Get A Life: Looking further afield

As you know from the previous blog I graduated in July 2011, brimming with excitement doing everything possible to get noticed. I went to numerous networking events, with my final group project i was one of three who went out to numerous companies to pitch so i was collecting business like i was collect shoes. By January 2012 my optimism was wearing thin, people telling me how brilliant i was was getting hard to believe because the ultimate way to show this wasn't happening. I was still un-employed. I either didn't have enough experience, even though what i did have for just being 5 months out of university was pretty good. My writing skills weren't good enough, I can't really blame my dyslexia fully. I was over qualified for the position i was applying for. Someone had more experience than me. It's not what you know, it's who you know ringed in my mind a few times.

I knew a lot of people at the time were moving aboard or moving cities as they had secured jobs or decided to take the plunge and look elsewhere. As much as i didn't want to move, not because i would miss Manchester but the finer details of finding somewhere to live, finding a job, building new friendships would be hard work.

Throwing caution to the wind nerves me, ask anyone i'm a planner but March came round and application to America and Barbados starting flying out. Why these two places you say? Well my friend went to New York for 3 months; she's a fashion photographer her experience of meeting people and been given chances to showcase her talents in the industry; made me think. My sister's friend left for the big apple 10 years after emailing a company with her ideas, got job and then eventually set up her own successful business.

Barbados, the sun, sand and beach for one. Two I just believe there's more that be can be over there to exploit the island. I googled every sort of creative agency there could be, not thinking there would be many. However  i was wrong. I then started emailing them all asking for an internship or work placement with their company when i return to the island. Within 3 days I had over 6 replies expressing their interest in taking be on for a few days a week. I was amazed, as I had been constantly emailing companies for any sort of job in England and had no replies, not even to say I didn't get the job. I wanted to hop on a plane and go then!

It was something to focus on, even if nothing came out of it. They replied, which implied my cv was good or my opening spiel in the email caught their eye. I started to feel positive again, I started to feel my luck may finally change.

Tip: Be flexible, it would be nice to stay in your hometown but sometimes when the tough gets going, you just have to cast your net a little further. Make yourself known go to networking events in your area, sign up to twitter and have a business card handy.