LinkedIn for fashion professionals: Build a profile that gets you headhunted
Are you searching for a job in fashion?
Do you want the opportunities to come to you?
Here are a few tips.
Recruiters search LinkedIn like Google. If the right words aren't in your profile, you're not going to be found. Your profile needs to work like smart SEO, not an online CV.
Your headline matters most. It carries the most weight in LinkedIn's search rankings. Don't just put your job title - you've got 220 characters, use them. Add key skills and maybe a result or two. "Merchandising Director | Premium Womenswear | Grew margin 12% while improving sell-through" will always outrank "Fashion Professional at Company X."
Your job title. If your company uses quirky internal titles, add the industry-standard version in brackets. Recruiters search for "Design Director" not "Chief Creative Visionary."
Use your banner. Share a picture of you presenting at an event or on a panel. Or create an image in Canva that uses text to showcase what you do. It's prime real estate - don't leave it as the default blue.
Your About section should sound like you. Write how you'd introduce yourself to someone; what you do, what you've achieved, what you're looking for. End with something that invites a conversation e.g. "I'm always happy to discuss the current challenges and opportunities in international fashion wholesale markets".
Show impact, not responsibilities. Those that follow me know I bang on about this constantly in terms of including this in your CV - it's equally important here. A consultant at a fashion recruitment agency already knows what a Merchandising Director does. What they can't infer is your specific impact. "Managed seasonal buy" - meh! "Rebalanced seasonal buy and increased margin by 8% while maintaining 72% full-price sell-through" - now you're talking.
Use a professional photo. Unless you're a swimwear model or in the drinks industry, it's probably best to avoid that bikini shot or the one with the pint taken on a night out with the boys.
Think about the words premium and luxury lifestyle brands will search for when looking for someone like you, then make sure those words are in your profile.
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