The Fashion Careers Clinic provides a link between industry and education. Our services are designed to work with fashion design related courses at Diploma, Foundation, BA and MA level.



LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS

We work with first to final year design students and cover a wide range of topics, including - but not limited to – the following:

  • CV advice – layout, style, structure, content
  • Interview tips – research, personal presentation, what to ask, and what not to ask!
  • Portfolio review and presentation – content, layout, structure and style
  • Advice on how to approach the job search following graduation – how to network, search methods, and where to look for jobs
  • How to get the best results from recruitment agencies – best time to approach agencies, the application process, who to contact, what to expect from the agencies
  • Preparation for final year shows, exhibitions and Graduate Fashion Week
  • Work experience – where to find it, what to expect, how to make the most out of the experience

    • Additional topics will be covered upon request, and the content of each lecture or workshop can either be focused entirely on one particular topic, or a mix and match of the above topics, as required.
    Content is tailored towards the needs of each different year group, and will obviously be very different for 2nd year students, compared to information for final year students.
    Our most popular lectures are as follows (each one is approximately 1.5 hours, inc QandA):


    JOB HUNTING OVERVIEW
    including content on all the above topics



    PORTFOLIO PRESENTATION
    Students are shown examples of work by experienced designers so they become aware of the standard expected from industry, familiar with different styles of presentation, and learn how presentation differs at each market level.

    Lectures may be in either formal lecture theatre style, or in a more relaxed format, depending on your requirements and time allowances. There will be additional time for an informal Q&A session, where students will be encouraged to ask about anything covered within the lecture, and can also ask questions regarding any other fashion careers topic not already covered.



    PORTFOLIO TUTORIALS
    This service is designed to alleviate pressure for final year design students and their tutors and Course Leaders, during the run up to graduation and Graduate Fashion Week.

    We all know that this is one of the most intense and busy times of the academic year for fashion courses, with tensions often running high! Students are keen to do well and for their projects to be looking the best they can be, and of course the staff want everyone to achieve the best they are capable of.
    However, time constraints and heavy workloads for all mean that sometimes – in the dash to get those collections finished – the preparation of portfolios falls to the bottom of the list, or some students don't get time to have a one to one chat with their tutors as to how their portfolio should be presented.
    This is where we can help.
    The Fashion Careers Clinic can be on hand to visit the university for a half day, day, or a few days (depending on final year student numbers, and on budget), in the weeks / months before exhibiting either at Graduate Fashion Week or at the local college exhibition. We will spend between 15 minutes and half an hour with each student and their portfolio (or see students in pairs or small groups)



    We can Identify:
  • Individual strengths and weaknesses in terms of presentation and content
  • How to present the work they have already done, and quick tips for improvement
  • How to 'sell' their ideas and work to prospective employers and agents during their final exhibitions.
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    This will ensure a more confident and well prepared student body, and will ultimately improve their employment success rate following graduation.