Resume rewrite: ai’s rising tide threatens fashion job market

The humble resume, once the bedrock of every job application, is facing an unprecedented challenge. As artificial intelligence increasingly dominates the hiring process, the pressure to craft a truly standout resume has never been greater – or more daunting.

A flood of applicants, a shrinking pool

By 2026, the surge in ai-powered application tools is predicted to dramatically increase the number of applicants per job. Simultaneously, the fashion industry continues to grapple with post-layoff instability, characterized by hiring freezes and restructuring. This creates a volatile landscape where talent vastly outweighs opportunity.

Beyond the ‘horoscope resume’

For fashion applicants, the challenge intensifies. The traditional corporate resume format often feels restrictive for creative professionals. Many graduates fall into the trap of including every minor experience – summer jobs, shadowing placements – creating a ‘horoscope resume’ filled with vague claims. Recruiters, increasingly aided by AI screening tools, quickly identify these generic submissions.

Specificity is the new standard

Experts urge a radical shift: less is more. “A resume isn’t meant to be comprehensive; it’s a snapshot of your skills,” explains Marisa LoBianco. Instead of listing broad responsibilities, candidates should detail specific accomplishments – like coordinating sample trafficking for FW24 press days. Phrases like ‘involved in’ or ‘helped with’ are red flags.

Coursework: a hidden asset

Despite limited work experience, student portfolios can be a powerful differentiator. Millie de la Valette at Louis Vuitton emphasizes that coursework often holds more weight than internships. Baron Osuna at LVMH argues that portfolios should showcase genuine thought and process, moving beyond simply displaying beautiful images. “Show your drawings, how you think, where you take your inspirations, your mood boards, something with more depth and grit.”

Strategic use of ai

Jennifer MacDonald at The New School highlights the growing role of AI in resume optimization. She advises students to utilize AI tools to refine their language and tailor their resumes to specific job descriptions. However, she cautions that human oversight remains paramount. “The young people in the industry who stand out to me are the individuals who are unapologetically themselves.”

Don’t oversell – authenticity matters

Recruiters consistently warn against exaggeration. In the fashion industry, connections run deep, and inflated claims quickly unravel. Siena Craigie’s story – pivoting to cold-emailing small brands after recognizing the difficulty of securing internships – exemplifies a proactive and effective approach. “It got my foot in the scary, big, and often locked door that is the fashion industry.”

A final thought

Ultimately, a resume is not merely a document; it's a carefully constructed argument for why you deserve the role. In a market saturated with applications, standing out requires a strategic, authentic, and undeniably human touch. The competition is fierce, but for those who understand the underlying narrative, the opportunity remains.