In today’s fashion world, there’s no shortage of candidates, no matter what the position within the industry, and it’s most likely more effortless than ever to fill a position in a short period of time. Still, you don’t want to end up hiring the wrong person. Hiring the wrong person for the role can trigger a series of negative consequences. Whether they don’t hold the correct skills needed to succeed in the role or their work ethic is lazy and unmotivated, they can influence the culture and atmosphere of the workplace in a stressful and harmful way.
If you spend valuable time training them for the role and the business and yet end up looking for another candidate, you will have cost the company money. An extensive list of qualifications and skills on a CV is necessary for a successful hire, but they don’t guarantee one. Making sure the candidate is a positive fit within the company culture and aligns with the company’s development plan is also crucial.
This blog will explain five ways that you can ensure you hire the best candidate every time.
1. Are they career-orientated?
Without sounding incredibly cliché; do they have a passion for fashion? One of the most subtle aspects you should consider when looking for a new employee is their determination and commitment to their career and their development as a fashion professional. If you have a candidate who is trying to balance multiple career options, this could be a red flag not to hire them as you want an employee who is loyal to the company and who will view the position as an opportunity to advance their career.
2. Do they have practical experience?
Ideally, you want someone who is both qualified and experienced in your line of work. However, more often than not, you will not find the perfect candidate. By focusing on the practical experience of the potential hire, you will be able to integrate them quicker within the company and speed up the time it takes for them to become familiar with the role. You will also save time and money when it comes to training as they will already have the practical skills and knowledge needed to get started.
3. Do they have the strengths and skills needed for the role?
Let’s face it, the vast majority of jobs within the fashion industry are stressful. You need to look for someone who not only has the specific skills required for the role, ie. for a Fashion Merchandiser, they would need to have excellent communication and networking skills as well as an impeccable creative mind, but also the necessary mental skills to cope with pressure and complex client demands. If you’re hiring for a role that is repetitive in nature, you need someone that can stay motivated and perform the same actions day in and day out.
4. Will they fit with the existing company culture?
Especially now in this post-pandemic world, company culture is so important. The potential candidate needs to be an appropriate fit for the workplace culture you already have established. This means their social skills need to be developed enough so they don’t disrupt the positive atmosphere of your office environment, only add to it. Every job involves working with people, whether or not that is directly with clients, so you should make sure to hire someone with strong interpersonal skills.
5. Could you hire an intern or a graduate?
Going against what was advised previously in the second point; why not hire an intern or a graduate? By doing this you will be hiring someone who is malleable and fresh to the industry. A graduate will be fresh out of university with new skills and information and will be very eager to start their career and get involved in the workplace. Hiring an intern means you could monitor their progress, skills, and abilities before hiring them, saving you plenty of time and money instead of going through an extensive hiring process.
Finding the best candidate for a position within the fashion industry is a complex and time-consuming process, but it’s worth the trouble to ensure you find the best fit for your company to prevent damage in the future. At u&i search, we’ll quickly get to understand your company inside and out, finding you perfectly matched employees. If you would like to register a role with us, get in touch today, and if you would like to read more of our blogs, click here.
