The Pressure of a Graduate

This is a blog, and blogs are for ranting. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

Today, I found out that two fellow graduates got jobs. And not just any jobs – great jobs. Jobs that some people – me being one of them – would kill for. This news forced me to ask myself the question: why can’t I get a job?

You see, I have a pretty good CV, by most people’s standards. I write for three magazines, I’ve worked at Dubai Fashion Week, and will be doing my second season at London Fashion Week in September. I’ve got into London College of fashion, something that is considered pretty good going. I buy every fashion magazine going, reading them from cover to cover. I know what you should wear, and what you shouldn’t. I know all the great designers, new designers, and celebrity designers. I do everything editors tell you to do – start a blog, write as much as you can, send as many emails as you can. I’m known as ‘the girl who loves fashion’ by anyone who knows me. But for some reason, no one wants to employ me.

I have lost count of how many emails I’ve sent and how many letters I’ve posted. I know the email addresses for all major magazines off by heart now. I worked non-stop in my final year, spending as little money as possible, saving all that I could, so I could move to London. I’m paying way too much money for a place, just so I can have a London address on my applications, and go to any interview any time. I’m doing a course, spending money I don’t have, in the attempt that I having that on my CV will give me an advantage. So why can’t I get a job?

Each day there’s a bit of news that tests my positivity. I hear someone from my course has a job – someone with nowhere near as much experience as me. I get an email saying my writing isn’t up to scratch, it’s ‘too young’. I get told there’s no vacancies, or worse – I get told nothing.

We’re always told that right now the economic climate is rubbish. It’s the worst time for anyone to get a job, and for every vacancy there are hundreds of applicants. So how do you get noticed? How do you stand out?

I’ve worked for free; I’ve worked for pennies. I’ve paid my way; I’ve sacrificed my social life in search of a career. I’ve accepted it’s a slog, I’ve smiled when I’ve wanted to cry, I’ve made tea, scrubbed floors, bought lunch. I’ve kissed arse, bitten my tongue, and gone that extra mile.

I feel as if I’ve done enough, when infact, I’m just beginning. I heard the other day that if you manage to get a permanent job in your chosen profession within a year of graduating, then you’ve done well. I have been a graduate for exactly one month now, and I already feel exhausted. And I’ve not even got as far as the interview room yet.

So it seems that I am going to have to man up, and realize that I have absolutely no choice in the matter. I am going to have to keep sending emails and licking stamps. Maybe I’ll try coloured paper – it worked for Elle Woods.

Right now I am a broken girl. Fingers crossed I’ll be writing my next post from my new desk (whilst working really hard, obv.).