Sue Lamoreaux – Managing Director at Solomon Web page (Picture credit score: Salomon Web page)
You probably have been working within the trend trade for some time, then you definitely in all probability already know that the perfect govt recruiting agency is Solomon Web page. And, in the event you’re fortunate, you might have already met Sue Lamoreaux, one of many founding members of Solomon Web page.
This week’s weblog is devoted to Sue, who’s celebrating her 32nd yr with SP. She has been putting candidates in roles starting from Presidents, VP’s, Administrators, Chief Business officers, Provide Chain, Advertising leads, International Sourcing, ECommerce, Chief Digital, Common Managers (GM’s), Product Growth, Artistic Administrators, along with strategic mid-level positions throughout all disciplines within the trend trade.
In 2022, and for the sixth yr in a row, Forbes named Solomon Web page as one in all America’s Greatest Skilled Recruiting corporations.
I’ve personally recognized Sue for years, ever since I used to be chair of the Trend Dept. at FIT. Sue frequently gave of her time critiquing, advising and guiding graduating college students on their portfolios, resumes and interview preparation (she has been doing the identical for Parsons for the previous 10 years).
Not too long ago, I had an opportunity to take a seat down with Sue to speak in regards to the job market, present and future hiring developments within the trend trade, and the way the trade is using College of Trend for upskilling its personnel. Sue is a treasure trove of knowledge, and I’m thrilled and honored that she has agreed to share her data with us. Right here goes:
Francesca: What are the primary jobs you recruit for within the trend trade?
Sue: I recruit Design Administrators, VP of Design, Artistic Administrators, Merchandising, Planning, Digital Advertising, Model Advertising, Ecommerce, Technical Design, Gross sales, International Sourcing /Manufacturing, Provide Chain/Operation. These could be essentially the most frequent, however there are many different titles and classes in Trend that I place.
Francesca: Are you able to give wage ranges for every job?
Sue: This can be a difficult query because the salaries fluctuate from metropolis/state, firms, related advantages packages, a job’s particular duties, if it’s hybrid or on website (wage changes put up Covid). The new matter proper now’s wage fairness for many who are again in workplace versus those that are permitted to stay distant or hybrid (as commuting and tax conditions may end up in price variations). I’ve discovered that many candidates are assuming that they’ll nonetheless have the choice to be hybrid or distant when in search of a brand new job, however the majority of New York space firms have a return to workplace directive and new workers will particularly have even much less flexibility than most. It’s all the time greatest to ask upfront about particular associated insurance policies, since this isn’t a negotiating level for many firms.
Francesca: How essential goes to a trend college for somebody on the lookout for a job as a designer, a product developer, and many others.?
Sue: Essential… Some firms actually have a baseline requirement for a bachelor’s diploma, or at the least an affiliate’s diploma, and there are a lot of competing candidates who’ve grasp’s levels that you may be competing with for candidate choice. However the related abilities are nonetheless vital in your software.
I do know many graduates of design faculties who wanted supplementary technical development coaching, since most of the faculties don’t spend sufficient time within the semester honing the craft. I all the time advocate taking that wanted course with College of Trend so that you will be assured in your abilities. Potential employers count on you to know garment development and specs earlier than you begin working and to not be studying/educating on the job.
Francesca: Are there sure trend faculties that employers worth most? And why?
Sue: There’s all kinds… FIT, Parsons, CSM, SCAD, Otis, RISD, Kent, Marist Faculty, College of Cincinnati, amongst others. Typically it’s the data and endorsement of the college, or the hiring supervisor is an alumnus, or generally it has to do with the best way the packages are structured, they usually know the scholars have labored substantive internships all 4 years. Firms like once they can rent a graduate who has had work expertise at a model they know. And even keep on half time throughout the college yr, put up working in the summertime of junior yr work expertise. Model expertise issues rather more than a examine overseas program your junior yr of faculty, in case you are weighing out whether or not or not it’s price it or will make a distinction in your software.
Francesca: For product growth positions, do firms require arms on data of on-the-table abilities resembling sample making, stitching, and draping?
Sue: Sure, it’s essential for product growth individuals to have foundational data of garment development. Many instances, they’re concerned within the match periods and it’s essential when they’re price, material capabilities, what’s going to work, and providing choices/alternate options for higher pricing and many others. Typically firms forgo the designer and simply have a product developer who might be creating non-public label for his or her accounts and are adapting and modifying clothes for the consumer. They don’t all the time must sketch, and plenty of instances have an ideal abroad accomplice to work with.
Francesca: How essential is a portfolio in a job search?
Sue: A designer should have a portfolio; a pdf of labor that is able to go (and will be edited simply) and/or an internet site that’s simple to entry. Keep in mind, many could also be your web site from their cellphone, so make sure it’s simple to view from a cell system.
Francesca: Are you able to present perception into what must be included in a portfolio for a design place?
Sue: It must be comprised of a number of parts: Pattern/aspirational boards displaying photographs, colour, material and particulars. Illustrations are essential, flats and one thing technical to indicate you may execute a tech pack. Moreover, laptop work, Photoshop, illustrator is a baseline requirement for everybody! As quickly as your work is being considered, it takes an skilled hiring supervisor seconds to find out if he/she connects along with your type, your model messaging, and your technical accuracy. In the event that they don’t join, you in all probability gained’t be requested to interview.
View UoF’s 9-part sequence on the best way to plan a stellar portfolio:
Francesca: How in demand is 3D design schooling within the trade?
Sue: Some firms have invested closely in it and can solely interview candidates who’ve been educated on it, because it’s costly for them to practice you and you should have a transition of time earlier than you might be proficient. So, when you’ve got the chance to be taught it, it’s in your greatest curiosity to be taught it!
Francesca: Is agism a ’factor’ within the trend trade?
Sue: Age and expertise usually are not one thing to cover! Skilled individuals are the managers and leaders of firms. VP degree, SVP, Chief, President, CEO’s all want expertise in an effort to have earned that place. With that stated, it’s vital to remain updated on key know-how abilities and issues like trade developments and buying habits. Persevering with to teach your self ensures and protects your longevity within the trade.
Francesca: How exhausting is it for somebody proper out of college to get a job?
Sue: Proper now, the hiring market is gentle, however individuals who have work expertise throughout faculty and have standout work of their portfolios, the proper abilities firms are in want of, and are in search of work within the rising disciplines, they’re nonetheless getting jobs. In case you don’t get employed full-time, see if you may get an entry degree freelance job so you may earn some work expertise and model to doc.
Francesca: What recommendation would you give somebody who is considering a design job within the trend trade?
Sue: Get your schooling at the perfect place you may, make sure you’re employed throughout college and set your expectations realistically. Chances are you’ll not in the end be a runway designer, however you might simply as invaluable as a technical design/patternmaker, who’s the proper hand to the Design Director. (i.e.: if the garment doesn’t match, the shopper isn’t shopping for it!).
College of Trend’s lesson: Making a Swim Backside Tech Pack in Illustrator
Francesca: How can working with a recruiter assist me in my job search and the place can I am going about making these contacts?
Sue: Working with an skilled recruiter is a large plus, however not each firm pays for the service. Many firms put up jobs on their very own web site and LinkedIn. Entry degree jobs are sometimes listed with recruiters and are addressed internally, typically. Typically I’ll get an entry degree project as a result of the inner recruiting has been unsuccessful, so all the time ask.
If you’ll be able to work with a recruiter for a specific search the profit will probably be that you should have steering for interview preparation, portfolio suggestions, resume ideas, wage negotiation help, and many others. Honesty, it is vitally essential on this partnership. Please know that when you’ve got already submitted your resume to an organization by yourself, your recruiter will probably be blocked from representing you for that position.
Francesca: What are some issues I ought to you’ll want to spotlight in my resume, cowl letter, and portfolio that employers look out for? And the way can I make myself stand out to an employer when I’m one in all so many candidates making use of for a job?
Sue: They search for related expertise to their model identification and the particular place they’re recruiting for. Analysis the corporate and say one thing about them. Take a look at their job put up. For instance, if they need 3D expertise and also you don’t have it, you in all probability gained’t get flagged to interview. Or in case your portfolio work is so totally different than their aesthetic, you will not be chosen.
Francesca: What recommendation would you give to somebody occurring an preliminary interview?
Sue: Keep in mind, first interviews are nonetheless predominantly video. Be ready for that. Just be sure you can add every little thing easily and shortly if you are talking. You should definitely load no matter video format the corporate is utilizing to your laptop nicely earlier than the interview, so it’s able to go (I’ve 5 totally different manufacturers loaded on my laptop, so don’t assume that everybody makes use of, Zoom) And naturally the plain, analysis the corporate!
You should definitely subscribe to the Solomon Web page Weblog, the place you’ll discover a lot of free ideas:
Francesca: What’s your outlook for the way forward for employment throughout the trend trade? Which sectors do you expect will develop and which do you suppose could decline?
Sue: Advertising continues to be the largest division for trend firms. In search of work on this space and the entire subsets (i.e., model advertising, digital advertising, efficiency advertising, social, ecommerce, communication, and many others.) provides you a greater likelihood of discovering work. Some departments, resembling gross sales, have shrunk (however not gone away) as extra firms are direct-to-consumer (DTC), though there nonetheless is a necessity for good salespeople to be represented in a brick & mortar setting.
Many due to Sue for sharing her experience with our UoF subscribers and followers. Right here is Sue’s contact information must you need to thank her your self:
Susan Lamoreaux
Salomon Web page
P (212) 824-1580 x2582
C (908) 451-5537
in Join with me
WEBSITE LINKEDIN FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM
