'We are looking for self-learners, people who want to immerse themselves in the fashion world, to learn all they can about the latest trends and the brands we carry.'

Many of those 300 jobs have been filled, but there are still openings on the books.

'We still have some frontline positions available, particularly for experienced sales staff who can oversee a department or a smaller unit, say a group of brands. We are also looking for people in the buying department and for customer relations personnel.'

The store started its recruitment drive in June in what Ms Fan described as a fiercely competitive market. It was an employee market and, with lots of openings available in Hong Kong at the time, finding the best candidates was hard.

'But at Harvey Nichols, we are looking for very different people, different even from those we hire at Seibu.'

Everybody in the 60,000 sqft, grade-A shopping emporium, from the security staff on the front door to the back-office clerk, is expected to know the products and what is going on in the store, Ms Fan said.

'A customer should be able to ask anyone a question and get an educated answer. Even the doorman should be able to tell you where to find hats and gloves or handbags.'

Harvey Nichols frontline staff have to do more than just bone up on brands in their spare time. They are expected to demonstrate this knowledge every day on the shop floor.

A large part of the job was discussing fashion trends and colour schemes with customers, who were mainly fashion leaders and the extremely fashion-conscious, Ms Fan said.

'Of course, the ultimate goal is to make a sale. But if the salesperson doesn't present a product as a fashion product, then we will be losing the Harvey Nichols touch.

'It's not about a hard sell, it's about telling the customer the whole story. It's having the knowledge and aptitude to guide a customer from, say, the dress section to the bag, scarf and jewels that make up a look,' she said.

To help them in their role of 'fashion ambassador', frontline staff received intensive training on brands before the store opened. Now the store is up and running, staff attend daily briefings, receive product training and are drilled regularly on brands.

They have access to fashion videos and magazines, and fashion buyers and store managers, with whom they can discuss the season's offerings.

Being able to speak English and Putonghua helps to secure candidates a job in the store. This is to cater for the many non-Chinese customers and the growing number of mainland shoppers.

With all the interpersonal skills and fashion knowledge involved in the job, it would be easy to think Harvey Nichols is looking only for people with years of sales experience in a high-level fashion environment. This, however, is not the case.

'We have gone out of our way to employ fresh graduates. They can have a degree in any subject but, of course, they must have the language skills and be ready to immerse themselves in the fashion world,' Ms Fan said.

There are three main career areas at Harvey Nichols. Buyers work in the back office and rise up through the ranks. Operations people tend to start on the floor and move into a specialist area such as HR or marketing. And the core management team comprises those who have excelled on the floor and moved up the ladder.

The people who tended to do best were those who pursued a career in an area they were passionate about, Ms Fan said.

'They must have the stamina for the job and, of course, the passion for fashion because, without it, the job would be really tedious.'

Are you in vogue?

Living, eating and breathing fashion is a must.

Do not wait to be told. Get on the internet and learn everything you can about the brands.

Love thy neighbour. Commission is awarded on a department basis so team skills are the key to a lucrative career.

Make the store your business. Immerse yourself in what is going on and what sells.

Speak the language and understand the art of product presentation.

Pick your career niche and pursue it passionately.