My apologies for the ridiculous lack of blogging lately...sadly I've been rather preoccupied with revision, assignments, Passover (that's right) and Placement hunting...Which bring's me onto this blog.
As I stare endlessly at my laptop screen in a desperate attempt to source a placement that doesn't involve making tea and coffee or requires years of experience, I start to think when will I get my break?
I chose this image above as a representative of how I want to see myself in 10 years time; Successful, Independent, out there in the Big City and well, surrounded by clothes! (I'm sure you can see where I'd like to be roughly...)
'How!?' I ask myself, 'do these women have it all!?' In a competitive industry where its make or break, you can't help but wonder if you have the potential to make it out there at all. As part of my degree I have agreed to do a sandwich route, this means instead of going straight in to my final year I will be taking a year out to work in the fashion industry to gain experience and knowledge of it all first hand. The catch however? To actually get in. It's like applying for a job, as I swim in the sea of 1000's upon 1000's of applicants in a desperate attempt to grab the bait, I start to question what others have that some don't.
Experience as we all know is the key, getting it however? Well that's where I struggle. I've spent a good year or so now wanting to work in retail (not just for the money or experience) but mainly down to wanting to learn about it from a different perspective; my course has provided me with a rough insight into this but its not enough for some company's. The irony is, to even gain experience in shops you need to have experience! But for the majority of us that's the issue, we don't and cant get it without them!
I have considered possible internships where you dont get paid, but the majority I've researched are all London based for a number of weeks, for a student who is currently living in Manchester with a Sunday job and her loan to get by this wasn't an option for me (and no I dont have family there to live off). So I'm back to square one really.
As I research into other potential fashion jobs, Online seems to be the way forward. This however is just a small step into the fashion world. The placements my University have offered all have potential and opportunities some of us would kill for! As I click 'Yes' or submit my CV and covering letter off with hope, I later discover I havent made the interview listings. Naturally some are expected others however are just plain irritating.
I've seen friends off my course get placements, (who I'm obviously happy for) but as I sit here and continue to search the internet for potential opportunities a part of me is loosing faith. In an industry with so many sections why do we feel limited? Fashion is a growing sector in the economy, as an international business getting there however is just another hurdle. I wont give up without a fight though, whatever happens comes September I can say I tried, and hope something pops up along the way.
My message is clear, the fashion companies know how demanding this industry is. Why limit your choices? The vast majority of students with lack of experience make up for this with passion, drive and commitment. The sort of thing on our CV's which can only be expressed with a word limit.
I ask you all to delve further into the fashion student's minds and see it from our perspective, unpaid internships and lack of opportunities give some of us little hope after University.
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