I’ve freelanced for VS in the past. I was on the huge Pink Cad team. We all made the same rate, no matter the experience. It was financially painful, to be sitting with persons straight out of school, making the same rate. Even the person in charge was a freelance. This was VS at its height on 54th and bway. I ultimately had to abruptly leave due to new opportunities.
I am now being offered an opportunity to come back to cover mat leave. There are still 3 month contracts. They are using multiple agencies, as I was called by 4 different, non solely fashion, recruiters. It just feels scammy, again. Thoughts!
I also keep getting contacted by kind of strange recruiters recruiting for Victoria’s Secret contract roles. The roles are mostly product development roles and are 3-6 months time frame.
There are several recruitment firms that are culling job postings from various places and then scrolling thru LinkedIn for potential candidates. An organization like VS that has multiple open positions is ripe for this type of “recruiting”. I have been contacted many times by two recruitment companies that are not the agencies that VS normally uses (as a former employee, I know!), and even tho I have told them to stop they keep on calling me! Fashion is not their usual area of expertise, so they are just doing anything they can to try and get a commission. However, beware of submitting a resume to any potential employer through multiple recruiters because you will muddy the waters as to which one should get the comission. Also, VS has resorted to only hiring on short contracts for many departments- (and at a pay rate -at least for the positions I am contacted for-that is really low for the level of skill they want) in order to get around having to give the normal benefits and save $. Shame on them for contributing to the race to the bottom.
That said, if you are able to land a normal full-time position at VS, the benefits are good and they do promote from within. You will have access to an amazing network of people. Just be aware of the internal politics and be kind to everyone, because you never know who will become your next manager!
This is exactly what I needed to hear and thank you.
I have never had a recruiter send texts, emails, and call at all hours, and it feels very scammy. They all want you to sign something saying you can only work for them, and yes the no benefits hourly pay is very low. I did meet with the Design Director, but I feel like I am being stalked by recruiter. I was asked: how long does it take to do a tech pack? and how long does it take to sketch? which are odd questions, for a recruiter.
I would love to work at vs full time, but this no benefits 3 months with possibility of more is a turn off. and its odd to use these agencies. And today I see more agencies up there, they all have the same company description, so I know its VS:
USA Tech Solutions, Russel Tobin, ProTeam Solutions, Rose International, Swoon International
@yneedsajob this industry has really turned for the worse. that Design Director should just type it out on chat gpt and if timing is needed they should hire off shore people from upwork or something and pay what they want $5 a tech pack.
You can add to the list: Panzer Solutions, Ztech Consulting, BayOne Solutions, US Tech Solutions, Horizontal Talent, and Pyramid Consulting. Some that call themselves “Global Talent Resources” are actually based in India. Some may be recruiters for clerical positions or low-level IT, but I don’t believe they have established recruitment relationships with VS for anything in the fashion design arena. They are all operating like old-fashioned boiler rooms, cold-calling to drum up sales.