The Steps to Obtaining Position as a Fashion Designer

Even though the economic situation in the United States is not at its best, the employments of fashion designers are said to increase as the years go by. According to the Eureka online website it it is reported that the nationwide expected growth rate in 2018 is 7.1% (Eureka). Although the growth rate is slower than average, it is still an increase of available jobs in the fashion designing industry. I am unsure about my future career but fashion design is currently my top interest. In order to obtain a position as a fashion designer, there are many steps that I will have to take. The most important step is to obtain the required education and also everything else that will help me stand out as a designer. The job of a fashion designer is looked upon as a very glamorous career but there is more to it than just that.

The thought of becoming a fashion designer has been on my mind for a couple of years now so I finally decided to try out the fashion program at Delta College after I graduated from high school. I did not know what classes I had to take but thankfully there is a list that tells me exactly what classes I need to take and when.

On September 19 of 2011, a presentation was given by the transfer counselor, Debra Louie. During the presentation, a lot of information was given about how to transfer from Delta College to a four year college and also what students can do to obtain a guaranteed admission into the colleges. The four most important things to remember before transferring are to have taken classes that will prepare the student for their intended major, to know the admission requirements for the chosen colleges, finish the GE requirements, and to take any other required classes at the community college (Louie). With this information I am reminded to research more on colleges and their admission requirements. I will have to keep working hard to finish all the required GE courses and any other courses that are required for my intended major.

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I want to emphasize that education is an essential factor in becoming a fashion designer. "Higher- education courses aim to help teach and nurture the skills required in the market place" (Jones 6). Most employers recommend either a two or a four-year degree meaning fashion designers will need an associate or a bachelor's degree in fashion design. The two or four year degrees can be obtained at community colleges or vocational colleges. Other degrees, for example, a degree with business or marketing is recommended as well, depending on what the person wants to do in the fashion design industry ("Fashion Designers"). Fashion design employers not only look for the college degrees but also the experience. Employers will look for on-the-job experiences and a good portfolio, which is to show what kind of works the person has done (Eureka). Aspiring designers also are required to do internships with design or manufacturing firms to learn necessary skills ("Fashion Designers").

Fresh out of college fashion designers do not just automatically become well known designers. What usually happens is that they first become an assistant to a higher level designer and then work their way up from there ("Fashion Designers"). Other scenarios are that beginning designers may start their own company or sell their designs to retail store. The designers who start their own businesses might to have another job on the side in design or in a different occupation ("Designer").

"The majority of fashion designers are never famous or rich and work happily enough behind the scenes in satisfying jobs for more or less ordinary wages" (Jones 6). Fashion design is a very popular career choice for many people. Because of its great popularity, very few people succeed in this occupation without the proper preparations. Fashion design is a very competitive field especially with the very few job openings throughout the years because of the few retirements (Eureka). However, because clothes are always needed, there will be job opportunities. The California Labor Market Information estimated an average of 9.6%-19.6% growth rate with a 190 job openings in the year 2016 for fashion designers. The national Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the growth of fashion designers in the year 2018 to be 06-7.1% with 720 job openings (Eureka). Although the estimated job openings is not that high, it is enough for me to be able to obtain a job.

Fashion designers are people who create billions of dresses, suits, and other clothing for men, women, and children for all occasions (OOH). Designers who work in larger shops have a cleaner and more lighted environment. They sometimes have to work within a tight budget and so they have to buy their own tools (Eureka). Some designers may work in their own office or in a clients' home ("Designer"). Fashion designers usually work long hours and sometimes there will be deadlines meaning they will have to work overtime in order to meet it. Fashion designers will have to be very social because they will be communicating with all the people who are involved in the process of making a design.

Some personal qualities and skills that a designer has to have are communication skills. perception, and temperament (Jones 8-9). I am lacking in each one of those mentioned qualities. Because I am lacking, I am afraid, but it will not stop me from trying to pursue my interests in the fashion design industry. Then again, "Only a talented and dedicated few will make it to the ranks of designers with their own labels" (Jones 181). Knowing that the design field is very competitive and difficult to thrive in, I am having second thoughts about going into the field. Having seen people wake up and grudgingly go their workplace that they just hate encourages me to go after what I love to do rather than to have just a job that makes money.

The salaries of fashion designers varies because the "pay depends on geographic location and size and type of employer" (Eureka). According to the 2010 California Labor Market Information the monthly entry level pay for a fashion designer is $3792. The average monthly pay for a fashion designer is $6852 and the highest monthly pay for a designer is $8043 and up (Eureka). These salary prices ranges from the different levels of positions of the occupation. The national Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2009 records that beginning fashion designers get paid $2693 a month while the average pay for designers are almost three times as much at $6201. The highest pay for fashion designers in this situation is $10908 and up (Eureka). From the national data there is a huge gap between the entry pay and average pay. Although I am looking into this career because I like what it does, I would like a good pay as well. Then again, if I really love to design then the money will not matter.

After having done the research on the occupation of fashion design, I realized that I am very far from achieving what I want. There are many more steps that I need to take in order to reach my goal. Although I am not positive about my career choice, I am working towards it because it is my current goal. I know that if I work hard and if I really want it then I can become a fashion designer. I learned more about the occupation through several available resources like the internet and books. I received a lot of helpful information from Debra Louie about how to transfer from a community college to a fours year college. Although the information might not pertain to me as of now, it is still very important information to know. The whole experience of the research project on fashion design is very useful. I learned that I can become a fashion designer if I just work hard and take all the opportunities given to me. Reaching my goal may not be as easy as I think, but I can achieve it.

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