1. Model interview questions part 1:
☛ Tell us about yourself: Why do you want to work as a model? Why are you interested in this career?
☛ Tell us about your education: Have you attended fashion modeling courses? What related courses or studies have you taken?
☛ Why would you think you're fit to be a model?
☛ What are your goals as a model? How do you see yourself progress in this field?
☛ What do you know about the advertisement industry, advertising psychology and photography?
☛ How do you communicate with people? Are you patient? Are you friendly? How open are you to clients' requirements?
☛ Do you eat nutritiously? How often do you exercise or go to the gym?
☛ What do you hope to accomplish at our modeling agency?
☛ Do you have any limitations? Would you model any kind of clothing at all?
☛ State your availability: would you travel? Work full-time, part time? Any hours?
2. Model interview questions part 2:
☛ Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
☛ Tell me about an important issue you encountered recently?
☛ What are you expecting from this firm in the future?
☛ How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
☛ What are three positive character traits you don't have?
☛ Have you done this kind of work before?
☛ How would you describe your work style?
☛ Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
☛ Example when you went above and beyond the call of duty?
☛ Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
3. Model interview questions part 3:
☛ How would you describe the experience of working here?
☛ How do you react to instruction and criticism?
☛ When given an important assignment, how do you approach it?
☛ What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
☛ What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
☛ Tell me about your proudest achievement?
☛ What were the responsibilities of your last position?
☛ How would you weigh a plane without scales?
☛ What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
☛ Give some examples of teamwork?
4. Model interview questions part 4:
☛ How do you think you can make a contribution to this company?
☛ How did you handle meeting a tight deadline?
☛ Which subjects did you enjoy during your qualifying degree?
☛ What would make you happy in a job?
☛ What relevant experience do you have?
☛ Do you have the qualities and skills necessary to succeed in your career?
☛ Describe a recent unpopular decision you made?
☛ What major challenges and problems did you face?
☛ What do you think this position involves?
☛ What's most important to you in a new position?
5. Modeling interview questions part 5:
☛ What has been your most successful experience in speech making?
☛ Time when you made a suggestion to improve the work?
☛ Who else have you applied to/got interviews with?
☛ How do you see your job relating to the overall goals?
☛ What do you believe are your key strengths?
☛ What can you do for us that other candidates cant?
☛ Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with?
☛ Give an example of a time you successfully worked on a team?
☛ How do you decide what gets top priority when scheduling your time?
☛ What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?
6. Modeling interview questions part 6:
☛ What made you decide to pursue a career in fashion?
☛ What do you consider the most important facets of the fashion industry?
☛ What do you think are the current and future trends in fashion?
☛ How do you think your education has prepared you to work in fashion?
☛ Define "Fashion"?
☛ What were your daily tasks at [Fashion Company]?
☛ How do you handle stress?
7. Modeling interview questions part 7:
☛ How comfortable are you working hands on with models and designers?
☛ What qualifies you for a career in fashion over other candidates?
☛ Do you consider yourself a people person?
☛ How do you handle conflict?
☛ How would you describe your personal style?
☛ Where would you like your career in fashion to lead you?
☛ How would you deal with an arrogant client?
8. Modeling interview questions part 8:
☛ What hobbies do you have that relate to the fashion industry?
☛ You will have to explain why you and fashion go together?
☛ You will have to answer a variety of standard interview questions?
☛ Portfolios and resumes play much more of a role in most of these interviews?
9. Model interview question part 9:
☛ How would you describe your professional interests?
☛ What's your background in modeling? When and why did you get started? Was it for the glamour? The money? Pure kicks?
☛ Who are some of your favorite models and designers, and why?
☛ Which fashion magazines, websites, blogs, and catalogs do you visit most often?
☛ What's your fashion mantra?
☛ How would you describe your style? Consider anything and everything from color to historical eras and more?
☛ Where do you generally shop?
10. Model interview question part 10:
☛ What other modeling projects have you done? Could you provide links?
☛ Out of all of the photos the photographer took of you, which is your favorite and why?
☛ What makes [your city's] fashion unique?
☛ Do you have any other experience in the fashion industry (writing, photography, marketing, etc.)?
☛ What is fun and rewarding about modeling?
☛ What do you dislike about modeling?
☛ What advice do you have for other aspiring models?
11. Model interview question part 11:
☛ How do you prepare for a modeling shoot?
☛ How would you describe working with the photographer?
☛ What makes a stylish lady or man? Is there a difference?
☛ How would you describe the photographer's style?
☛ What comments do you have about frugal fashion-smart or petty?
☛ Who are some of your favorite fashion photographers? (They do not have to be famous.)
☛ What does fashion mean to you?
12. Model interview question part 12:
☛ What distinguishes a good model from a bad one?
☛ What distinguishes a good photograph from a bad one?
☛ What are some things you dislike/hate about the fashion industry?
☛ What makes [your city] a good shopping city? How could [your city's] shopping be improved?
☛ What are some other cities you think provide good/great shopping experiences?
☛ How has modeling changed other aspects of your life?
☛ Do you do your own hair and make-up?
13. Model interview question part 13:
☛ What are some of the main differences between runway and photographic modeling?
☛ What was the premise for the shoot you did with the photographer?
☛ What's your favorite outfit in this set of photos?
☛ What's your favorite outfit from your own closet? Do you have your own personal uniform?
☛ Describe the atmosphere when you're on a shoot. Do you play music? Do you talk with the photographer between shots?
☛ Anything else you'd like to say?
☛ Tell us about yourself: Why do you want to work as a model? Why are you interested in this Career? What led you to apply for this job?
14. Model interview question part 14:
☛ Tell us about your education? What languages do you speak? Have you attended fashion modeling courses? What courses have you taken?
☛ Why would you think you're fit for being a model?
☛ What are your goals as a model? How do you see yourself progress in this field?
☛ What do you know about the advertisement industry, advertising psychology and photography?
☛ How do you communicate with people? Are you patient? Are you friendly? How open are you to clients' requirements?
☛ What is your nutrition? How often do you go to the gym? Do you practice constantly?
☛ What do you hope to accomplish at our modeling agency?
☛ What are you likes and dislikes?
☛ What is your availability? Traveling? Full-time, part time? hours?
15. I am thinking of starting a modeling agency, do you have any advice?
The first is a matter of knowing if you are a modeling agency, a model management firm or a modeling school. A modeling agency finds works for models. This can range for any type of runway (mall shows, tea room shows, fashion runway, department shows), photo shoots (fashion and commercial print) commercial acting, and personal appearance (auto show, samplers). In some states and agency is considered to be an employment agency and must meet all of the state laws and regulation for this type of business. Many businesses try to avoid this by calling themselves modeling management firm and their role is to work with independent contractors or businesses (the model) to develop their career and business and to put them in contact with firms that need their services. The last business form is a school. With a school the purpose is to train and prepare an individual for a career in modeling and not to find them work. Where I think a lot of folks go wrong is thinking these are all the same and not writing a business plan base on one of these types of businesses.
16. Why is everyone giving different advice on modeling?
Remember the story of the three blind men describing an elephant? One man felt the trunk, another felt the tail, and the third felt the leg. Each had a different description of what the elephant was like. The modeling industry is the same way. The modeling industry is big and has many specialty areas. What I have experienced is quite different from what fashion photographer has experienced. And what he has experienced is quite different from what glamour photographer has. And what we all have experienced is quite different from what the modeling agencies are going to tell you.
Another thing that leads to different views on the industry is that we are all small business people, each one running his/her own business in as many unique ways, and hopefully better than the competition. This leads to a lot of different ideas about how things work and how things should be done. It can also lead to confusion and presents opportunities for con artists. Since there is no set way to become a model, it leaves the door open for the "expert" to "guarantee" to make you a top model for only a small, non-refundable fee. Watch out and try to educate yourself on the many areas of the modeling industry.
I have never personally been to one of these events (nor are any of them asking me to come and check them out) and I have not seen any 60 Minutes type of journalistic investigation on them. I have looked over their web sites and I have seen endless chat-rooms that call these events the biggest rip-offs out there. I don't know of any top models that have come out of conventions and searches, although I do know of one TV actress discovered at IMTA. What I do know is that for the money some of these organizations charge, you could fly to New York, stay for week, and do open calls at every top agency in the city. Personally, I don't feel that they are a very good investment. There are better ways to get discovered.
18. Can a modeling agency tell just from a snap shot if I have what it takes to be a model?
First the YES part. Reviewing snapshots of potential models is a normal screening practice used by modeling agencies. You send them a couple of snapshots of yourself, usually a head-and-shoulder shot and a full-length body shot in a bathing suit or tight clothes. Some say they can tell from these snapshots whether you have what it takes for modeling.
You should send good, clear, properly exposed, properly composed photographs in which you are properly positioned. They can use these photos as a screening tool. This means that if there is an opening for someone with your look, the agency will be interested in meeting with you in person to see if, in fact, you look like your picture. This does not necessarily mean that you have or do not have what it takes to be a model. It just gets you an interview and maybe on to a test shoot.
You hear about the fabulous big money that supermodels make, but only a handful of models in the world ever achieve this kind of income, which can be in the millions. Most models earn far less, assuming they get any work at all. Modeling fees for markets outside of New York, as a general rule will be in the same range as a photographer's fees. For example, in Portland, Oregon, when I last checked, modeling agencies fees were $150 an hour. As you move to larger markets fees for photographers and models go up (one agency in New York was asking $250 per hour).While you may not have the income of an elite supermodel, you can make a good living if you can find steady work. And that is a big "if".
20. Are there jobs for models who specialize in just parts of the body?
Yes. It has been my experience that models that have photogenic faces and bodies do not necessarily have photogenic hands and feet. Hand models, for example, are difficult to find and frequently a photographer uses one model for the face while another model's hands may be reaching into the picture. Of course the photographer makes it look like one person, but in fact there are two. Jewelry photographers look for good hands, a nice neck, and photogenic ears. As with hands, good ears are hard to find, as they must have the right shape, with smooth skin, and pierced for only one earring, not five. Paying jobs for modeling jewelry, however, seldom come along. Body-parts models follow career paths similar to regular models. If you are interested in this type of modeling, be sure to read through the Modeling Advice section of this site.
21. What are the height and size requirements for a high fashion model?
This is the burning question. The general guidelines for women are height 5'9" to 6', around size 6, 34B-24-34, and 14-21 years of age (more details). For men the guidelines are height around 6' (a couple of inches over or under), size 40R. Are there exceptions to this? You bet. Is it fair? No. Are there petite sizes and plus sizes? Yes. Do commercial, glamour, acting, or smaller markets care anything about these sizes? Not much. Only if you want to work high fashion in the major markets like New York are these numbers important.
22. How do I get started in Modeling?
There is no single path to follow for getting started. Different models have found success through different routes. If you want to become a doctor, for example, there is a set course of schooling, experience, and testing to follow. But for a career in modeling, there is no clear path. Some of the ways that I know models have gotten started in the past are listed below. Although it is by no means an exhaustive list, it might help you launch your
☛ career in modeling.
☛ Front Door - Go to the Source
☛ Know Someone
☛ The Fates
☛ Hard work
☛ Try to Buy Success
