Advice on Career Shift to Fashion or Luxury Branding/Advertising

[ubiquitous]

Hi All,

I am currently employed at a midsize online company, analyzing fine art auction results (2 years). I have a BA in economics/art history and have wanted to move into a fashion or advertising/luxury branding type career. Many of the job posts I've found (buying, luxury branding, general advertising function) all ask for 2-5 years prior experience in the industry. I haven't landed any interviews yet, and would welcome any and all advice via this thread or by private message.

If anyone has suggestions on a good entry point for these industries that would be extremely helpful. I don't want to work in a sales associate/retail capacity, but that seems to comprise the majority of the entry level jobs. I am also 24, and many of the opportunities I've seen at the ground level are internships that you must be enrolled in college still to apply for.

 

[ChetB]

For advertising, if you can manage to cobble together a portfolio of impressive spec work, maybe you can get the attention of a local agency and land an interview. Starting a (good) blog/working on interesting side projects can also be helpful. There are a few agencies out there that have school-like apprenticeship programs. My ex attended one of these and landed an internship at a top agency after (she didn't have to be enrolled in school btw), which led to a job.

Good luck.