The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
To learn more about Musa Tariq's online education course, click here.
LONDON, United Kingdom — "Don't underestimate the power of a leader," says Musa Tariq, head of marketing at Airbnb and BoF's Build Your Dream Career course expert. "As you continue your journey, you have milestones to reach. So, you need to think about what it takes to become a manager."
In a recent McKinsey & Co survey, over 70 percent of more than 64,000 employees surveyed said they wanted to be promoted. However, less than 50 percent said their manager provides the resources that they need to succeed.
"Part of career growth is very dependent on the managers and leadership you have. It's important to find people who teach, who can be your coach," says Tariq, who was appointed to the C-Suite at Ford Motor Company as chief brand officer before the age of 35, following senior leadership roles at Burberry, Nike and Apple. "Having clarity and purpose in your job, knowing that you're reaching a destination, will provide you with a path and it will give your managers and bosses an example, or an expectation, that you have from your career."
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Indeed, changing employee demographics — and their impending characteristics — are disrupting the once linear career path. By 2020, millennials and Gen-Zs will account for the largest portion of the working population, and these employees place a far greater emphasis on career development opportunities than previous generations, according to BoF’s survey of over 10,000 students in 2017. Yet, this focus on professional development is somewhat hindered by millennials staying on average within a job for a maximum of three years, according to professional services company KPMG’s Meet the Millennials 2017 survey.
“The ideal path might not be perfect. So, there are opportunities to pivot. Look at in the eyes of that employer. What is it that they're looking for from you at that point in their career? What are the qualities that are needed? Is it leadership skills? Is it time and experience? At every single stage, those qualities will differ,” says Tariq.
“If you're in the right role and you know that you’ve got to be there for a couple of years, that's great. Hopefully, you're committed to that role and you have job satisfaction because you're on the right course. If you find yourself in a role that isn't quite getting you there, then there's an opportunity to either have a conversation with your manager or stopping and think about a new role that gets you closer.”
Here are the most exciting managerial opportunities available on BoF Careers:
SEO Manager, Farfetch — London, United Kingdom
Junior Email Marketing Manager, Zalando — Berlin, Germany
Project Manager Outlet EMEA, Calvin Klein — Amsterdam, Netherlands
Manager in Training (Mandarin Speaker), Louis Vuitton — London, United Kingdom
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Visual Merchandising Manager, Coach — New York, United States
Luxury Manager, The RealReal — Florida, United States
Social Media Manager, Macy's — New York, United States
HR Manager South East Asia, Valentino — Singapore
Discover the most exciting career opportunities now available on BoF Careers — including jobs from Gucci, Simone Rocha and Bloomingdale’s.
BoF spoke to HR executives and talent experts at Alexander McQueen, On and Deckers Brands — global employers currently recruiting on BoF Careers — to understand what skills are most relevant to the fashion industry and how to upskill in them in the workplace.
The nature of working in retail is changing at pace as the purpose of stores continues to evolve. BoF Careers examines how in-store employees can hone and develop their skill sets for success in retail or its adjacent industries, sharing expertise from retail leaders and fashion executives who began their careers on the shop floor.
A tailored recruitment service offering specialist support to secure top-tier talent for your open roles — from entry-level to C-suite positions across fashion, retail, luxury and beauty.