In this article, we will be sharing some of the questions with answers that you might be asked in your interview as an Image Consultant.
1. Why Are You Interested In This Role?
Fashion has always been my passion and I got a chance to mix it with my degree and that’s why I am here in this role. I am sure I can learn a lot in your company and I can provide great knowledge to coworkers as well. You also train your employees with relative pieces of training and seminars and I appreciate this aspect of this job.
2. What Are The Roles Of An Image Consultant?
The responsibilities include:
- Understanding of personal and professional goals of any client with meetings,
- Transforming the client’s image by assessing and improving the image, skills and behaviour as well.
- Arranging seminars and workshops as per the goals of an organization,
- Doing client publicity through social media, newspaper and magazine articles,
- Establish a good networking circle for a client,
- Provide consultancy and coaching to clients to improve their professional and personal image of the client,
- Ensure authentic and sustainable images for the client to adapt and
- Provide an efficient and effective environment for information for all clients.
3. What Are The Qualities That An Image Consultant Needs To Be Successful?
Apart from the certification, an image consultant should have certification in fashion design along with cosmetic science. He or she should have a few years of experience in the same field that presents both professional and personal portfolios. Under soft skills, an image consultant should have great communication skills including public speaking to have effective communication with the clients. He or she should be highly organized for all working schedules that help in staying top of work. An applicant should also have the fashion sense and knowledge of all the latest trends.
4. What Major Challenges Did You Face During Your Last Role? How Did You Manage Them?
In my previous role, my major challenge was time management because I was not getting enough time to research the trends and fashion industry updates. I shared my concern with my supervisor because I felt I would burn out soon due to a lot of pressure. She aligned a few tasks with me and asked me to lead the key projects and only supervise a few with the help of fellow junior consultants on board.
5. Describe Your Daily Routine As An Image Consultant?
It is a different routine every day so I cannot simply quote a routine. My day-to-day activities include appointments and meetings with potential clients. Before I begin my work, I always check my calendar to see what sort of tasks I have to finish today. As time passes by, I take styling consultations on board with my team and we set weekly goals so that there are no surprises in the end for anyone, especially when everyone wants to leave on time on Fridays.
Other activities include closet consultation and closet reviews that help in determining goals for every client. I also pre-shop the stores to place items on hold for the shopping day with the client. If my client wants to shop at home then I take merchandise out on approval. Once it is done, I photograph and upload images of the client’s existing and purchased clothing items to a virtual closet service that allows the stylist to style the images together and email the client for reference. I also style flat lays of individual and grouped products to upload to the clients’ virtual closets.
6. Describe Briefly About Your Experience?
I am in this field for 8 years now and my experience has been great. I have learned so much about fashion and styling after stepping into the professional world. I have met with great industry leaders and have gotten a chance to work with them as well. I am sure there is a lot to learn here as well.
7. What Kind Of Strategies And Mindset Are Required For This Role?
Creativity is the requirement. If one has a creative mind then there are great chances to excel in this role. I am a fast visual learner and I review a lot of things even while skimming the pages of a catalog. You need to experiment a lot to try different looks and check what will be the final product of your mood board.
8. What Is The Biggest Challenge You Foresee In This Job?
It is always customer service. As an expert, I sometimes feel that I should not let this challenge come in between the job I am doing because the client is dependent on all my expertise and skills. While completing every project, I always ask myself if they are going to stick to it for the next few years and is it something I would add to my portfolio too. One good consultation can bring 5 clients to me and if there is one bad project, I might lose 10!
9. How Do You Stay Motivated At Work?
I declutter my mind from time to time and make space for new ones so that I can add more variety to a mood board. I engage myself in a healthy routine to keep up my health in balance. To stay motivated, I am always trying to maintain a good balance between my professional and personal life.
10. Describe A Time You Failed In This Role And The Lesson You Learned?
I have learned a lot from my failures in this career. I cannot recall any specific incident but I have learned to maintain my composure when dealing with any client and they can ask any sort of professional question from me. If I don’t know the answer to their query, Instead of answering wrong, I should ask them to give me some time. I try to remain calm during all sorts of happening debates or discussions because I do understand customer service.
11. Why Do You Feel You Are Qualified For This Role?
I do believe that I am qualified for this role because I have professional experience and certifications to work in this field. I also have done amazing projects and have a good network in my capacity which gives me a chance to explore more options for my clients. I also hold a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing and management which gives me an extra brownie point for being familiar with the field. I am sure with your organization, I will be able to explore more folds of fashion in the international market as well as locally. I am excited to be able to work for your organization in my best capacity and assist in all future projects under your umbrella.
12. Share With Us Your Greatest Achievement
I have worked with several celebrities and recently got a chance to showcase my work for an upcoming music project i.e. Coke Studio. All artists have worked with me for this 16-episode-long project and I am very excited about this launch. It will be the greatest achievement of my work to date and I plan to take up more projects like these after this launch because I am ready for more!
13. How Do You Find Your Client’s Unique Style?
I am a firm believer in developing their style rather than asking them to follow what everyone is following. In my meetings with the client, I go through different fashion magazines and catalogs and mark what they like. This helps in knowing their preferences and the style they are comfortable in. Once I can recognize their style, I add it to their style and then create a mood board for them. I also follow Pinterest for this matter.
14. You Have A Client Who Needs Help In Getting Some Wardrobe For Their First Job. What Will You Add To Their Wardrobe?
Per my knowledge, I have seen that the business wardrobe has gone more casual in the past few years but the professional look is always added. For a woman, I would add a jacket or a blazer to their wardrobe. These two have proven to be great for a professional wardrobe and add a lot to the first impressions at work. I would also add a few collared shirts and some pairs of pants that flatter the physique and are highly comfortable moving around.
15. What Is The Fitting Colour In The Wardrobe?
For example, if there is too much black in your wardrobe then it is essential to add some fitting colors like navy, and chocolate brown that is neutral colors and have an almost similar color tone as compared to black. These muted colors are perfect for a general wardrobe if you are working but for parties and dinners, one can add pink and neon colors to add little life to style.
16. How Do You Make Work Outfits More Interesting?
If there is an excessive solid color in the wardrobe then I would add a little pattern through a scarf or a jacket. I would add simple accessories to the outfit like small earrings or a delicate bracelet or a nice watch. Accessories always make outfits interesting and help in achieving your style as well. I usually consult Pinterest to jot down a few accessories for work outfits to match the client’s requirements.
17. What Will Be Your Advice For People Who Feel Overwhelmed While Shopping At Fashion Stores?
My suggestion is always to do purpose shopping instead of being carried away in awe. Before going out shopping, have a look at your wardrobe and know what you need so that you do not make any impulse purchase. One can also have a look at their style files before going for shopping to understand what exactly they need for their wardrobe.
18. What’s Your Recommendation – Online Shopping Or Going To The Mall?
I recommend going to the mall at least once because fittings and sizes can only be known once you try the dress. Also, fittings vary from brand to brand so once you know the brand size; you can easily choose online shopping. Brands also have an easy return policy that you can use for online shopping.
19. What Skills Are Essential For An Image Consultant?
There is no hard and fast rule in this industry but it also does not mean that anyone can become a consultant overnight. To have credibility in the industry, a few pieces of training and certifications are essential. In my opinion, the following skills are essential :
- Consultation and Analysis of Colors,
- Personal Shopping with Styling,
- Wardrobe Makeover and Review
- Consultation with the clients,
- Business and social ethics,
- Interpersonal Skills,
- Communication Skills,
- Public Speaking including presentation skills.
20. In Your Point Of View, What Are The Three Common Mistakes Made By Celebrities For Image Consultation?
Most people in this industry do not hire an image consultation in the early stages of their careers. They hire us when hit the spotlight and Google Search History is really bad when it comes to past. I always suggest everyone hire in the early stage.
The second most common mistake is that clients think that they can handle their image as well as their career but it is important to know that today’s social media world is brutal and can make a mockery in seconds. Taking professional advice is always good when you are aiming for success in your career.
Thirdly, Clients do not do research before hiring an image consultant. Research deeply about the client’s consultant has handled and does he understands your requirement too. Via Online searches, you will come across a lot of information related to their work experience and it will surely help you in finding the right one for you.
21. What Ethics Are Important In This Industry?
In my opinion, it’s integrity! You are dealing with popular people who have a lot of audiences who follow them so indirectly they are following your work. I would not copy someone’s style to fit someone else into it. I do believe in my talent and it is unethical to copy someone else and it is one of the biggest mistakes a consultant can make!
22. Share Your Favourite Trend In The Fashion Industry, Past Or Current?
I have always been fond of trends from the 1970s. There were clean designs and simple patterns that made any person stand out. I try to incorporate the elements from time to time in my work while taking new clients on board or introducing something new to an existing client. I believe it was a decent era of fashion where a lot could be explored with innovation. The current fashion is lacking it.
23. How Do You Rate Your Persuasion Skills To Convince A Client To Add A Specific Fashion Into Their Style?
I always make sure that I understand where they are coming from. I analyze their refusal in feeling in their shoes and why they are unsure about the fashion I am offering. I professionally remind them that I am here to help them and reduce their chances of risk in their role. I also highlight the importance of products and plans that I am offering with facts and figures. I believe 2 to 3 personal meetings with clients help me in persuasion.
24. How Do You Handle Criticism?
Since the initial days, I make sure that I do not take any criticism or rejection to my heart at all. One has to face a lot of No’s to get a Yes from a client and that’s the beauty of this job. A rejection of my plan is a not No to me but a plan. I make sure that I incorporate all sorts of feedback in my next pitch so that it improves my technique too. I take it as a lesson moving forward and do not hesitate to re-doing my pitch.
25. What Is Your Strength In This Role?
For my strengths, I am good at negotiating and communication skills. I use these strengths in locking mood boards with the clients and helping them in sticking to their fashion sense. I make time to check with them even after they hire to inform and remind them that I am here to assist them for the longest period.
I am also always trying to attend a few training at least once a month to stay updated about the current fashion trend situation in this field. Fashion and style understanding always assist in this role and it is important to have that edge. I like attending seminars and training conducted by my professionals in this industry because it gives me a chance to connect with a lot of experts in the field.
Conclusion
Dress well for your interview and take your updated resume in a hard copy with you. Smile as you greet the interviewer and be confident as you answer their questions. These 25 questions are surely going to help in acing the first round of interviews as an Image Consultant. Good luck!
