How times change

I wrote this little exert back in May when I had just finished Uni, had no job, living in Jersey and was feeling pretty sorry for myself. I am now living and working in London, for a major designer, with so many exciting opportunities and projects coming up. Looking back on this has really made me appreciate how lucky I am to be in the position I'm in now. Its funny how times change isn't it?!

"Right now its may, which means the hoards of newly grads are going to haul themselves back to the island any minute and snap up every available job going. The good ones get the best roles first, and then what’s left for the rest of us is pretty slim pickings, so I’m attempting to act fast.

As you can probably tell, I’ve had no luck as of yet, although I think I’m punching a bit above my weight as I refuse to go back to shop floors, and I hope I’m not the only one struggling.

As soon as I say Fashion in an interview people tend to switch off before they even let me finish with marketing. "Oh, I suppose you want to be working for Chanel with the fancy bags and the fashion shows or a pretty magazine." Well, no. My course involved logistics, accountancy, internationalization, the economy, consumer behaviour, however all anyone ever hears, is dresses, shoes, designers. It was no easy feat. 

As much as it’s a dream of mine, I highly doubt I’m the next Carrie Bradshaw, mainly because she’s fictional, and also because that’s a dream. We are all encouraged to dream, it gives us goals. But the reality is, most of us are destined to be the next admin assistant in the photocopying cupboard saving for months for that amazing trip or a gap yah.  I’m also way too cynical, as this rant might have already shown, which is why I can look at the people who say “chin up” and “dream big” but the reality is, if you want something you have to work for it, so I guess I should stop complaining and get to it, because although I might get stuck making little penguins out of blue tac, its experience at the end of the day, and I should be grateful for any sort of job.

What makes it worse is that, whilst sitting at home, perfecting my eBay selling skills (not one to put on the CV) and watching the dreaded day time TV, my Facebook newsfeed is filled with the lucky ones who’ve managed to nab their dream jobs. “OH EM GEE, starting the new job today, eekk!” really?! That’s fantastic, please keep reminding me of your amazing success and your super duper organization skills, while I slowly but surely slip into the realms of bum-hood.

I’m not judging those who got their dream jobs, seriously, congratulations. You are the talented, smart ones destined to achieve greatness, as Will Shakes said, however, for the rest of us? The mediocre, run of the mill types? We’re lucky if we have any greatness thrust upon us. But that’s just it, its not lady luck who’s stopping you from getting these jobs, its someone with better skills and more experience, don’t wait for the greatness and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Yes, that is a quote from Will smith in the pursuit of happiness, going for a will theme here.

At uni they make a big deal of telling you of all the things you can achieve with this course, all the opportunities that are going to open up for you, you leave with a sense of hope and a lump of giddy excitement in the pit of your stomach to get out there and start a new chapter as a proper grown up. Turns out the hope is actually naivety and the pit is pure fear. Naivety of the fact that the reality is you will probably not get that dream job for a while, and your going to have to work bloody hard to get there, this has then made you think if that’s what you really want to do, contemplating the rest of your future, with all its choices, decisions and problems ahead, there’s the fear. So we can either bite the bullet, or dream on.

Now that’s been said, its time to get back on the job site, maybe a new position has been posted in the last 5 minutes."

Its funny because despite saying I didn't want to end up back on the shop floor, I worked for most of the summer in Next, the irony! It also turns out a bit of luck was sent my way to get to where I am now. It may not be my dream job but its a lot closer than I was back then! 

Try writing down a rant, or a story of your day, then read it back to yourself months from now and see how things have changed. It can go both ways in how it will make you feel, but the outcome is always interesting!

Interview blues

This post is going to be half rant, half 'name and shame', all about Monsoon. 

I thought I would put this out there because I found the way I was treated by this company was degrading and frankly disgusting, especially as a struggling grad looking for work, like many others. 

So, at the moment I'm applying for jobs in London for my big move there in September. I have a degree in International Fashion Marketing and so applied for the Merchandising Admin Assistant role for Monsoon on the off chance, knowing that I have studied merchandising roles (so I know what they involve) and have experience in admin. 

I was surprised and excited when I received an email for the Monsoon careers office asking me when I'd be available for a telephone interview. After booking the time slot, re arranging my work shifts around this and then spending hours preparing standard interview answers to what I thought would be an interview, I did not expect to be treated the way I was. 

After answering the call from my 'interviewer' she immediately asked me why I even wanted the merchandising role as I have a marketing degree. I replied because I'm interested in the field, have studied it as a module, and want to work for a large company. She told me that I would find the role boring, questioned what I knew about it (and when I answered told me I was wrong) and with a very patronising tone suggested that I try for marketing positions in future as I 'clearly' do not have a passion or an understanding of merchandising. 

Before I even put the phone down I was in tears. Not only because I'd been made to feel small, insignificant and had all my confidence battered out of me in one swift phone call but mainly because I was in shock. 

After being told I was to have an 'interview' for the position, I did not get asked one interview question but instead was basically asked why I had even bothered to apply for the role. 

Maybe it was fair of her to ask why I thought I was qualified, maybe she didn't think I had a genuine passion for the role, but then if so, WHY ASK ME FOR AN INTERVIEW?! This is the thing that really bugged me. Why even ask me for an interview when you don't think I'm qualified or passionate! 

The whole thing really upset me, and I have written a strongly worded email about it to them. However I highly doubt that this made a spot of difference to how they are treating candidates who have shown a genuine interest in the company. The whole situation has surprised and baffled me to my very core. 

But like all other graduates struggling to find a good job, that is worthy of the constant rejection and your time, I have to keep my head up and keep trying. But I can tell you all now, I will never step foot into Monsoon again. 

Do you think I was treated unfairly? Please leave comments below!