Ok so I have the interview of my dreams on Tuesday at a costume company near me! I'm fairly confident in my skills.... but I'm self taught not traditionally trained. I was wondering if any fashion/design people out there know what I sewing test might consist of? Up until this point I've just done my own stuff and the occasional commission for a friend so I've never had to think about it before.

i don't know anything about the field.
but good luck with your interview! ^^
i really hope you get the job!

*omg* Congrats! That's so exciting! I'm self taught, I usually do things in smaller scale or ridiculously a lot, doll clothes and then things like kimonos and cloaks. *lol*

I wonder. They might ask you about specific stitches, and about how to use certain machines - since usually you would work with more than one for a complete professional piece. At least this is what mom mentioned when she went for an interview at a costume place for some bit theater.

Thanks guys ^.^. Yeah I have a nervous kind of excitement. The guy on the phone didn't seem too deterred that I was self taught and I guess if I don't know how to use a certain piece of equipment they could always look at it as they could teach me their way and I don't have any bad habits to break. My home machine has an insane range of stitches, it doesn't embroider but it does pretty much everything else. Hopefully the weekend goes super fast and the interview day gets here quickly. In the meantime I'm making a new skirt for the occasion.

Make sure you have some sort of portfolio ready, just in case. If you haven't shown them one already, they'll likely want to see what you've done so far so they can judge your level of skill. I wouldn't make it a huge extravagant thing, but get together a small book of photos of some of your creations that you're most pleased with.

Best of luck and I hope you make it!

As long as your work is quality you should be fine, all I can suggest is confidence. The more confident you seem about your work the more capable you will sound. They won't want anyone who doesn't sound like they know what to do.

Yea, my mom has a whole separate machine for embroidery. If this doesn't work you, you should totally look into a class or institute that will "teach" you and give you a certificate or degree or some sort. You should also look into maybe an internship. Some places even pay, but the experience is a really big plus.
I wish you the best of luck, and I hope this turns out right for you !

if you have complete confidence in yourself and beleive you can do it, then you have a good chance .good luck with the interview :)

you deff sound confident, and that is the key

. ^. I wont lie - for a job like that, confidence is not the key, but it is a key. Material/Portfolio - what you have to show them is also very much a key (maybe more important), and depending on the place, experience (usually professional experience of a sort. Be it an internship, previous job, freelance.)

They also, most importantly like people they can rely on. The confidence can help in this respect - like be confident that you can be flexible with ability/time with them.

something you should think about is, are they looking for someone who already knows what they are doing or are they willing to train you. This will make a big difference in how you want to approach. You'll still want to show them the skills you already have but if they are willing to do some training then you will want to express a willingness and desire to learn.

I sent them what I have as far as pictures go of items I've done with my resume. Working on something I am finishing up right now actually to the interview... just need to finish hemming it. I have done a bit of commission work so I guess that would count as freelance. I think pretty much every business has to be willing to train to a point... just because all machines work just a little bit differently. I'll try to get a good picture of the skirt I'm finishing up tomorrow and post it. Thanks for all of the advice guys!

No problem !
Some industries do train, and maybe show quick schematics on how to use the equipment. Especially if it's custom equipment. If that's what you mean, then yea, I would think the same as you do about that.

=D I hope you get this job! It's so much awesome being able to get into an industry that you like much =]

Not looking great for the job just based on statistics... 4 days worth of interviews to fill 2 spots but at least it was a good learning experience. I did get my skirt finished though which makes me happy! And as promised here is a picture. It is just a little rumply here because I promptly came home and fell asleep since I was unable to sleep most of last night.