You’re ahead of all the trends and have an eye for style. Maybe your favorite movie is “Phantom Thread” or “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” In any case, you’re a fashion buyer who has decided to step into the job market and you’re looking to create a resume that will showcase your skills and flair.
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A fashion buyer resume that’s all the rage creates a visual and textual display that will have recruiters jumping at the chance to interview you. How do you make that happen? Start with our powerful tools for job seekers, including resume guides and resume examples for 300+ professions and an easy-to-use resume builder.
This resume guide, along with the corresponding fashion buyer resume example, will cover the following topics:
- What does a fashion buyer do?
- How to write a fashion buyer resume (tips and tricks)
- The best format for a fashion buyer resume
- Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional resume layout and design hints.
What does a fashion buyer do?
Fashion buyers have their fingers on the pulse of the fashion world. They think ahead to next season and are cannily able to predict what consumers will be clamoring for. To achieve that, they go to fashion shows, read magazines and conduct other research. They visit designers and manufacturers to evaluate their products and arrange to buy clothes, shoes and accessories. They work to stay up-to-date with trends, forecasts and needs and desires of customers.
Fashion buyers collaborate with other creative professionals to ensure that brand goals are achieved and budgets are honored. They negotiate deals with manufacturers and make sure merchandise arrives on time and accurately. Once items are on the shelves, fashion buyers keep up with inventory so they are always aware of what is in demand and what is not.
They also know the ins and outs of the buying cycle, which consists of the stages and events that take place during the buying period. Fashion buyers work to strategically improve brand presence and image. They work in department stores, chic boutiques, wholesale businesses or any other retail establishment.
Market outlook and earning potential
While statistics for fashion buyers alone are not readily available, the retail buyers market is projected to shrink by 4% from 2020-2030, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts. While consumer spending is up, the trend is for retail businesses to hire fewer workers, according to Business Insider, while online shopping and supply chain management create efficiencies in inventory control.
When you do secure that job, how much can you expect to earn? ZipRecruiter reports salaries ranging from $19,500-$85,000 with a median of $51,454.
How to write a fashion buyer resume
We know you’re a creative person who likes to show off your style, but refrain from doing that in the structure of your resume. Use the same format and sections as most other resumes. Your CV needs the following elements:
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
You can show off your rakish style when you personalize your resume for each position, but if you get too creative with your section headings, recruiters won’t be able to find the information they need to judge your qualifications.
Choosing the best resume format for a fashion buyer
Once again, you should take the straightforward approach here. The best resume format for most job seekers is the standard of reverse chronological order. That goes for your fashion buyer resume, too. This format mostly affects your employment history section, where you will begin with your most recent position and work your way backward.
However, if you are a career changer, you may consider the other resume formats we suggest as chronological alternatives or hybrids. These alternatives are also useful if you are just entering the job market or are a mature job seeker.
We highly recommend that you go with the reverse chronological order resume format because it is favored by both recruiters and the ATS.
Sidestep the ATS
Applicant Tracking Systems are a human resources department’s first line of defense. If you apply online, you are inputting your data into an ATS, which conducts initial sorting and scanning of resumes. But more than that, this software ranks resumes based partly on keywords and phrases pegged to the job listing.
To try to avoid being filtered out before you get into the hands of a human being, analyze the job description and organically insert the exact keywords and phrases you find within it into your resume. There are no guarantees, but this personalization method will give you an edge. It also serves the purpose of showing hiring managers that you know exactly what they are looking for.
Resume summary example: tailor your message
So far, we’ve been telling you to hold back on your creative impulses, but now we are going to say: Strut your stuff! Your profile, AKA summary or personal statement, is 100-200 words of your individual design.
The summary occupies key display space, so make the most of it by accenting your career with strong, descriptive language. Introduce your professional style and highlight the talents you know your prospective employer wants. How do you know? Because you’ve researched the retailer you are targeting both for the ATS and to be able to echo the tone and image of the brand.
Your job application is not the place to be demure: Be proud of your achievements without veering into bragging. Hiring managers want to know how you will fit into the organization and if you have what it takes to elevate the brand.
The profile section can be the most difficult to write, so before you complete it, you may want to look at some of our other resume samples like our fashion designer resume sample, jewelry designer resume example, tailor resume example or costume designer resume sample.
You can find the summary from our fashion buyer resume example below.
Knowledgeable fashion buyer with a motivated attitude and an exceptional understanding of the fashion industry at large. Experienced in researching, evaluating, and buying clothes and accessories in accordance with the mission of a brand. Offering strong decision-making skills and the ability to work effectively with vendors and other creative professionals.
Employment history sample: the cut of your career
The employment history section of your resume is the equivalent of a little black dress. It’s a timeless staple that says a lot about its owner. It is here that you can detail your rise to fashion buyer and your career greatest hits.
Bulleted achievements are the way to go here. They put an accent on each accomplishment and break up the blocks of type. Begin each one with a strong action word, followed by the outcome of your actions. Data is a great addition, so if you made a buy that bumped up profits by 10%, use the numbers.
You can find a fashion buyer employment history resume sample below.
- Researched, evaluated, and purchased promising clothing and accessories.
- Collaborated with marketing professionals and creative directors to ensure the brand and mission of the company was honored.
- Coordinated with vendors and gained access to view new items prior to launch.
- Strategized seasonal and specialty lines and gathered items to fill them.
- Maintained record of product performance to determine future purchases.
CV skills example: an ensemble of attributes
You know that fashion sense isn’t enough to make it in the competitive retail world: You have to have excellent business sense as well. The skills section of your fashion buyer CV makes it easy to display both. It is also the easiest section to begin with as you personalize for the ATS.
Make a master list of every job-related skill you can think of, even if it seems irrelevant. You never know what an employer will be looking for until you scrutinize the job listing. Use this list, which you can add to as your career evolves, to jog your memory as you compile your top 3-6 skills for your CV.
Recruiters often scan these skills first to make sure you have what they are looking for, so make it count!
Foundation abilities
Here are the top 3 skills you need to be a great fashion buyer, Susanne Tide-Frater, brand and strategy director at Farfetch, told Business of Fashion. Try to incorporate them into your resume.
- Managing the buying cycle
- Forecasting trends
- Combining commercial sensibility and creative curation
You will find a skills section resume sample below.
- Fashion Knowledge
- Trend Forecasting
- Creative Curation
- Strong Decision-making
- Brand Development
- Negotiation
- Business Strategy
Fashion buyer resume education example
Most large retail companies require fashion buyers to have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, fashion or another related field. In your education section, you will simply list your degrees. If you have a master’s degree, there is no need to list your high school diploma.
Within this section you may also list any industry awards you have received. If you have more than a couple, consider adding a separate Awards and Accolades section.
See resume example content below for a formatting suggestion.
- 2003-2007 NYU, Bachelor of Fashion Design NY, NY
- 1999-2003 Norwell School, High School Diploma Norwell, MA
Resume layout and design: add a little panache
We’re going to give you a little license in your layout and design because you’re in a creative field, but exercise caution. Remember that your goal is to display your skills in an easy-to-read, professional-looking document.
If you want to get bold, consider stylizing your contact information keeping in mind legibility. You definitely don’t want to make it difficult for a recruiter to read your phone number or email address!
Here are a few other guidelines for you:
- Go easy on your reader’s eyes by leaving plenty of white space. Resist the temptation to narrow the margins or lower the type size to fit in more of your amazing accomplishments. If it’s too hard to read, your carefully crafted bullet items won’t matter.
- Proofread, or use an online resume builder (like ours) that includes spellcheck.
The layout of your resume can quickly set you apart from other candidates with similar skill sets. Consider using a professionally-designed resume template to ensure you've created an attractive and functional design.
Key takeaways for a fashion buyer resume
- This is a tough field, so your resume must show off both fashion sense and business acumen.
- Research the style and branding of each prospective employer and then target your message to that company with the added benefit of helping get your resume past the ATS.
- Use your sense of style, but keep your design legible and professional.
- Check out our fashion buyer resume sample for more ideas on creating a great layout and design.
