Is fashion buying hard to get into?

[selinamc]

I'm currently in my 2nd year doing fashion marketing and am worried abour applying for jobs as a buyers assistant when i finish! i read that you should do a placement in a buying office n some shop floor experience also! Would this be all I need?

[shady_jady]

Hi Selina,
I'm desperately trying to get into this right now! Stupidly I didn't go to Uni and am now a bit too old to go next year (I'll be nearly 21)! You won't have a problem once you have a degree. Every damn job I go for requires a 'graduate' or for you to have a 'Fashion Related Degree', which you will definately have. I would recommend you go in as a Buyer's Administrator, which I have just asked a question about in the Jobs and Education section actually! This is at the bottom of the food chain, but allows you to work your way up. Companies tend to want Buyer's Assistants to have a couple of year's experience in a buying environment, so this will provide you with that. It also says that shop floor experience is an advantage as you will know a bit more about the products on offer, but not essential. There are thousands of Buying jobs out there, as I get sent updates every day... only problem is I'm not qualified for any of them! I'm really jealous that you'll have it so easy, I'm really struggling!
But good luck though.

[Sasha13]

I'm not sure that selinamc will have it easy for the reasons that I laid out when answering your qu shady_jady.

Buying is VERY competitive to get into.

selinamc - get all the experience that you can. Placement in a buying office would be great (write to lots of Head Offices and offer to do this for free). Also, if you had a job (even a Saturday job) at a fashion retailer, this will stand you in good stead.

Lots of luck.