Recruiters are an essential tool for all businesses, they are usually dedicated agencies who specialise in finding the best employees for specific sectors and enable businesses to build successful teams. In fashion, there are many specialist jobs needed across the industry, so specialist fashion recruiters play a key role in finding the right people with the right skills and experience for a job. 

Businesses usually hire a recruitment agency to help them fill open roles with high quality candidates. To do this effectively for the fashion industry, consults need to have a deep understanding of the fashion industry, different brands, cultures, methods of creative education, ability to read a portfolio, talk to people from all walks of life and keep secrets.

Day to day, a recruitment consultant will be managing the searches for multiple clients, pooling candidates to match to these open searches and working on pooling candidates for future searches that may come in. To do this, a commitment to scouting for new talent, visiting graduate and industry shows and networking is required. Also natural curiosity and ability to travel is essential.

Alongside the creative aspect of recruiting specifically for the fashion industry, the ability to keep accurate records is essential, managing electronic files, a database, adhere to privacy laws in relation to the work undertaken every day. For example in managing a search, a consultant may be managing hundreds of candidates who apply and keep a record of who they all are, what their current situation is and what their salary expectations are.

It is beneficial for a recruiter to have specialised knowledge of the industry they are working for, thought this does not necessarily mean a design degree - but some kind of creativity to be able to read a candidate portfolio and match it to a client is helpful.  Strong organisation and communication skills are essential, alongside a confident approach to working with a wide range of people at different levels and cultures.

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