So this post really is going to live up to being like a
diary. Here are my thoughts and experiences of trying to explore my future
career, and an exciting new idea I would like to share with you all!
Many of you may know that fashion buying is something that
I’ve been trying to get into since finishing university in June. In the fashion
world, getting a job in any sector is never easy, unless you are very lucky or
extremely unique and talented. For nearly a year I have focused on this single
career option, working my CV, work experience and portfolio around buying. Now
I have realised this isn’t the best idea.
So I have applied for countless vacancies for Buyer’s Admin
Assistants, filled in a number of applications, racked my brain when writing
cover letters and sent a great number of emails, with no luck. Recently I had
started my applications for the Graduate Buying Schemes at M&S and Tesco.
For those of you thinking of going for them, good luck to you, but keep in mind
that they are so hard to even pass the initial stages. I encountered the
numerical and verbal tests for the first time, and boy are they hard. I mean, I
felt like I needed a degree to actually answer some of those questions. After
hours of practise questions and the final test, I finished feeling disappointed
and a bit down, and that’s something to do with my issues with failure. It’s a
terrible feeling when you don’t do as well as you wanted, or you’re not good
enough, but in a couple of days you learn to pick yourself up and carry on.
The next opportunity for me came with a telephone interview
for the Tesco grad scheme (telephone interviews are horrible by the way). This
was another disappointment for me as it really could have gone better. I blame
my terrible nervousness and my tendencies to go blank due to the previous.
Another let down, but with that came an open mind and a box that I began to
think outside of.
The realisation of how ridiculous settling for one job was
appeared like the sun through the clouds. It was time to keep my options open
and think of the many other opportunities that are available, not just in
fashion, but in life. I am the kind of person that wants to do so many things
in life; I need excitement and new prospects quite regularly. This was the
point where I spent about two hours (when I should have been asleep) thinking
of crazy new things that I could do and try.
In terms of fashion, taking my interest of blogging and
writing forward would be something I would love to do, but I always dismissed
it thinking that without an English or Journalism degree it would be
impossible. In all honesty, I am probably just as likely to get into fashion
writing as I am into buying. So what the hell, I’m applying for lots more jobs,
thinking about internships and finding new things to learn to improve my
skills. A month or so ago I also started writing articles for the website www.writeonstyle.com, so take a look as
it’s full of talented writers and bloggers with some great style info. The experience
from this could help me in future opportunities, and generally it’s something
that I enjoy doing.
With the light bulb moment of realisation came a new
exciting idea for my blog, which I am glad to tell you all about now!
Within my blog, I’m starting up a little question zone where
all my blog fans can send in questions about anything fashion related. The
Secret Diary is opening its covers to find answers for your fashion history
questions, trend queries and your fashion problems needing advice. I call it my
‘No more secrets’ fashion clinic. Every week I will try my hardest to answer
all of your questions and put them in a blog post for all to see.
So for any questions you may have, you can send me an email
at secretdiaryofafashionstudent@gmail.com
or tweet me.
Trying something new is great, and it gives you a confidence
boost when you need it. Don’t let job issues get you down; keep your options
open and try something different. Don’t give up on what you want to do, just
think of the million and one other things that might be perfect for you and go
get it!
