Sue Lamoreaux – Managing Director at Solomon Web page (Picture credit score: Salomon Web page)
When you’ve got been working within the trend business for some time, you then most likely already know that the most effective govt recruiting agency is Solomon Web page. And, should you’re fortunate, you will 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, Normal Managers (GM’s), Product Improvement, Artistic Administrators, along with strategic mid-level positions throughout all disciplines within the trend business.
In 2022, and for the sixth yr in a row, Forbes named Solomon Web page as one among America’s Finest Skilled Recruiting corporations.
I’ve personally identified Sue for years, ever since I used to be chair of the Vogue Dept. at FIT. Sue repeatedly 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 tendencies within the trend business, and the way the business is using College of Vogue for upskilling its personnel. Sue is a treasure trove of data, and I’m thrilled and honored that she has agreed to share her data with us. Right here goes:
Francesca: What are the principle jobs you recruit for within the trend business?
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 can be probably the most frequent, however there are many different titles and classes in Vogue that I place.
Francesca: Are you able to give wage ranges for every job?
Sue: This can be a difficult query because the salaries range from metropolis/state, corporations, related advantages packages, a job’s particular tasks, if it’s hybrid or on website (wage changes publish Covid). The new subject proper now’s wage fairness for individuals who are again in workplace versus those that are permitted to stay distant or hybrid (as commuting and tax conditions can lead to value variations). I’ve discovered that many candidates are assuming that they may nonetheless have the choice to be hybrid or distant when looking for a brand new job, however the majority of New York space corporations have a return to workplace directive and new workers will particularly have even much less flexibility than most. It’s at all times finest to ask upfront about particular associated insurance policies, since this isn’t a negotiating level for many corporations.
Francesca: How essential goes to a trend college for somebody searching for a job as a designer, a product developer, and many others.?
Sue: Crucial… Some corporations actually have a baseline requirement for a bachelor’s diploma, or no less than an affiliate’s diploma, and there are various competing candidates who’ve grasp’s levels that you’ll be competing with for candidate choice. However the related abilities are nonetheless important in your utility.
I do know many graduates of design colleges who wanted supplementary technical development coaching, since most of the colleges don’t spend sufficient time within the semester honing the craft. I at all times advocate taking that wanted course with College of Vogue so that you might be assured in your abilities. Potential employers anticipate you to know garment development and specs earlier than you begin working and to not be studying/instructing on the job.
Francesca: Are there sure trend colleges that employers worth most? And why?
Sue: There’s all kinds… FIT, Parsons, CSM, SCAD, Otis, RISD, Kent, Marist School, College of Cincinnati, amongst others. Typically it’s the data and endorsement of the school, 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. Corporations 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, publish working in the summertime of junior yr work expertise. Model expertise issues way more than a research overseas program your junior yr of school, if you’re weighing out whether or not or not it’s value it or will make a distinction in your utility.
Francesca: For product growth positions, do corporations require fingers on data of on-the-table abilities akin to sample making, stitching, and draping?
Sue: Sure, it’s crucial for product growth individuals to have foundational data of garment development. Many occasions, they’re concerned within the match periods and it’s essential when they’re taking a look at value, material capabilities, what is going to work, and providing choices/alternate options for higher pricing and many others. Typically corporations forgo the designer and simply have a product developer who may very well be creating non-public label for his or her accounts and are adapting and modifying clothes for the consumer. They don’t at all times must sketch, and plenty of occasions have a terrific 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 might be edited simply) and/or a web site that’s simple to entry. Keep in mind, many could also be taking a look at your web site from their cellphone, so make sure it’s simple to view from a cell gadget.
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 elements: Development/aspirational boards exhibiting pictures, shade, material and particulars. Illustrations are essential, flats and one thing technical to indicate you possibly can 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 model, your model messaging, and your technical accuracy. In the event that they don’t join, you most likely gained’t be requested to interview.
View UoF’s 9-part collection on tips on how to plan a stellar portfolio:
Francesca: How in demand is 3D design schooling within the business?
Sue: Some corporations have invested closely in it and can solely interview candidates who’ve been skilled on it, because it’s costly for them to prepare you and you should have a transition of time earlier than you’re proficient. So, when you have the chance to be taught it, it’s in your finest curiosity to be taught it!
Francesca: Is agism a ’factor’ within the trend business?
Sue: Age and expertise should not one thing to cover! Skilled individuals are the managers and leaders of corporations. VP degree, SVP, Chief, President, CEO’s all want expertise to be able to have earned that place. With that mentioned, it’s important to remain updated on key know-how abilities and issues like business tendencies and buying habits. Persevering with to coach your self ensures and protects your longevity within the business.
Francesca: How exhausting is it for somebody proper out of college to get a job?
Sue: Proper now, the hiring market is mushy, however individuals who have work expertise throughout faculty and have standout work of their portfolios, the fitting abilities corporations are in want of, and are looking for work within the rising disciplines, they’re nonetheless getting jobs. If you happen to don’t get employed full-time, see if you will get an entry degree freelance job so you possibly can earn some work expertise and model to doc.
Francesca: What recommendation would you give somebody who is considering a design job within the trend business?
Sue: Get your schooling at the most effective place you possibly can, make sure you’re employed throughout college and set your expectations realistically. You could not finally be a runway designer, however you can simply as precious as a technical design/patternmaker, who’s the fitting hand to the Design Director. (i.e.: if the garment doesn’t match, the client isn’t shopping for it!).
College of Vogue’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 big plus, however not each firm can pay for the service. Many corporations publish jobs on their very own web site and LinkedIn. Entry degree jobs are occasionally listed with recruiters and are addressed internally, usually. Typically I’ll get an entry degree task as a result of the inner recruiting has been unsuccessful, so at all times ask.
If you’ll be able to work with a recruiter for a specific search the profit can be that you should have steering for interview preparation, portfolio suggestions, resume suggestions, wage negotiation help, and many others. Honesty, it is rather essential on this partnership. Please know that when you have already submitted your resume to an organization by yourself, your recruiter can be blocked from representing you for that position.
Francesca: What are some issues I ought to make sure you 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 among so many candidates making use of for a task?
Sue: They search for related expertise to their model id and the particular place they’re recruiting for. Analysis the corporate and say one thing about them. Have a look at their job publish. For instance, if they need 3D expertise and also you don’t have it, you most likely gained’t get flagged to interview. Or in case your portfolio work is so totally different than their aesthetic, you is probably not 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 all the things easily and rapidly while you’re talking. You’ll want to 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’ll want to subscribe to the Solomon Web page Weblog, the place you’ll discover plenty of free suggestions:
Francesca: What’s your outlook for the way forward for employment inside the trend business? Which sectors do you are expecting will develop and which do you suppose could decline?
Sue: Advertising continues to be the largest division for trend corporations. In search of work on this space and all the subsets (i.e., model advertising, digital advertising, efficiency advertising, social, ecommerce, communication, and many others.) provides you a greater probability of discovering work. Some departments, akin to gross sales, have shrunk (however not gone away) as extra corporations 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 do you have to need to thank her your self:
Susan Lamoreaux
Salomon Web page
P (212) 824-1580 x2582
C (908) 451-5537
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