Recruiter Interview – Christina Gianino Kadirov

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
CGK: I’m originally from Saint Louis, MO and I moved to NYC after graduation to pursue a career in the fashion industry. I currently work as a Senior Account Manager/Recruiter at Fourth Floor, where I’ve worked for almost 4 years. Some may call me a workaholic, but I’m honestly just passionate about what I do. I can’t get enough of it!

Q: How did you get into recruiting?
CGK: Like many recruiters, I pretty much fell into it. When I moved to NYC, I wasn’t sure what path I wanted to take. During my undergrad, I completed multiple internships in various areas of the industry such as Wholesale and Production which allowed me to see completely different aspects of the industry but I still wasn’t sure which direction I wanted to go in. Upon relocating to NYC, I scheduled a meeting with Fourth Floor for placement assistance at a brand, but they ended up hiring me on the spot to work internally!

Q: Tell us about Fourth Floor
CGK: We’re a boutique staffing firm that specializes in direct-hire, fulltime, temporary, and freelance placements for corporate and retail roles.

Q: Why would a fashion industry job seeker want to work at Fourth Floor?
CGK: We’re a close-knit, collaborative team and we’re passionate about what we do. While it may be a competitive industry, we work as a cohesive unit and strive to see everyone succeed as a whole. As an agency recruiter, you receive candidates with a wide array of skills that can be transferrable to Sales, Marketing, Social Media and Human Resources. As long as you come with the passion, drive, work-ethic and positive attitude it takes to be successful, the possibilities are endless for growth at Fourth Floor.

Q: Tell us about the hiring process at Fourth Floor
CGK: To be considered for an in-house Account Manager/Recruiter position at Fourth Floor, a candidate would interview with multiple members of the team, management and, potentially our President.

Q: What types of fashion industry positions do you recruit for?
CGK: We staff a variety of positions in Design, Merchandising, Planning, Logistics, Wholesale, Accounting, Marketing/PR, Ecommerce, and Project Management, just to name a few.

Q: What sources do you use the most to find fashion industry talent?
CGK: Running Linkedin searches is my favorite hobby! In addition to personal referrals, we also receive many applicant resumes from job boards such as StyleCareers, Monster, etc.

Q: What are some common misconceptions job seekers have about your job?
CGK: That we’re located on the 4^th floor.

Q: What should job seekers know about your job as a recruiter?
CGK: The job is addicting and truly rewarding. Not only does it feel amazing when a candidate receives an offer, but knowing that we are changing the candidate’s life by helping them land a new position is a great feeling.

Also, every day is different! While I love checking tasks off my to-do list, it is important to be flexible and aware of your priorities. I know that I have to be ready for anything. My whole day could be changed in a moment if a more urgent job opening arises that needs my immediate attention.

Q: What’s the craziest thing a job seeker has ever said to you?
CGK:  It’s probably way too inappropriate to mention on here.

Q: What’s the most inappropriate thing you’ve seen on a resume?
CGK: This is a tough one. Let’s just say, I recommend not putting photographs on your resume.

Q: What advice do you have for younger job seekers?
CGK: Be open to freelance and temporary positions after you graduate. Of course fulltime and direct-hire positions are most likely your ultimate goal upon graduation, but freelancing is a great way to get your foot in the door with leading brands. Not only do you receive valuable resume-building experience, but it is a great opportunity to network with individuals in the industry. Plus, depending on the specific opportunity, you never know what it could turn into if it is a great fit.

Q: What advice do you have for older job seekers?
CGK: Stay in touch with the current trends in the industry. This includes making yourself a vital asset by taking classes on new and up and upcoming software and systems that are commonly utilized within your field, staying up-to-date on digital and social media trends, or just reading up on the direction that the industry is headed.

Q: What are some common mistakes fashion industry job seekers make during the job search process? 
CGK: We’ve definitely seen it all, but these are a few that immediately come to mind:

1. Listing careless spelling and grammar mistakes on resumes and correspondence.
2. Dressing inappropriately on interviews. We always recommend to try to dress with the company’s aesthetic in mind, but in a business-appropriate manner. To be safe, we always recommend wearing black or neutral, professional, and modest attire. I also recommend wearing LOW heels or flat shoes, and shoulder-covering top, and minimal jewelry and makeup if you choose to wear any.
3. Not doing thorough research on a brand. Be sure to review the brand’s current products, look up recent news articles about the company, and research their competitors.

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