In pursuit of a fashion career, Sarah Klymkiw has now achieved two crucial steps – a London flat and relevant, permanent work – if she wants it. I decided to stay. It wasn’t an easy decision by any means. There are many perks of temping: the freedom and flexibility to move and gain experience within companies that may not have taken a second glance had a pushy recruitment agency consultant not done the hard sell that your CV just simply couldn’t do.  My boss called me into the meeting room for a ‘catch-up’ and offered me a very attractive salary and promises that I could learn and progress through the company. I was told to think about it before confirming my decision.
I was in two-minds, torn between the thought of being stuck in yet another job within a field that wasn’t quite part of my big plan, but yet I didn’t have anything else permanent lined up and I had my foot in the door of a major fashion company which would look fantastic on my CV and would mean I wouldn’t have to get a second job to afford to eat, freeing up time to do my illustrating and socialising and ultimately experiencing all that London has to offer. Second opinionsI spoke to my consultant about the chance of getting some fashion Press Office temping work, but she told me that they rarely had any positions within that field. She then reiterated the point that if I stayed where I was at least for another few months it would stand me in good stead for going for something else fashion related. I was, however, aware of the large sum of money involved for the agency to release me if I were to say yes, so why would I be told any different? I spoke to one of my work colleagues who had originally wanted to go into textile design but having now turned 30 was wary of changing direction in her career. Her CV was made up of visual merchandising experience and if she now decided to go into textile design then she would certainly have to take a severe pay cut and didn’t feel she could justify the years of experience she’d gained. She reassured me that I was still relatively young and that there was still time left for me. Marvellous. I felt like she was trying to warn me not to get too comfortable and to become complacent, to stay focused and that some people do go on to do their dream job, and she made me very aware of being deliberate about the work choices I made and that it is important to have some sort of deliberate, logical path to my CV. Sound advice. Looking over my CV I’ve gone from completing my degree and going straight into a hideous call centre job to card publishing and now to a fashion Head Office job in visual merchandising. I’ve been in London for six weeks now and I’ve blagged myself a fashion job and entered an entirely new salary bracket. After using my housemates and various friends as soundboards, ranting about the pros and cons and most probably putting them all to sleep, I’d ask them what they thought I should do. Is it a good sign to have itchy feet after only a month?! The casting voteIt all boiled down to what one person thought. This person had the power to sway. it either way. So, I called home. I knew my mum would tell me what I was already thinking so I gave her the hard sell – I wanted her to tell me if I was making the right decision in accepting the generous offer. She understood my reservations and knew what I truly wanted to do but ultimately I had to see it as a fantastic opportunity to learn more and as a key transitional job for my CV. My mum asked me if, with hindsight, I would have put off the move to London until I had a job that I wanted to do lined up. I told her that my moving to London was the most exciting thing I could have ever done and if I had had the opportunity I would have done it sooner. Yes, I have the added pressure to be in work all the time so I’m not in the position to be able to undertake an unpaid internship at a magazine or sit around making pretty pictures but this pressure acts as a drive to motivate me that little bit harder, to be resourceful and go onwards and upwards in my career. If I were still in my comfort-zone, living at home, I can safely say I would have still considered the job for the experience potential. And so, I have accepted the position but I have also realised that this might not be the job for me, however, it’s the right job for me right now. It will serve its purpose and then I’ll move on to the next. (3/5/06)As I sit at my desk looking out to the London Eye I realise how far I’ve come, but whilst cutting out images on Photoshop, how far I need to go. When I sit in the square enjoying my plain cheese sandwich on granary bread round the corner from the high rise, clinical building where I work I contemplate what my next step needs to be: only three weeks in, with huge possibility in an area that IS fashion related but not the right fashion area, is making me want to strive for something so much better. Without wanting to sound like I’m blowing my own trumpet-like instrument, there has been talk about my being made permanent and I’ve been weighing up the pros and cons of accepting. Rent is a huge factor and having enough money to live follows closely but I’m fairly hopeful that I could perhaps get a fashion-related administration job within a smaller fashion company with bigger creative prospects and sleep soundly at night safe in the knowledge that I haven’t sold my soul to the fashion corporates. My greatest aimI think that from my three weeks temping I’ve established what I want from a job and my greatest aim is to be challenged and to work in a creative environment, not in an office where people talk figures all day if anyone is around to talk. I think I’ve safely established that this job is not for me. Some may say I am relatively lucky to get paid a reasonable fee for playing with Photoshop all day but it’s not creative and it’s not in a creative environment. The department is away from all the action and all the atmosphere that makes fashion so exciting. And I know I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t get itchy feet and know that I can do better. I’m going to take the job as a learning curve, an opportunity and a chance to use my administration skills with a ‘fashion’ context, but now I need to start to get experience within the field that I’m interested in, and if I’m to continue towards my goal of fashion writing, the next best step for me would be looking towards fashion PR and marketing for a different perspective on the fashion press. So, that’s it settled, when my placement comes to an end I will contact the fashion agency and feedback on what I’m looking to head towards work-wise. Creative essenceLondon has certainly delivered with regards to getting those creative juices flowing and I’m feeling more inspired to get back into my fashion illustrations for a start. Seeing a little quaint stall at an organic food and young designer fair in Hampstead on Sunday I felt inspired that people with such great ideas were going out and doing it, such a contrast from where I work where everyone is pulled in so many directions that there’s no time to take a lunch break let alone feel inspired. Talking to the stall holders I found out that they had just started out and hadn’t started promoting to shops yet – they had a website however, and a supportive network of friends, family and a knitting group helping them produce their wares. I was tempted to support them by buying one of their beautiful tea cosies but couldn’t justify buying one until I have an all-important teapot (it’s on my list of things to get). The painting of the house is almost over and I think we’re finally starting to settle in (unfortunately so are the mice...but that’s a whole other blog!!). My plan is to set up a little studio area in my room to work and then I can start promoting.  My Space.com seems to be a good starting point to get my work out there and I’m fortunate enough to know a couple of web designers so hopefully when I’ve reworked and updated my entire portfolio I can get something going and maybe even venture into the website game whilst getting an even balance of earning enough money to earn my keep.
In the meantime, I’ve realised the importance of networking. My housemate’s friend works for a bi-yearly ‘alternative’ music/fashion/art/randomness magazine. It was only after a drunken night in Camden, finishing off a bottle of red wine in the kitchen that I found this out. With some more talks and some article ideas to pitch I will see if I can get something published. It won’t be paid but any exposure has to be good exposure. My other housemate temps by day but is a music photographer by night. She gets to see bands for free and produces fantastic photographs for the fastest growing music website; she does it for free and for her love of photography. It is only when she, or I for that matter, can swap those temping jobs to pursue our part-time passions that we will know that we have certainly made it. (19/4/06)Spring is in the air, you wouldn’t know it, but it is. Now is the time to be happy and hopeful and starting a new job is almost as refreshing and soul cleansing as a spring clean. I got to the point last week where I actually thought I was starting to go mad. There was only so much cleaning, bleaching and painting I could do before I realised I needed a purpose, a structure and yes, that meant a job. Having discussed thoroughly my options with a close friend over lunch (yes, I could do lunch!), she advised me to not just take the first job the agency offered me. I was in a fairly good position money-wise for a while and I didn’t want just anything on my CV so I could be fairly picky at this stage. However, I was getting a little anxious about not being able to replenish the money I was spending on basics and that eventually I may just have to take anything. And then, whilst enjoying a cold, wet afternoon making myself ‘cultured’ in the V&A, I got the call. The chasing up of the fashion agency paid off, and despite my having emailed to confirm my current situation, I just needed to speak to my consultant and remind her that I exist and she remembered. I’ve just started a Visual Merchandising Assistant role with Arcadia and although it’s only for four weeks initially, there is a possibility that if they like me they may want me for longer. It’s hard to make any long-term plans with temping and I need to stay ahead of the game money-wise, in case I am out of work for any time, but the experience is second to none. To now be able to write on my CV that I’ve got some fashion administration experience at one of the leaders of the High Street has paid off. A second offerI received a call today from another agency I signed up to a few weeks ago with a job offer – the job they were offering was better paid, permanent, based in Camden (so I could have a lie-in and walk to work instead of catch two buses) but the role was not within a fashion or even remotely creative context. I chose not to take it. The more money would certainly help, but consistency in my CV is crucial now; I’ve left my stop-gap job and now need to keep it focused and fashion influenced otherwise how can I justify my direction and my choices? That is not to say I haven’t given up looking myself, I’m still applying to jobs as and when they come up, I’m certainly not taking anything for granted now; temping is unpredictable but I cannot fault it for the opportunity it has given me. As a contingency plan goes, I have re-worked my CV to focus on my bar experience, and popped it in to a few local establishments and not only will it bring in some extra money if I am out of full-time work at any given time, but if I am in work, I’ll have a bit of pocket money and I’ll get to meet new and exciting people, and that can only mean new and exciting opportunities and ventures. (5/4/06)So, here I am in Kentish Town in a little internet café with the rush hour traffic on my right and a man with bad sinuses on my left.  I quit my job. A bit rash I know considering I don’t actually have anything lined up in the big city but I read my horoscopes and this week is going to be a good week for Scorpios and work. Not one to entirely base my future on something some mad woman with a bandana, a parrot on her shoulder and a crystal ball has made up in a little dark room but ever the optimist…
And so I quit my job. Knowing full well I wouldn’t be there for much longer, having told my boss that I was moving away and didn’t wish to renew my contract after April, that I wanted to learn new things and meet new people and actually attempt to use my degree. After 11 months of working under my supervisor, I told her that I didn’t appreciate working in the uncomfortable conditions that she created and her general attitude, and as a direct result of her behaviour I walked into work proudly last Monday morning with my notice of resignation. My boss understood; aware of the tense working conditions, he wished me well, and in the words of Big Brother’s Chantelle, told me to go ‘Live the Dream’. I received some lovely presents to help me get settled in my new flat and cards wishing me luck – well, you’d hope so considering it’s a card publisher! When people from work asked me what I was leaving for, and to hear I had no job lined up, they thought I was mad! I told them I wanted to be unemployed for a while, bum around a bit, catch up on my day time TV and just generally reflect. So here I am…four days in and I’m going mad already! The searchOn Tuesday afternoon, I set off to Camden Town armed with my CV and heading in the direction of a reputable recruitment agency to keep my options open in case the fashion agency took a while to come up with the goods. Not wanting to be fussy, I pointed out to the consultant that if there was any possibility of work within a fashion environment whether it be as a trolley dolly or cleaner, I’d quite happily take it. And, in actual fact, right now, I’d do most things. I was informed I had just missed out on a balloon blowing-up job. Dammit! I went back the next day for all the tests, typing, data entry, Excel and Word. The outlook was positive but, not one to sit back, twiddle my thumbs and wait for the jobs to roll on in, or not as the case may be, I’ve decided to take matters in to my own hands. I attempted to chase up the fashion agency that rang to tell me they were going to put me forward for a fashion production assistant job, only to hear nothing, and then when I enquired about there being any news, to be told that the person that was dealing with me is on holiday until Monday…that’s another four days of insanity! I’ve now taken to spending the afternoon in a stuffy internet café with the man with the sniffles as company finding addresses of companies I can send my CV to. I’ve spent several months applying to vacancies online through various websites to no avail and I’ve become a little disillusioned that perhaps the sort of job I’m after isn’t ever going to make the website and perhaps I need to go back and cut out the middle man. Having invested some dollar in some top notch paper and reworked my CV to appeal to the fashion masses, I really cannot see why no one would want me as a prospective employee. Fingers crossed. (22/3/06) My life is like one big jigsaw right now. The pieces are slowly coming together and the big picture I’ve been trying to make sense of since leaving the safety of university is looking very pretty indeed. Having sold the mini and saved up enough to move out I’m now ready to begin my life up in London and I’ve found a flat. Hurrah! I move in next weekend so the next time I write I will be settling into my digs in Kentish Town. There is something very appealing about London, something so inspiring, fast and fresh and I’ve always known that London is where I’m meant to be. If I don’t do it now then I’ll always be left wondering what if…and I don’t want to be frustrated with myself for not having tried. My university days of living off stuffing and gravy are well and truly back. Despite the fact that I’m earning now, my budget is stretched to the limit and no doubt I will have to find other means to make some extra cash to subsidise my temping for a while. I will grow potatoes in the garden (yes, we have a garden!) and recycle all those old clothes… I knew there was a reason I did a fashion degree (!) I will shop at ‘Prim-ada’ and charity shops. I will spend my evenings learning new skills… by candlelight; I’ve always wanted to take up knitting and I’ve got numerous back-issues of Drapers Record to catch up on to see me through till I can afford to have a social life again. But this doesn’t faze me in the slightest - in fact, I’m actually really excited about it. Yes I won’t be able to do all the things that I’d dreamt of doing up in London initially and yes I won’t be able to afford all the things I’ve been accustomed to buying since leaving university and moving back home, but it’s an adventure that, although it slightly scares me and makes me question whether I’m ready, whether I should have a permanent job secured, whether I’ll find what I’m looking for, is something that I now realise I can’t put off for any longer. In this case, I have to put my fears aside, jump in eyes wide open because I really have no choice but to follow my dreams.
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