Graduation Gloom

posted by guest

May 26, 2009 5:31PM

I don't know much about the fashion industry, but I can tell you what worked for me in web design (which, despite its reputation for supporting a large low-end market full of hacks, is crazy-mad competitive at the high end).

Paying it forward. Works like a charm. I started working for free two days a week for an established freelancer in her downtown studio. Paid rent working a $15/hr job the other five days.

Turned out, her office was next door to the studio of one of the hottest interactive design houses in town. First they hired me for a few hours at a time on specific little jobs. Two months later, they hired me full time. This is a place that was swamped with better resumes than mine on a daily basis. But I took all the risk out of it for them.

I hear the same thing about entertainment, or any field where competition is insane because it's perceived as "glamourous." Just make connections with specific people, and find a way to help them. Meet designers, product line managers, the people doing the work. Take any way to make a contribution you can.

Also, don't waste your time sending resumes to an HR department- those folks are great administrators, but they don't know how to choose new staff, and the creatives & management will listen to recommendations from their peers or their own experience of you before they'll listen to HR.

posted by guest

May 27, 2009 6:39AM

Hi Bumblebee,
I sent you a comment yesterday that I spent a long time with but for some reason it didn't get posted. I really feel for what you're going through & had several recommendations but rather than write the whole long thing again, the first I'd recommend, as mpw said, is to find people or companies you're truly passionate about, and look into working there as an intern. That's what I did and it worked!
The other thing is as much as you're doing the right things by sending out cv's, try not to spend too much time on it as it's soul destroying and depressing after a while. Everyone goes through it, but the process doesn't help one's self esteem.
Instead, after an hour or so - get out! Do things that make you feel good about yourself - in the most positive way. Especially, exercise, see friends.. take an interest in the world. Try not to panic. It WILL happen. You sound like a really nice person & I wish you all the best.
jill
http://streetstylelondon.blogspot.com/

posted by guest

May 27, 2009 1:35PM

p.s. (from Jill again) what the other 'guest' - above mine - wrote is much better than anything I could have written. Pay it forward was exactly the theme of the long email I lost yesterday.
The whole secret to getting a job, moving ahead with a career, is to think in terms of 'what do I have to offer' vs waiting for the universe to come to me. Or as JFK once said: 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.'
Whoever wrote that comment - I wish there was a way I could get in touch with you! I have a very good friend who needs a web designer like you! : )
Good luck to Bumblebee!

posted by guest

May 27, 2009 1:56PM

I think starting as an intern or volontering in all the fashion events you can find can help a lot. I'm not working in the US but I do work in fashion and it's how I'm managing to find jobs. I don't know for what kind of job your looking for but even trying to work a small job in a big fashion compagnie can help you if you talk with the rest oh the employes. Good Look
Claudine

posted by guest

May 29, 2009 3:06PM

Hey Bumblebee!! I feel your pain and frustration. I graduated in '07 with a BA in Studio Art & Textiles. I've had 2 internships since then and did some freelance Stylist work. I'm still looking for that full time position. It's so scary out there but it seems like you are on the right track. I constantly stay in touch with my contacts. That is where it's at. It truly is about Who you know!!!! I am constantly sending out my resume online but 99% of the time you never hear anything back at all. Once you get a contact in a company you are in a great position. Just keep on them. Good luck!!!! Cross your fingers for me too. Ugggh, I'm off to Twitter for my daily look at stylecareers & WWD.

*Also, one night I was watching Extra and I saw a Stylist on there. So I wrote down her company and sent an e-mail to her. She got back to me the next day. With her advice I went to NYC for an internship with another company. The Fashion Industry requires internships of some kind it seems. So now my resume is great. I'm just waiting for that one job to bite. E-mail ppl directly. Most want to help in some way.

-Noëlle

posted by Jean Voltaire

Jun 03, 2009 7:53PM

Be open to sleeping around! (Obviously I am only kidding) I don't really have the greatest advice but just don't give up! You're not the only person in the position of not being able to find yourself a job right now, regardless if it's the fashion industry or any other field.

Keep sending out resumes and badgering people! Sooner or later something will come up. :)

Also - have you posted your resume on any online career websites? That could help.

posted by guest

Jun 05, 2009 9:11PM

Intern and work your ass off!! That's what I did. I'm not in fashion, but I am in the (insanely expensive high end) furniture business. I do not have college degree, had no experience in the field, landed this internship and knew it was my big break. I worked for next to nothing for months.....but have recently been offered a full time position! Did I mention I am also the mother of a 21 month old??

The reason I tell you all of this is b/c if I can do this (in the middle of a recession, no less) you definitely can. The main thing is too network. There are jobs out there, and they're not on CL, but instead being offered to those who the person/company hiring alrwady know will do well. Know a break when you get one and then run w/it. If you must, intern and work somewhere else part time, so you have some sort of income. All of this is more or less a reiteration of what commented #2 said, but she is so right!! It'll happen for you, it's not easy to find that perfect fit, but I have no doubt you will - hopefully sooner than later!

posted by guest

Jun 08, 2009 6:05PM

I highly recommend informational interviews (discussed in the first comment).

posted by safron

Jun 16, 2009 3:27AM

well, i'm not in the fashion industry but I'm also a recent graduate (dec last year) who recently got a job (june).

You have some fabulous advice here, so my only addition would be to have a goal when sending out CVs. i.e. I had a goal of sending MINIMUM 2 a day, every day.

I'm in NZ - a country of 4million or so, my city 1.something million - so the job market is REALLY tight. It was tough but I got my current job through one of the very first CVs I sent out; the employer handed it over to another person and voila.

If you can't handle it anymore, consider alos studying more. To upskill yourself when the economic situation gets better (who knows when).

Hope this helps. We understand. GOOD LUCK!!!