
I wrote a post similar to this around a year ago, but seeing as my audience has grown a lot since then and I’ve got another year of “life experience” under my belt, I thought it would be helpful to put together a refreshed post for all you grads/undergrads that are wondering what on earth you’re going to do with your lives after university.
I recently re-tweeted a thread where a woman was discussing unpaid internships – it really inspired me to write this post so definitely make sure to check out the whole thread here.
I’ve always been very strong willed when it comes to my career – I was having a chat with my manager at work about it recently (yes I’m still working full time – I know, how on earth do I churn out this top notch content and work full time?! It’s called having no social life and needing to save all the pennies for a wedding 😉) and it got me thinking about my past, decisions I’ve made about my career path and how I am when it comes to sticking with something to the bitter end.
I was just twenty-one years old when I graduated with a 2:2 in Fashion Design from the University of Hertfordshire – about a month before the end of my course I bagged myself a flat through the council and was juggling decorating/moving, my part-time job as a pharmacy assistant/dispenser in Morrisons and my final major project. I had been living with my grandparents at the time and we’d come to an agreement that I would try to find a place after I graduated. Little did I know that when I started looking I’d be accepted so quickly having been on the waiting list for three years beforehand.
Fast forward to my final day of university and I was all moved in, searching for a full time job that could pay the bills. My reality (along with many others) was that going for an unpaid internship at a fashion house in London wasn’t an option for me. Unfortunately, not everybody has the luxury of the bank of Mum and Dad, or to live in London so travel costs aren’t that expensive – so these great opportunities aren’t available to those less fortunate.
So I ended up working in financial services, starting as a customer service representative, dotting around in various roles before settling in a team manager position which I’ve been in for the last year and a half.
For a good couple of years, I’d come to terms with the decision and hadn’t done too much in terms of creativity – yes I would always be taking on odd-job clothing repairs/alterations from colleagues, friends and family, but I didn’t stick with it as much as I would have loved to.
I’d get bitter about the masses of “celebrity fashion designers” that would launch clothing lines without knowing the ins and outs of how to design a garment, let alone construct one (still a peeve of mine lol) and wonder whether I could do my own thing. I’d dabbled in bits and bobs in my free time, but it was only when I really devoted myself to this blog that I realised I could create my own opportunity.
I knew I loved to write, which was where this blog came in two years ago – I wanted to create a place where I could share my stupid stories about fashion which were a lot more relatable to people than the standard fashion bloggers of today – I’m unconventional in this world and won’t conform to these unwritten/unspoken “blogger standards”. I think that it’s my niche and am more than happy to roll with that – it’s worked okay so far I think?
Starting this blog made me more determined than ever to get creative again and remember what I wanted to do in the first place – I continued with blog, started to spend more time on growing my social media channels and then started creating upcycled clothing of my own to sell on my Etsy store My Fashion Faux Pas.
Do I regret any of it?
Absolutely not – that was the path that was paved for me and I couldn’t have created a life for myself without having done it.
Do I wish I could have afforded to take an unpaid job which may or may not have led to a permanent job in my beloved fashion industry?
The answer is still no (for the most part anyway – I’ll admit there are times when I wonder “what if” but then forget about it). I don’t think I could have lived with myself knowing I might have wasted a period of my life, without knowing if it was definitely going to lead to a job at the end – I’m a firm believer in erm… PAYING PEOPLE?! And think that an unpaid internship is a glorified term for modern-day slavery (maybe that sounds extreme… but you get my point) you always hear about companies that rely purely on interns for their hard labour and when it comes to the end, they only end up with “experience” on their CV. No thanks.
I’m still in the early stages of this blog and my online store, but am determined to make this become something more than just a hobby. For anyone reading this that is in a similar position to how I was back then – I’d say go with your gut and if you don’t get a job in your chosen industry (I think this applies to the more creative fields!), then make your own opportunity. Paving your own way is sometimes the only option and I’m glad it was mine.
bloggercustomer servicefashionfashion graduatefinancial servicesGraduateunpaid internships
I can totally relate to this post!! I’ve studied fashion designing and am currently working for a corporate as a content writer.*face palming* I recently created a fashion blog, but like other typical bloggers i can’t afford to keep posting high quality images with picture perfect backgrounds and super expensive branded clothes. So i decided to do it the way i can and in which i feel comfortable (and also without having to shell out money). Reading your post motivated me a bit more to do my thing with conviction. 🙂
Ahh no need to face palm – better than no work at all and at least you can write something!! Glad it’s motivated you and wish you all the best ❤️
i am glad you do not regret it. I love beauty and fashion but im stuck studying teaching. I do not know what i am doing with me life
You’ll figure it out lovely! It’s often once you’ve finished everything in education that you realise what you want to do! ❤️
I like your advice, always go with your gut feeling! You’ll smash whatever you do! xxx
Thank you lovely – your gut is normally pretty spot on! ❤️
The idea of an unpaid internship is honestly so demeaning in my opinion – why should anyone work full time for free? I get sometimes there are odd jobs and bits and bobs that you have to do unpaid to get opportunities and whatnot but working your butt off for so long with no guarantee of anything coming out of it is quite atrocious. It also cuts out so many talented people with loads of potential who cannot afford in any shape or form to do it. I’m really hoping this changes in the future!
Alice Xx
http://www.blacktulipbeauty.co.uk
Exactly!! I get one off times for experience, but totally unpaid is awful! ❤️
I can’t believe people can get away with unpaid internships.. I’m all for gaining experience, but that just takes the mick doesn’t it?! I hope everything works out for you Gaby and you can turn your blog into a full time job – that’s the dream isn’t it?! 🙂 xo
Char | http://www.charslittleblog.co.uk
It’s mental right?! And I really hope so!! Ahh the dream 😌😌 xx
I feel so similarly in that I graduated and then didn’t really put my degree to use, but my blog really helps me to do something I enjoy in between the drag of going to office work every day haha. So many jobs I want to go into are unpaid! It’s so bloody bad x
Alice | http://www.accordingtoalicex.com
It’s such a shame isn’t it?! And at least we have blogs as a creative outlet – I think it’s more rewarding 😊
I don’t think comparing it to modern day slavery is too extreme, that is basically what it is only disguised in “glamorous” packaging. I can tell you from doing a couple myself that they are anything but glamorous often requiring you to work into the night without lunch even being paid for. My ex-bf lived near London so I was lucky his parents let me stay with them when needed, but if it wasn’t for that, I would never have afforded it either. You have to stay true to you and do what feels right!
Love Lottie
https://intotheeco.com/
Ahh glad it’s not too out there 😂 I’ve heard so many horror stories about them that I’m glad I didn’t put myself through it! Xx