6 answers
Camila
Student
Germantown, Maryland
1
Question
Asked
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What are some recommend hard skills to add to your resume for internships?
I'm a second year student in college and currently looking for internships within the fashion industry. I was wondering if any professionals could give me some insight on skills I should learn that would make me a better candidate for internships. I would appreciate anyone who does business, arts, marketing or fashion. Thank you!
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6 answers
Chandrima Bardhan
marketer and client account management
9
Answers
Sugar Hill, Georgia
Updated
Chandrima’s Answer
What are some recommend hard skills to add to your resume for internships?
I'm a second year student in college and currently looking for internships within the fashion industry. I was wondering if any professionals could give me some insight on skills I should learn that would make me a better candidate for internships. I would appreciate anyone who does business, arts, marketing or fashion. Thank you!
Hi Camila
this is a great question. Agnostic to any industry is building up on your soft skills - art of communication, telling your story in 3 minutes or less and being able to articulate your opinions. It would be great if you can leverage online trainings to brush up on these skills. Secondly the fashion industry may require you to brush up on your hard skills that relate to the industry so things around visualization and artistic drawing, knowing accuracy in measurements, creative skills are imperative - if you have demonstrated these skills in any way, it would be great to surmise those stories and impacts in a crisp fashion.
Hope this helps. All the best!
I'm a second year student in college and currently looking for internships within the fashion industry. I was wondering if any professionals could give me some insight on skills I should learn that would make me a better candidate for internships. I would appreciate anyone who does business, arts, marketing or fashion. Thank you!
Hi Camila
this is a great question. Agnostic to any industry is building up on your soft skills - art of communication, telling your story in 3 minutes or less and being able to articulate your opinions. It would be great if you can leverage online trainings to brush up on these skills. Secondly the fashion industry may require you to brush up on your hard skills that relate to the industry so things around visualization and artistic drawing, knowing accuracy in measurements, creative skills are imperative - if you have demonstrated these skills in any way, it would be great to surmise those stories and impacts in a crisp fashion.
Hope this helps. All the best!
Jamie Listino
Retail, HR, Talent Acquisition
5
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Jamie’s Answer
Great question! I have 10+ years of professional experience in the fashion industry, and the key thing to know is that the skills you’ll need really depend on which area of the industry you’re interested in — design, marketing, merchandising, etc. Each path values different tools and knowledge.
Start by looking up internship job postings in a few different functions to see what skills are most commonly listed. That will help you focus on the right ones for your goals. For example:
-Design often looks for Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or CLO 3D
-Marketing may require Canva, email marketing tools, or social media platforms
-Merchandising/Buying values Excel and trend research
No matter what, staying informed about the fashion industry is key. Follow brands, read Business of Fashion or WWD, and learn how trends impact different parts of the business. Go to free events, network, talk with others who share similar interests!
You’re already ahead by asking these questions—keep going and stay curious. That mindset will take you far.
Start by looking up internship job postings in a few different functions to see what skills are most commonly listed. That will help you focus on the right ones for your goals. For example:
-Design often looks for Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or CLO 3D
-Marketing may require Canva, email marketing tools, or social media platforms
-Merchandising/Buying values Excel and trend research
No matter what, staying informed about the fashion industry is key. Follow brands, read Business of Fashion or WWD, and learn how trends impact different parts of the business. Go to free events, network, talk with others who share similar interests!
You’re already ahead by asking these questions—keep going and stay curious. That mindset will take you far.
Stephanie Keith
Sr. Analyst
1
Answer
New York, New York
Updated
Stephanie’s Answer
Hi Camila,
This is a great question. I currently work in finance but am passionate about fashion as well. I used to work in retail and do marketing for a well-known smoothie brand before pivoting full-time to work in finance. Some tools that I've found to be very useful in my career are broken down below:
Technical Skills:
-Microsoft Excel: the more well-versed you are in Excel, the better off you'll be in any career. Have a strong understanding of the basic analytics; knowing how to utilize pivot tables & vlookups would be a plus
Soft Skills:
-Attention to detail
-Communication skills: especially written communication (for email, social media, captions, pitch decks, etc.)
-Time Management: you'll likely be juggling multiple projects at once with any given career so get good at prioritizing what's most important early on
Industry Knowledge:
It's important to keep up with what's going on in your relevant industry. For fashion, for example, you would want to keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to brands, trends, emerging designers, recent events & collabs, etc. Referencing these types of things in conversation can really impress during an interview.
Hope this helps!
This is a great question. I currently work in finance but am passionate about fashion as well. I used to work in retail and do marketing for a well-known smoothie brand before pivoting full-time to work in finance. Some tools that I've found to be very useful in my career are broken down below:
Technical Skills:
-Microsoft Excel: the more well-versed you are in Excel, the better off you'll be in any career. Have a strong understanding of the basic analytics; knowing how to utilize pivot tables & vlookups would be a plus
Soft Skills:
-Attention to detail
-Communication skills: especially written communication (for email, social media, captions, pitch decks, etc.)
-Time Management: you'll likely be juggling multiple projects at once with any given career so get good at prioritizing what's most important early on
Industry Knowledge:
It's important to keep up with what's going on in your relevant industry. For fashion, for example, you would want to keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to brands, trends, emerging designers, recent events & collabs, etc. Referencing these types of things in conversation can really impress during an interview.
Hope this helps!
Chaz Terribile
Business Development
8
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Chaz’s Answer
Showcase your accomplishments, volunteer work, and strong ambition to succeed in your chosen field. Clearly outline your goals for the upcoming years and include something unique that makes you memorable.
Dierdra Yates, CMP®
Communications
4
Answers
St. Louis, MO
Updated
Dierdra’s Answer
Hi Camila,
That’s so exciting—pursuing fashion internships is a great step, and you’re smart to focus on building the right skills. The hard skills you include on your resume will vary depending on whether you’re interested in design, marketing, merchandising, styling, or buying. Here are some hard skills that can help set you apart:
- Sewing and garment construction
- Fashion sketching
- Content creation
- Design Software (Being good at tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign is crucial for everything from technical flats to lookbooks and visual content.)
Think about customizing your resume to showcase the skills most relevant to each position you apply for. You’ve got this!
That’s so exciting—pursuing fashion internships is a great step, and you’re smart to focus on building the right skills. The hard skills you include on your resume will vary depending on whether you’re interested in design, marketing, merchandising, styling, or buying. Here are some hard skills that can help set you apart:
- Sewing and garment construction
- Fashion sketching
- Content creation
- Design Software (Being good at tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign is crucial for everything from technical flats to lookbooks and visual content.)
Think about customizing your resume to showcase the skills most relevant to each position you apply for. You’ve got this!
Amanda Julian
12
Answers
Updated
Amanda’s Answer
To stand out in the competitive fashion industry, it's important to highlight relevant hard skills on your resume. Here are some key skills that can make a difference:
1. **Microsoft Excel**: Essential for tasks like analyzing sales data, managing inventory, and forecasting trends
2. **Adobe Creative Suite**: Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is crucial for design roles and creating marketing materials
3. **Fashion Design and Illustration**: Strong drawing and visualization skills help in translating concepts into designs
4. **Understanding Textiles and Fabrics**: Knowledge of different materials, textures, and colors is important for design and production roles
5. **Pattern Making and Sewing**: Basic skills in pattern making and sewing are valuable for hands-on design and production work
6. **Data Analysis**: Ability to analyze market trends and consumer behavior to make informed decisions
7. **Digital Marketing**: Skills in social media management, SEO, and online advertising are important for promoting brands and products
8. **CAD Software**: Familiarity with computer-aided design software used in fashion design
Adding these skills to your resume can help you stand out and demonstrate your readiness for a fashion internship.
1. **Microsoft Excel**: Essential for tasks like analyzing sales data, managing inventory, and forecasting trends
2. **Adobe Creative Suite**: Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is crucial for design roles and creating marketing materials
3. **Fashion Design and Illustration**: Strong drawing and visualization skills help in translating concepts into designs
4. **Understanding Textiles and Fabrics**: Knowledge of different materials, textures, and colors is important for design and production roles
5. **Pattern Making and Sewing**: Basic skills in pattern making and sewing are valuable for hands-on design and production work
6. **Data Analysis**: Ability to analyze market trends and consumer behavior to make informed decisions
7. **Digital Marketing**: Skills in social media management, SEO, and online advertising are important for promoting brands and products
8. **CAD Software**: Familiarity with computer-aided design software used in fashion design
Adding these skills to your resume can help you stand out and demonstrate your readiness for a fashion internship.