her network look like? Who has she been meeting and learning about/from? What organizations or committees is she getting involved with? Those folks (as well as professors) may have some initial industry contacts or places to look.

Great idea!  She just opened a LinkedIn page.  I'll tell her to look for groups that might be in the fashion industry. 
 
Denise K. White said:

Tell her not to give up. If it is her dream she will get there, maybe just not as quickly as she originally hoped.
Has she built a good linked in profile? There are all sorts of groups on linked in I would not be surprised if there were groups for her industry.

That's a great idea to look for fashion industry associations.  I'll discuss it with her tonight.  Thanks again.
 
Kyle Schafroth said:

Ah - that's definitely the added layer of complexity. I'm not entirely sure what sort of professional networks or communities might exist for the fashion industry (or industries depending what areas she is considering) but if there are national and/or local chapters (I'm just thinking about things such as SHRM which has chapters down to the collegiate level) she can reach out to in say the NYC or other 'fashion hubs' it might turn some results.

It seems those communities are often more open to or easier to build networks from than just 'friend of a friend' or blind reach outs. Just a thought - best of luck to the both of you!

Doreen Koronios said:

Thanks for the response, Kyle.  I think part of the problem is that she didn't graduate from a school in NYC where most of the fashion industry companies are located.  When she graduated, she didn't have access to the network of companies that schools in NYC have access to.  Therefore, her professors are really "out of the loop" in terms of industry contacts.  She has been networking with "friends of friends" who work for magazines.  However, they are all young people who are trying themselves to find good jobs.  As you said, it's quite a tough situation.  I'm sure she'll find something as she continues to build up her network.  Thanks again for the response.  I really appreciate it.
 
Kyle Schafroth said:

Quite a tough situation - for both of you! As the parent you probably feel the stress as much (or more) than your daughter.

Honest question - what's her network look like? Who has she been meeting and learning about/from? What organizations or committees is she getting involved with? Those folks (as well as professors) may have some initial industry contacts or places to look.

You are awesome.  Thanks so much.  I already told her about your kind responses and we are sitting down together tonight to get her LinkedIn profile completed and signing her up into the appropriate groups.  Can't thank you enough.....
 
Denise K. White said:

I searched linkedin for groups - stylist, fashion stylist, modeling and there are group results for each. It may help her learn how other got into the business. Might help her create a plan to reach her goal. I will see if I can find out anything else for you, I might know a good person to ask.

You are too kind!  Thanks so much.
 
Denise K. White said:

Hi again...I have some contact info for you. This person is a stylist and has been for 30 yrs. You and your daughter may want to speak with her about what your daughter is looking for.

I will friend you here so that I can send you the info privately.

Doreen,

Your daughter should go to the home page for all the fashion magazines, go to their careers page and check the lisitings.  Cosmo for instance as we speak has an opening for an associate fashion editor.  The job requires about a year.  Aquick read reflects that the job will be picking sites for photo shoots, getting the permits etc. etc.  They also have a link for intern positions if she has just finished school.

 

All of the mags, ad agencies, modeling agencies and many of the other publications have fashion sections.  Going direct to the career page and getting her resume submitted is a good place for her to start.

 

 

There appear to be multiple websites for fashion stylist jobs.  Try thecreativeloft.com.  Indeed and Simply Hired are also showing listings.  If you do a google search for  fashion stylist jobs New York City it looks like there are multiple listings and web sites that would be worth looking at and following up.

Hi Sandra, Sorry for the late response, but I've been out of the office.  Thanks for the great advice.  My daughter and I spent some time over the weekend following your suggestions and we're working on polishing up her resume to send in to some of the magazines.  Thanks a million!  I appreciate your help on this.

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