Emma Davidson Business & Finance Director of Denza International
Denza was founded in 1988 by Graduate Fashion Week co-founder Vanessa Denza. It is now one of the leading international fashion recruitment agencies which handles candidates’ careers from graduate to creative director level.
How Recruitment Agencies Work
- Recruitment Consultancies generally make sure that they have the best people on their books compared to all other agencies.
- They will try to find the most suitable work for you and the most suitable candidates for their clients so everyone is happy
- You can register with as many agencies as you like and there are different agencies for different areas of the market whether it be high street or premium/luxury so do some research and find the right ones for you.
The Recruitment Process
- You will need to show a CV plus 4 work examples. CV should be in Word format, not PDF and it should be straight forward, follow a standard structure and not be too “jazzy” or creative
- The 4 work examples should include a variety of the following: mood boards, hand-drawn work, CAD work and finished work and should include personal projects as this shows them your personality. You can also include work you’ve done for other designers in your portfolio.
- It is crucial that you have a portfolio and maintain it throughout your career no matter what level .
- A face-to-face meeting is a must. The meeting will last approximately an hour. The agent will want to know about you, your work and your personality.
Rates of Pay
- How much you get paid depends on your existing experience. There are unpaid work experience or internships out there to allow you to get the necessary skills. For more experienced, expect between £17,000 - £24,000 per annum
- A Recruitment Agency won’t cost you. The client pays them a percentage of your salary as a fee for the service. This doesn’t affect your salary at all.
Types of Jobs
- Pattern cutting pays very well. Anywhere from £25 p/h up to £45 p/h for 5 hours a day
- Stick to jobs in the industry. For example, you could work as part of a sales team in the showroom of a fashion house; this would teach you vital skills you will need when you want to establish your own brand. Production and business skills are also valuable to learn.
- Build up industry skills and contacts by working in positions that you can learn or benefit from. For example, working in a fabric shop might get you a great discount.
Sarah Goodwin