By Jenna Black
Do you spend your days at work dreaming of the perfect job at Chanel or Louis Vuitton? Does your heart skip a beat when you see an ad for the latest Dior mascara or La Mer face cream? Always fantasised about working in the luxury industry but don’t know where to start?
Rescu. recently chatted to Melinda O’Rourke, founder of luxury consultant company MO Luxury, on her advice for shopping in the luxury industry. Now, she lends her insider tips to Rescu. on how to work in the luxury industry, and what you need to break into this rarefied world- it’s time to stop dreaming!
What to include in your CV for a luxury role
Melinda advises us of the three C’s when creating your CV for a luxury role; Clear, Concise and Correct! Melinda explains it is important to be “absolutely critical on detail and accuracy” and to include a well constructed cover letter with your CV. As you are going for a luxury role, it is important to highlight your past experience in a similar field, clearly labelling your core competencies and responsibilities. If this is your first time applying for a luxury role, make sure you include other related experience, such as internships, personal projects or memberships. Melinda also reminds us how important it is to be concise and relevant with the information you include; this is your first point of contact, so be effective!
Top 5 tips on interviewing for a luxury role
When we asked Melinda for her top tips on how to perform in an interview for a luxury role, she reminded us of one very important point- the interview is a two way process. You should sell yourself, whilst also finding out vital information on the company. Follow Melinda’s top 5 tips to succeed in your interview:
1. Research the company for the position you are being interviewed for prior to your interview.
2. Research the role- if you don’t have specific details you can research similar roles online.
3. Rehearse your CV and your experience, it is a presentation. A great suggestion is to talk through your CV, experience, responsibilities and achievements in front of a mirror, or tape yourself and play it back. Or present it to a friend who will provide honest feedback.
4. Appearance and grooming – look the part for the position you are being interviewed for. If it’s in luxury we recommend a simple yet elegant black dress (not an evening dress or one with loud prints), minimal jewellery, neat hair and makeup. Remember your shoes and nails, all part of the ‘total package’
5. SMILE!
Wanting to break into the luxury industry for the first time?
Melinda notes how important it is to be committed and to persevere if you are willing to break into the luxury industry for the first time. The luxury industry, need to know you are genuinely interested through your own self education and knowledge. There are a number of ways you can gain relevant experience before going for the job of your dreams. As Melinda suggests, doing an internship is a great way to gain experience and show your dedication. She notes that the successful interns at MO Luxury have “been professional, passionate and dedicated to the cause.” In addition, working briefly in a luxury retail store is a great way to impress your future employer, as is volunteering where you can, particularly at Fashion Week.
Many of us want to find that perfect job and turn our dream into a reality. To get a head start and more expert advice on how to break into the luxury industry visit MO Luxury.
