How to Network in the Beauty Industry
Much like its fashion counterpart, breaking into the beauty industry is no walk in the park. To be successful in any field you need passion, drive and most importantly, a strong work ethic. Get your foot in the door by building lasting relationships — start networking 24/7!
If you want to be on the retail level, write for an editorial magazine, or work at the head office in PR, social media or marketing, this article is for you. Here are the best tips on how to network in the beauty or fashion industry.
Show Legit Interest
Peers in your field (especially employers) can sniff out authentic passion vs. someone who has a mild, passing interest in a heartbeat. Show your genuine interest in the beauty or fashion world by engaging with the industry as much as you can. Blog about launches, retweet your fave influencers and stay savvy on all the latest happenings.
Put Yourself Out There
There are tons of industry events that open the door for great networking opportunities. Maximize your time by looking for those special instances when different brands are under the same roof — think Fashion Week or Generation Beauty. Meetups in your area are also a great way to connect with like-minded people. Get your name out there!
Be Yourself Online
Present yourself just as beautifully online as you do in person. Social media platforms are a great way to connect with specific people who may help get you to where you need to go. Make it easy to network over social media by keeping all your profiles public. Don’t forget to use LinkedIn to follow companies you’d like to work with and connect with their employees; Facebook can be used to join beauty networking groups.
Major Key: The Follow-up
When networking, there are so many names and faces you come across that it gets hard to remember everyone. The follow up is without a doubt the #1 most important step of this process. Make sure your hard work doesn’t go to waste by sending a friendly but brief e-mail after every new encounter. Nurture your professional relationships and watch them grow.
#Netwerk was redacted from my article for BeautyNineToFive.com “How to Network in the Beauty Industry” posted on March 6, 2017.
