For Recent Fashion Grads, the Future May Be in Retail

We recently wrote about the bleak prospects design school students would face upon graduating this year, but there are reports of some good news for graduating fashion students.

Kate Spade and Juicy Couture, both divisions of Liz Claiborne, are recruiting new staff members, and even more promising is the wealth of positions in fashion retail. A survey by the National Association of College and Employers recently found retail to be the top sector offering jobs to recent graduates with Macy’s, JCPenny and Target among those visiting college campuses as part of recruiting efforts. While retail might not be a dream job for someone looking to work in design, it is a good position to take to avoid resume gaps and gain experience and knowledge in another part of the fashion industry. {The Cut}

Of course, there is a catch that casts a dark cloud on this sunny news. Fashion retailers are not necessarily looking for fashion grads to fill their open positions, so new designers may face stiff competition.

Macy’s recruiters will visit 40 college campuses, according to Anne Voller, vice-president for executive recruitment and college relations, and they will look at students from all majors including business and even psychology.

“We look for leadership potential, smart students that are interested in retail, that have good critical-thinking skills, are involved in campus, have juggled their multiple priorities and have an ability to be flexible,” she said. {WWD}

With her advice in mind, recent design grads should pack their resumes with all extracurricular activities in which they have participated and consider playing up their success in multi-tasking or leading others.

Design grads should also bear in mind that they may be up against MBA graduates for positions in buying and planning, as Bloomingdale’s has said they will recruit MBA’s in these areas.