Brobston Group
Community Manager & Senior Résumé Writer
Kristin is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW) with over 20 years of experience in fashion retail management and human resources, including time with Prada, Coach, Stella McCartney, and Etro.
As an experienced industry professional she knows first hand what industry employers look for in candidate résumés. Kristin’s partnership will ensure your profile stands out from the crowd and helps convert your applications to more interviews.
Since several members of our team come from retail management, one of our specialties is filling retail store manager roles for luxury brands. Here is what we look for when searching for an outstanding store manager:
Your store manager is the face of your brand and needs to love it. That love needs to come through in everything that they do, because when they love your brand they will inspire their team and customers to do the same. They should have a strong understanding of your clientele and have a vision of how that can be expanded. They must take a deep pride in their personal presentation and that of their store.
Retail is hard, and it cannot be successfully executed alone. Great store managers are an endless source of inspiration -- an example of focus and execution to their team. They can succinctly explain a variety of performance goals and lead each team member to achievement. This requires strong communication skills, emotional intelligence, and consistency. It also requires a strong sense of personal discipline and the development of a disciplined team. When you ask their team about their qualities, they should respond with "hard-working", "inspiring", "dedicated", "strategic". Be careful if the first word is "nice".
The customer is the whole point of a store and every customer must be treated like gold. Great store managers will re-enforce this daily, often being personally knowledgeable about many of their customers. They will ensure that each client interaction is outstanding by providing education about the brand, showcasing the best product for them, connecting personally with the client, and building the foundation for an ongoing relationship.
What do we do when customers aren't walking in the door?? Great store managers have a plan well before this happens. They know how to rally the troops to reach out to clients and activate local marketing activities that will drive new or existing customer into their (physical or digital) doors.
A retail store is the physical manifestation of your brand, and it must be impeccably maintained. Great store managers value the visual nature of the store and work hard to maintain a beautiful and impactful environment.
An impeccably front-of-house is best served with an impeccable back-of-house. This requires efficient stock, shipping and loss-prevention, and human resources activities.
Unless you're Louis Vuitton, achieving sales goals is a top priority -- and that is achieved with strategy and focus. Store managers must know their numbers inside and out, be quick to identify problem areas (and successes), and take immediate action to address these realities.
A retail store is the end of a long company process that designs, produces, and markets their brand and merchandise. A great store manager understands that they are part of the larger whole, knows how to leverage corporate partners when needed, and is experienced at supporting larger company initiatives.
Sellers don't always make the best managers, and managers don't always make the best sellers. But when you can find them in 1 person, you've struck gold. A Store Manager with a strong sales background will be an outstanding partner to their sales team, help them grow sales, and understand the intricacies of client relationships.
Your resume is often your first impression—especially in the competitive world of fashion. Whether you're applying for a design role, a retail position, or a corporate opportunity, these resume tips will help you highlight your strengths and land interviews at top fashion brands.
The summary is the first thing a hiring manager will see, so it’s important to make a good impression. Use this space to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences, and explain why you are the best fit for the job.
Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, use action verbs to describe your accomplishments. For example, instead of saying “assisted in the design process,” try “collaborated with the design team to create innovative fashion collections.”
It's important to tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for. Research the company and the job requirements and make sure your resume showcases the skills and experience that make you the best fit for the role.
In the fashion industry, it's important to show that you are familiar with industry terminology and trends. Use industry-specific language and buzzwords to demonstrate your knowledge and passion for the field.
If you have a degree in fashion design or have completed any industry-specific courses or training, be sure to include this information on your resume. This can help to set you apart from other candidates and show that you are dedicated to your career in fashion.
If you are having trouble creating a stand-out fashion resume, you may want to consider hiring a professional resume service like Brobston Group. These services specialize in creating resumes that are tailored to the specific needs of the fashion industry, and they can help you craft a resume that is sure to get noticed by top employers.
With a well-written and targeted resume—and the help of a professional resume service like Brobston Group—you can increase your chances of getting noticed by top employers in the fashion industry.
So you have an "overqualified" candidate interested in your open role? Congratulations!! What a great opportunity to exceed the value you were seeking to acquire.
But now you have all these questions and concerning thoughts about the candidate. Maybe it would just be easier to look for a more traditional fit: someone who will be excited for more money, growth, and who will have similar experience to the existing team.
But before you decide to pass, I'd like to take a moment to advocate that you give the next overqualified candidate you find an opportunity to convince you it will work — because the benefits of hiring an overqualified candidate can be enormous.
Since each person is in a different place in their professional life, it's worth exploring the candidate's feelings about each point instead of making assumptions. I suggest these goals for that exploration:
Does the candidate effectively demonstrate their humility, explain what their professional objectives are, and make their case that none of these five points is a factor for them?
They have all the skills and experience required for the role, expressed a strong interest, and are perfectly happy with the title and compensation. Hire them!
Sign up now to receive curated job alerts from the luxury industry directly to your inbox. Stay ahead of the competition and find your perfect career match.
