Becoming a Buyer?

[seeing_double]

^Thanks for the help Meg and JJ . Anyone else with any advice feel free ...*cough* Lena *cough*

 

[Lena]

Just get a job ASAP at the best possible place, get some experience, and then wait for an opening at a better location...or is it really all about connections and "luck" of an open position? .

you just said it

studies will help but they wont 'make' you, field experience is so much more important than certificates..
Parsons internship programs are a main attractions to this school right? so if you can, just do both, enter the market by just gaining experience AND enroll to Parsons if you can afford doing both

 

[seeing_double]

Thanks so much . Now I suppose I will just pray for scholarship money.

 

[JJohnson]

Well I wasnt take the 'fashion' approach because Im going to a purely business school, but i didnt also just want to be labeled "fashion buyer" i want to do this career, but i also want a degree that can be used everywhere if there is no opening.

What about this approach Lena?

 

[JJohnson]

Any idea Lena?

 

[JJohnson]

I hope a marketing degree can get the job done...it seems like many ppl are doing marketing! ugh!

 

[JJohnson]

Oh dear! Im so close to getting a job at Bloomingdale's! I have the interview tomorrow! I hope all goes well!

 

[Lena]

good luck jj

 

[JJohnson]

good luck jj

Thx a lot! The interviews went well! Me and the lady had a very nice conversation about Helmut Lang, Balenciaga, McQueen, and others! It was really nice! I hope she hires me becuase its such a nice nice store! OMG I CANT WAIT

 

[iluvfashion]

^What's the position JJ?

Good luck

 

[JJohnson]

^What's the position JJ?

Good luck

oh a sales associate

 

[JJohnson]

Lena I have a problem...im deciding not to go to UIC...is there a way to be a buyer without a college degree?

 

[kXtreme]

buyer is top management position which one cannot get without a college degree. you cant just become a buyer, you should really familarize yourself more with the fashion industry, you seem to be getting into something you dont know anything about. i can tell from all the repetitive questions you ask.

 

[JJohnson]

buyer is top management position which one cannot get without a college degree. you cant just become a buyer, you should really familarize yourself more with the fashion industry, you seem to be getting into something you dont know anything about. i can tell from all the repetitive questions you ask.

I am not. I am very well versed with fashion I just had basic questions. Im going to college for a marketing degree, but i was just wondering if it was mandatory or absolutely needed. I am very familier with the fashion industry and I plan on being a buyer soon . Many questions dont mean a lack of knowledge, there is always room to learn more.

 

[Lena]

a degree will always help jj.. better with than without

 

[kXtreme]

I am not. I am very well versed with fashion I just had basic questions. Im going to college for a marketing degree, but i was just wondering if it was mandatory or absolutely needed. I am very familier with the fashion industry and I plan on being a buyer soon . Many questions dont mean a lack of knowledge, there is always room to learn more.

yea but the questions you ask over and over again does mean lack of knowledge. you want to be a buyer yet youre going for a marketing degree? also you say youre going to be a buyer soon? you didnt even start college. it takes a long to become a official buyer even after you get a degree. lastly you wanted to know if you cna be a buyer without a college degree... nuff said.

 

[Lena]

^ correct

 

[iluvfashion]

Buyers definitely need a degree. From what I read the degree does not matter but I bet they will favor a Business degree over a history because of the analytical skills the job requires when they are going over resumes. Of course that is not to say that a history major is bad at Math. I am just saying that a degree is a must and superb mathematical skills are required. Correct me if I am wrong Lena and kXtreme

 

[kXtreme]

^ yea youre correct, i know some buyers who had nothing to do with fashion in school. one of them was a english major, and the other economics i believe. these days not many people do what they majored in school anyway. samewith fashion industry, i dont think they really care what your major was to a point that is. dont major in agriculture!

 

[kellyt]

hmmm. After reading this thread, I may persue a career as a buyer. I thought maybe I didn't have the qualifications... to get into the fashion industry, like going to school for fashion...or having some sort of "proof" of my fashion knowledge. I have no experience in the fashion industry besides my part time job as a boutique salesperson. (I also work full time as a media planner.) However I do have:

-A business degree in marketing
-Experience in marketing research with a lot of statistical analysis
-Experience (entry-level) in Media: working with budgets, forecasting, planning, working directly with media buyers, sales reps, clients... analysis on results...etc

Anyone in the industry, do you think this is enough? I am into fashion as a hobby... but I have been into it for years and think I have a pretty decent knowledge of high end designers, price vs. demand, trends, and how the industry works in general. What do you think my chances are for getting an interview? I am guessing I would go through a training program and then become an assistant buyer...can you give me a salary range for an assistant buyer position? Thanks in advance!