The Cut Fashion Academy staff want to send a big congratulations to our Product Development & Manufacturing-Domestic & Overseas Program Alumni, Charlotte Clissold on landing her dream job! When Charlotte started with TFCA in September 2020, we immediately knew she was going to be an outstanding student. Interestingly, Charlotte had nearly 10 years of experience in the retail and apparel industry when she began classes, but knew she would gain the knowledge and skills needed to break into a new field within the fashion industry.

We took this exciting opportunity to connect with Charlotte and ask her 5 Questions so that we could share her story with you!

What position were you in before you started school?

At Indochino, I was officially the Manager of Training and unofficially the ‘fit specialist.’ This role allowed me to understand garment fit and how the off-shore production process works.

What drew you to go back to school and take Product Development?

For about three years I was looking to advance my career in product development but was having no success with my job search. If I was able to get an interview the constant feedback was how I wasn’t experienced enough. In March of 2020, I was laid off due to the pandemic and knew that my job search would be even more challenging. I thought if I wasn’t able to get the experience through a job, that I would take learning into my own hands. I researched many programs online, but the only one that specifically specialized in product development was offered at The Cut Fashion Design Academy.

What did you learn along your school journey that you can carry to your new job?

After hearing I wasn’t experienced enough, the instructors at the Academy gave me back my confidence that I am qualified and can be a successful product developer. There were a few elements in the learning that enabled me to refresh my knowledge, but I also learned there were some gaps in my knowledge of building spec sheets. Since building a tech pack is an everyday task for a product developer, these skills will be a huge asset for my new role.

Any tips from the interview process you can share?

• Personality is huge, most companies seem to value this more than qualifications and experience.

• Fashion lingo gets used, so knowing what it means is important in order to answer questions.

• Have at least 4-5 strategic questions prepared. It’s not just for the answer, but to show the company that you care about certain topics or that you have a deep level of understanding.

• Be patient and don’t get discouraged. I applied to many roles with only a quarter of them asking me to interview - of those interviews, I received countless rejections.”

What are you most looking forward to in your new position?

Working for a brand with a greater purpose - Tentree is a tree planting company that makes clothes, not the other way around. I’m also excited to be part of a team where I can continue to learn and master my dream job.

Great advice Charlotte and congratulations! We can’t wait to check in as you progress through your new career.

Looking to growing within the industry? Check out the different pathways you can take to get into Product Development!

To learn more here about our Product Development & Manufacturing-Domestic & Overseas Program.