Temp Agency Husltin'

(Have I mentioned how much fun this snowy-cold hell is? This is my neighborhood in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn)

The nice thing as of lately is that I have an income. The not so nice thing as of lately is that having a full time job for the first time in awhile means my health is totally taking the back seat. But thats a "WOE" is me tale for a different time. Back in December I met with a temp agency called 24 Seven Talent, they have a huge wide range of clients that I was very eager and excited to work with. Even if it was for a temporary period. Unfortunately after our meeting in early December it took them until late January to finally place me in a job. I've been working as a temp Administrative Assistant at One Kings Lane until their LA office Admin makes it out here. 

It's a bit of a heart break though, I always get UBER passionate about wherever I am working so naturally I fell in love with the laid back/casual environment of OKL and I am ONLY hear until March 13th. I'll especially miss Free Lunch Wednesday and Bagel Friday but, the bigger heartbreak is going back to unemployment. While I do have some faith in 24 Seven to put me into another temp position I am still frantically applying for and interviewing for full time positions. 

So if your new to the city, tired of interning, and just want to get placed into a job hopefully sooner rather than later I highly recommend hooking up with a temp agency. I've read a lot of reviews online and the many agencies across the city have varying reviews but 24 Seven Talent seems to have the best. And I know other fellow hustlin' fashion job hunters who have gotten full time positions out of the agency. I am hoping I'll be next! 

Observations On: Unpaid vs. Paid Internships

Someday I should probably have quality photos of myself taken. Today is not that day. I get to weird and to shy when somebody else turns the camera on me. Side note: This is like my go-to interview outfit, that is probably bad and probably needs to change. Somebody please employ me long enough so that I might purchase a more appropriate outfit. This was yet another rather uneventful week. 3 interviews, one job offered but, it turned out to be a paid internship instead of an assistant position like the original posting said, one was a follow up interview from a group interview the week before - and this is the one I really hope works out, and the last one was a place I never gave much thought to but, the fabulous man who interviewed me made it sound very appealing and like it would be the most educational of the 3. So.. Dear World, I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for a job please let one of these workout already!

Things your college programs/internship instructors might not tell you: After you've had at least 3 unpaid internships it actually seems harder to get a paid position. The company knows you were willing to work for free in the past and they also know you want to "learn more" about your given choice of field so they will continue to offer you unpaid positions because, they know they can get you with the whole you'll get more experience and be more hirable blah blah blah. Hold out. I am holding out. It might not work out for me in the long run but, I refuse to be a dish washing sample checker-inner anymore. At least an unpaid one. When you are looking for your first internships look for paid ones, if you have some retail experience and skills that pertain to the internship you might be more likely to find a paid one. Based off of my own experiences I feel like companies have more respect for you and will be more likely to want to pay you if you've had paid internships vs. unpaid ones. Or maybe I am completely wrong, who knows but, this is what I have observed.

I will however be making some money this glorious week of February 2nd- 6th as I will be freelancing with One Kings Lane. I am sure I will develop some very strong opinions on freelancing here soon and will post about them accordingly.

This City.

(The view from Milk Studios, 8th floor)

It's absolutely wonderful but, at the same time so unforgiving. After completing an internship that looks wonderful on my resume but, left me emotionally drained and a feeling under appreciated I have been desperately seeking a paid position. I have only been looking very hard for about a month now. I've had interviews every other week, sometimes multiple interviews. During winter break from about the December 19th-January 5th the fashion industry seems to shut down so that cut out a huge amount of time in my hunt.

I cut a lucky break in the first week of January when a Facebook friend whom I've never actually met asked me if I was interested in freelancing for Lanvin the 10th-15th. I eagerly said yes since it was paid. Working as a freelancing sales assistant for Lanvin was exactly what I needed. As a PR intern working for a large agency you are so disconnected from the brands and the culture behind the brands that goes into creating a RTW (ready to wear) collection. The account executives just see you as the eager, young girl-boy who is going to archive their 102+ piece fall collection for 5 hours and then run across the city to pick up some matte black envelopes, make a stop at the magazine store for an issue of a magazine that the store said they had on the phone but really doesn't, and then stop by the cute french bakery to pick up some pastries for an office party that you aren't invited to because, you have to finish doing 15 large returns in the next 30 minuets or you are going to get home an hour and a half late for the 5th time this week. Don't get me wrong, I love working as a PR intern, it can be an absolute headache and when you finish a task or do something right a thank you or smile can be in short supply but not getting told to re-do the project is the ultimate sign. It means you did it right, and if you can stick out this internship you are a step closer to being an account executive yourself.

But being at Lanvin reminded me why I switched my major. The very first day of my 6 days with them involved the Women's Wear Market Director breaking down the 96 piece collection and giving a State of The Union address on the state of the fashion industry. It was inspiring and so insightful. I couldn't help but quickly type away notes on my iPhone. I felt like I was listening to something meaningful for once. Someone was laying down the truth and I was learning. I haven't been learning about anything fashion related since I left the classroom last spring. I then spent the week working with a very nice freelance sales rep and meeting with our daily buyer appointments. Hearing what the buyers like and dislike about the collection as well as their methods for buying for their customers was very informative. It was everything we learned about in the classroom about buying put into action. Except with a lot more cursing, Hermes bangle wearing ladies, and sassy gay men nit picking the collection. It's good to know my friends will get even sassier with age.

All in all I am slowly coming out of my rut. While I haven't yet secured a long term paying job and haven't even been paid for my freelancing work yet, I have high hopes. And at least hope that my inspiring week can hold me out for awhile longer.