Michelle's job log: 4

The story so far... Michelle left university last year and found a job a few months later as an assistant to lecturers at Manchester University. Michelle also works Sundays in a fashion store.

Designs on fashion 

I’m in need of a plan as self-motivation has completely deteriorated. I don’t know whether it’s the weather which is causing everyone to be miserable, but I don’t want it to catch on to me so I think I’ll spend my time making a positive change to my career situation.

My latest decision is to go back to studying. I aim to do a postgrad certificate in Fashion Buying and Merchandising which will only take 15 weeks and is basically a conversion course for people such as myself who don’t have a fashion-related degree. I always wanted to work in the fashion industry but I think it’s one of those industries where you either make it or you don’t so when I was deciding what to do at uni I went for a safe option. But now after working in such a ‘safe’ environment I feel in need of some risk and as though if I get used to this kind of work ethic for too long then I won’t ever know how to deal with hard work when it comes along. For me the main thing I want out of a career is to be involved in something that actually interests me. If you don’t care about whatever it is you’re doing how can you really keep doing it day in day out whilst giving your full potential? So I want to work in fashion. I currently work the shop floor in a fashion store and did consider a career in retail management, but now I’m going to contemplate the behind-the-scenes aspects of it and try buying and merchandising.

My only fears are whether or not I’ll be able to find a job in this area. My uncertainties come after doing a first degree and still finding it extremely difficult to get a related job either because the graduate schemes required a 2:1 or above or because the jobs required a certain amount of experience already. If I knew that I would have faced this amount of trouble after doing a degree in the surveying industry which, by the way, claims to want to attract keen young graduates and which continually talks about the lack of females within the industry, I would have just done this fashion thing from the start. So I’m starting afresh and changing career path, hopefully with some success.

I’ve sent off my application form, had my old tutors write my references and am now just awaiting some news. If I actually get to do this it would reignite my ambition as I would have an objective to work towards and an opportunity to learn something new. It would mean commuting to London, but splitting my week between Manchester and London I believe would be a good thing, the two best UK cities, in my eyes anyway.

The back-up plan

I suppose the good thing with this PG certificate is that if I don’t ‘make it’ then at least it’s not as though I’ve done a lengthy degree, and then I could always pursue my back-up career of being a social worker, totally different I know, but it’s realistic. So if I don’t get into LCF then I’ll apply to do a Masters in Social Work, which I know is an area which definitely has a few jobs available.

I just thought, if I did do all this imagine what my CV would look like - very confusing I reckon; a degree in Property Asset Management, a BTEC in Fashion & Clothing, a PG certificate in Fashion Buying & Merchandising, a Masters in Social Work (not forgetting the Cosmetic Make-up & Beauty Consultancy course that I did alongside my first degree). Well if I don’t get a decent career out of any of that, I don’t know what I’ll do, I’ll be all qualifications and no profession.

Tonight I’m going to hand in my notice at job 2. I’ve never actually handed in notice before as it’s either been a temporary position or I’ve just left. But because I wouldn’t mind being employed by them in the future and because I want a reference, I’m going to do it properly. I hope they don’t make a big deal about it, it’s been a hard enough decision as it is. Anyway with just one job I’ll be able to focus on my career which is something I seriously need to do now - it’s been just over a year since graduation and I need something solid and enjoyable with good money. So that’s my plan for now, I’m just glad I’ve actually got one. It took me long enough.

My previous job logs