Sue Lamoreaux – Managing Director at Solomon Web page (Picture credit score: Salomon Web page)
If in case you have been working within the trend trade for some time, then you definately most likely already know that the very best govt recruiting agency is Solomon Web page. And, should you’re fortunate, you’ll 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 and marketing leads, International Sourcing, ECommerce, Chief Digital, Basic Managers (GM’s), Product Improvement, 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 Finest Skilled Recruiting corporations.
I’ve personally recognized Sue for years, ever since I used to be chair of the Trend Dept. at FIT. Sue recurrently 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).
Just lately, I had an opportunity to sit down down with Sue to speak concerning the job market, present and future hiring tendencies 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 principle jobs you recruit for within the trend trade?
Sue: I recruit Design Administrators, VP of Design, Artistic Administrators, Merchandising, Planning, Digital Advertising and marketing, Model Advertising and marketing, 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 Trend that I place.
Francesca: Are you able to give wage ranges for every job?
Sue: This can be a difficult query for the reason that salaries differ from metropolis/state, firms, related advantages packages, a job’s particular duties, if it’s hybrid or on website (wage changes publish Covid). The new matter proper now could be 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 price variations). I’ve discovered that many candidates are assuming that they are going to 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 faculty for somebody in search of a job as a designer, a product developer, and so on.?
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 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 software.
I do know many graduates of design faculties who wanted supplementary technical building 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 may be assured in your abilities. Potential employers count on you to know garment building and specs earlier than you begin working and to not be studying/instructing 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 after they can rent a graduate who has had work expertise at a model they know. And even keep on half time in the course of the faculty yr, publish working in the summertime of junior yr work expertise. Model expertise issues way more than a examine overseas program your junior yr of school, if you’re weighing out whether or not or not it’s price it or will make a distinction in your software.
Francesca: For product improvement positions, do firms require palms on data of on-the-table abilities akin to sample making, stitching, and draping?
Sue: Sure, it’s essential for product improvement folks to have foundational data of garment building. Many instances, they’re concerned within the match periods and it’s essential when they’re taking a look at price, cloth capabilities, what is going to work, and providing choices/alternate options for higher pricing and so on. Typically firms 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 all the time must sketch, and plenty of instances have a fantastic abroad associate 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 may 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 be certain it’s simple to view from a cellular 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 parts: Pattern/aspirational boards displaying photos, coloration, cloth 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 seen, it takes an skilled hiring supervisor seconds to find out if he/she connects along with your fashion, your model messaging, and your technical accuracy. In the event that they don’t join, you most likely received’t be requested to interview.
View UoF’s 9-part sequence on the right 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’ll have a transition of time earlier than you might be proficient. So, in case you have 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 should not one thing to cover! Skilled persons are the managers and leaders of firms. 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 expertise abilities and issues like trade tendencies and buying habits. Persevering with to teach your self ensures and protects your longevity within the trade.
Francesca: How laborious is it for somebody proper out of college to get a job?
Sue: Proper now, the hiring market is delicate, however individuals who have work expertise throughout school and have standout work of their portfolios, the appropriate abilities firms are in want of, and are in search of work within the rising disciplines, they’re nonetheless getting jobs. For those who 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 very best place you may, be certain you’re employed throughout faculty and set your expectations realistically. It’s possible you’ll not in the end be a runway designer, however you might simply as invaluable as a technical design/patternmaker, who’s the appropriate hand to the Design Director. (i.e.: if the garment doesn’t match, the client 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 big plus, however not each firm can pay for the service. Many firms 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 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 selected search the profit will likely be that you’ll have steerage for interview preparation, portfolio suggestions, resume ideas, wage negotiation help, and so on. Honesty, it is vitally essential on this partnership. Please know that in case you have already submitted your resume to an organization by yourself, your recruiter will likely 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 in all so many candidates making use of for a task?
Sue: They search for related expertise to their model id and the precise place they’re recruiting for. Analysis the corporate and say one thing about them. Take a look at their job publish. For instance, if they need 3D expertise and also you don’t have it, you most likely received’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 remember to can add every part easily and shortly when you are talking. Be sure you load no matter video format the corporate is utilizing to your laptop effectively 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 apparent, analysis the corporate!
Be sure you subscribe to the Solomon Web page Weblog, the place you’ll discover plenty of free ideas:
Francesca: What’s your outlook for the way forward for employment inside the trend trade? Which sectors do you are expecting will develop and which do you suppose could decline?
Sue: Advertising and marketing remains to be the most important 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 so on.) offers you a greater probability of discovering work. Some departments, akin to 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 do you have to wish 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
