Tips From A Fashion Marketer About Translating Your Passion Into A Career
If you really love what you’re doing and you’re excited about it, make it known.
During Office Hours this week, Her Campus Media Co-Founder Windsor Western hosted an inspiring conversation with Ashley Riley, a Digital Media and Influencer Marketing Manager in the fashion industry. Ashley shared how she went from working in fashion design to fashion marketing and gave tips for how to translate your passion into a meaningful career.
ICYMI, be sure to check out the replay here. In the meantime, here are some key lessons we learned from Office Hours this week:
You can have an impact, no matter what your job title.
Ashley, who currently works at a well-known footwear brand, remembers what it was like to start her career as an intern at a large company. Although she initially didn’t think she could have a major impact, everything changed when she started brainstorming ideas for a big campaign. “There’s one instance I’ll always remember,” Ashley says. “It was a big deal to me. I was an intern, so I didn’t really think I had a say in anything. But we were working with a big talent. At the time, I wrote an email subject line to hint at the talent to get people excited about it. I wrote the headline, and the company sent it to a massive amount of people. That’s my favorite memory to this day!”
Her Campus co-founder Windsor Western agrees that even at the entry level, you can make an impact on those around you, so don’t be afraid to exercise your passion and skills. “Even if you’re an intern, just getting started in your job, you absolutely have a chance to make an impact!” she says. “If an opportunity is given to you, you have to grab it and run with it, because you never know where it’s going to take you.”
Graduate school can help you gain more experience.
Ashley pursued a Masters of Science to get more experience in fashion, and looking back, she says the degree was pivotal in setting herself up for career success. “I absolutely recommend going to graduate school,” Ashley tells attendees at Office Hours. “If you’re stuck, you might benefit from having a diploma or new experience under your belt. I was working full-time in retail during my grad school program so I got to do it online, which was great. You pick classes that are specific to your interests. In my program, I got to do a ton of reports that I then used for my professional portfolio. It helped so much — grad school was fantastic.”
Be yourself.
While the fashion industry can be a difficult one to break into, Ashley reminds students and recent grads that all things are possible. She remembers interviewing with various companies and feeling nervous at times, but realizing that authenticity matters more than you might think. “I remember when I was nervous or second-guessing myself, and it never went well,” she reflects. “But when I started being myself and said how I really felt, that’s when things went well!” This is a great piece of insight for anyone who might be feeling nervous, or experiencing imposter syndrome, heading into an internship or new job. It’s often easier said than done, but try to be yourself, and the rest will follow!
“Every company needs talented, amazing people,” says Windsor, who frequently interviews candidates for roles at Her Campus. “While you may be stressed, companies are also stressed about finding the right person for the job! Job interviews go both ways. If you tone down who you are in an interview too much and show a different version of yourself, that person won’t be the one who shows up to work every day! Show the best version of yourself so people can see you shine.”
We loved Ashley and Windsor’s tips for how to translate your passion into a meaningful career and stay authentic in the process. Catch up on the replay here and be sure to follow @generationhired on Instagram to stay up-to-date on future events!
