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  Handz On  
Fashion Designer
Name: Annabelle Hartley Age: 27 Job title: Fashion Designer Job description: I'm part of a design team that produces a petite ladies wear range. Each season I source fabric, print and trim from suppliers. I create design sketches and work with pattern cutters to produce toile samples for selection. Finally, I fit and finalise garments for production. Where do you work? I work for a commercial petite ladies retail label based in Luton, which has concessions in many well-known department stores including Dickens and Jones, John Lewis, Fenwicks, Debenhams and House of Fraser. Qualifications: Foundation in Fashion Design, BA Hons Women's Wear (Unstructured) Being prepared Are you doing what you wanted to do when you left school? I did not consider being a fashion designer when I left school, probably because, at that time, it would have seemed such a far-off dream. But I knew early on that I wanted to be involved in a creative field and have always been very enthusiastic about 'art and design'. In retrospect I can see how I've consistently had a keen interest in fashion and in making clothes. I learnt to knit when I was small and would knit everything! So much so that my elderly neighbours would give me their cast-off wool! I remember making my first sewn garments when I was 11 and for my A level Art I created a series of theatrical costumes. But at the time I saw it simply as an interest. I never set out to become a fashion designer. What inspired you to pursue your career? The experiences I've gained through making and reflecting on the work I've made has inspired me most. I've realised how important it is to act on my ideas. In making each piece of work I've given myself a sort of mental critic, enabling me to improve my technique and spawn more ideas. I've realised the problems involved in each project. Experimenting with different methods and ideas has enabled me to learn from my own experiences and build upon them. This learning process has helped me become aware of my strengths and find out what my capabilities are. The process of making has given me inspiration to go on. To be able to stand back and say 'I made that' has given me a sense of confidence, progress and achievement. What tips could you give to someone who is interested in getting a job in your profession? To be a fashion designer, you must try to be practical and plan towards achievable goals in simple steps. Initially, the priority is to build up your portfolio, especially your drawing skills, which are a key component of any portfolio. The traditional route is to gain an A Level in Art and Design, or if you cannot take a full-time course at this level, there are a number of one day a week or evening classes. This will then enable you to join a course that specialises in fashion, for instance a foundation in fashion design. This will allow you to focus your portfolio in design, develop your style and garment construction skills. Most foundation courses are in general art and design, with a Fine Art bias. This is fine, but remember you will not be taught about garment construction and will have to work harder and be more focused to develop your portfolio towards fashion design. On completing a foundation course you can apply for a Fashion Design BA. But before applying to various universities and colleges via UCAS, work out what you want from your degree and then research which institutions meet your requirements. For example, you may want a degree that teaches a lot of pattern-cutting skills, while another may have a more avant-garde bias. Finally, my last tips are related to attitude. As this is a highly competitive industry, and at times not very glamorous, it's amazing how a large amount of success comes down to hard work and determination. Secondly it is a great help if you are organised, so prioritising tasks and making lists is a great way of doing this. But remember to be flexible; for no plan is absolute, you have to be able to customise a plan to changing requirements and shifting priorities. However, overall enthusiasm and a positive attitude are the best things anyone can have. Most importantly remember to have lots of fun! Have you ever done work experience or voluntary work? Yes. Experience is one of the most useful things in your career and is sought after. There are a number of ways of gaining experience. If you find out when London fashion week is you can offer your services to various designers. Look at the London Fashion Week website for addresses and contact numbers - you can send a CV and a cover letter to request work experience. But the best way to make an impact is to go to the designer studio in person! Otherwise, I know a lot of universities have an office that organises work placements for you. These placements can be hard work, and you may be expected to carry out all kinds of tasks including making the tea, hand sewing garments or dressing models back stage of the show. Not only will you make lots of contacts but do a good job and you will be remembered and be asked back! More importantly these will give you insight into the workings behind a show and indeed how a collection is put together. These experiences are invaluable and a definite bonus on your CV. A typical day in my job Can you describe a typical day in your working life?
What is the environment you work in like? I work at a desk, and our design office is usually pretty chilled. I have quite a few meetings either with the design team or with external suppliers who we see quite regularly and grow to be very friendly with. Generally I meet lots of people as it's part of the job. What long-term goals are you working towards? My long-term goals are to increase sales and to keep moving the range on. I also would like to gain a greater understanding and relationship with the customer. How do you manage your time each day? How important is time management in the world of work? We have an annual timetable, which is broken down into meetings and design deadlines so each day is usually preparation for each deadline. I write a list of what I have to do per day in order of priority and, therefore, urgency and this is then broken down throughout the day allowing enough time to do each task. For example, I will say in the morning I have to finish off sketches by 11:30am. If I know that something will take a while then I get into the office earlier or stay a bit later. Time management is very important as all deadlines and tasks whether large or small will affect our tight production schedule. How important is working as a team in your job? Working as a team is very important and enables you to share knowledge so that tasks can be completed quickly and efficiently. Is there any advice you can give on the practical aspects of working? In terms of salary you need to consider what is more important: job satisfaction or an excellent salary. To get this balance right is always tricky. You need to consider what you want from a job. I travel quite far to work (35 miles), and for the most part I enjoy the travel except when there are delays and it can be tiring. So it's important to consider how long it takes to get to work and back as this can really affect the enjoyment of your job. If you prefer working closer to home, then consider this. My job - behind the scenes What do you like most about your job? It's really exciting to see your designs made up as sample garments and then as finished products in the stores. What do you like least? When fabric arrives late from the mills and makes the sample garments late. What's one secret thing that somebody that isn't in your profession wouldn't know? How much hard work you have to do! What is the most exciting thing that has happened to you at work? I get to travel overseas to New York, Hong Kong and Paris twice a year, then sometimes Denmark, Portugal and Italy. I meet suppliers, go to fabric shows and visit shops, generally meeting and dining with lots of people. What projects are you particularly proud of? The first time I saw my designs on the shop floor! What misconceptions do you think people might have about your job? I don't think people realise how much thought and consideration goes into designing a range. If there were one thing you would like to tell somebody who was thinking of working in this field what might it be? Try to push the boundaries. Keep challenging yourself and don't give up. Don't look round at what everyone else is doing but set your own standards and think: 'How can I do this better?' Why might a teenager be excited about pursuing a job like yours? The job is hard work but the rewards can be high. It is creative, the overseas travel is exciting and you get real satisfaction when you see your ideas as a real physical output for the hours you put in. Finding a job How do you go about finding what jobs are available? At the end of your degree your careers advice service should be able to offer you some guidance, direction and practical information such as contact names, numbers and addresses. Also various recruitment agencies specialise in jobs in the fashion and retail sector, for example 'In Retail' and 'Success'. Some such agencies can be found on the internet. It could be worthwhile phoning them to arrange an interview. An important publication for employment is Drapers Record magazine, which is used by all areas of the fashion industry. The appointment section is packed with diverse but high-quality fashion jobs. What is a typical interview like? The first interview is usually conducted by a member of staff who will see if you are the right 'fit' for the company. You will be asked to talk through your portfolio and then you will also be asked more technical questions, testing whether you will be able to perform the role. Be prepared to be asked detailed questions about anything that you have put on your CV or application form. The second interview is usually conducted by a more senior member of staff and you will be asked more detailed questions about yourself. Are there any interview techniques that are particularly useful? Preparation is the key. So, research the company you are applying to and the particular role you are applying for. Give confident positive answers about the job you are applying for and yourself. A way of seeming keen and confident without saying it is to make regular eye contact with your interviewer. Remember this interview is as much for you as it is for them so ask any relevant questions about the job or company. Try and dress in a manner which is appropriate for the job, so for a large corporate design company you want to seem creative but businesslike. What is the hardest interview question you've ever been asked? 'What did you dislike about your previous place of work?'
Nurse
Name: Sarah Callaghan Age: 31 Job title: Senior staff nurse Job description: I'm a critical care nurse. As part of a team of healthcare professionals, I work for the best interests of my patients. I support my colleagues, my patients and their families. Where do you work? In the critical care unit at the Conquest Hospital. Qualifications: 9 GCSEs; 1 A level; diploma in nursing; intensive care training Salary Range: £16k-£33k (not including enhancements and living allowances) Being prepared Are you doing what you wanted to do when you left school? I didn't know what I wanted to do when I left school! What inspired you to pursue your career? I wanted a hands-on job which challenged my brain too. Nursing offered me this balance. What tips could you give to someone who is interested in getting a job in your profession? Try working as a healthcare worker or nursing auxiliary either in a hospital or in the community. If someone wanted a job in your profession what types of training or qualifications would they require? You need a diploma in nursing. This means you'll need at least Maths, English and a Science GCSE (or the equivalent) to get a place. A typical day in my job Can you describe a typical day in your working life? There's no such thing as a typical day! My day at work could be the turning point of a person's life. It could be the best or the worst day in their or the lives of their family. It can be tough both mentally and physically or it can be the most rewarding and spiritually uplifting experience. How far do you have to travel to get to work? Four miles. What is the environment you work in like? It's usually quite noisy and busy and it can feel really intense and stressful at times! I meet an incredible number and variety of people at work and at meetings and study days. What are your daily tasks? Daily I try to maintain the health and dignity of the patients I care for. I also try to support and evaluate my colleagues and recognise when I need support and education. How do you manage your time each day? How important is time management in the world of work? Time management is important and can seem really difficult when you first need to do it. But remember that it's just a skill you can learn and develop. How important is working as a team in your job? My job is impossible unless you act as part of a team. To do this you must recognise when you need help and when others do. The best skills to help you achieve this are listening, communicating and being patient. Are there any particular health and safety issues involved with the work you do? You will need to be immunised against some diseases as you are in constant contact with high-risk groups. Qualified staff and college lecturers will keep you up to date with these issues. Is there any advice you can give on the practical aspects of working? The NHS is an equal opportunities employer and you will encounter people from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures. Tax, national insurance, pension schemes and maternity benefits are all easily dealt with by your employers in the NHS. My job - behind the scenes What do you like most about your job? Discovering the amazing qualities and strength of character that ordinary people possess. What do you like least? Patients dying. It's always hard to tell them and/or their families that there is no more help we can give. What's one secret thing that somebody that isn't in your profession wouldn't know? That people's bodies are as different on the inside as they are on the outside. What is the most exciting thing that has happened to you at work? The first time I helped to change a dead person back into a living one! What projects are you particularly proud of? I'm proud that I've been involved in encouraging several student nurses to come and work in critical care with me once they qualify. What misconceptions do you think people might have about your job? That nursing is all about doing what doctors tell you. This isn't true. We're all part of a team and sometimes nurses have skills and knowledge that doctors don't. If there were one thing you would like to tell somebody who was thinking of working in this field what might it be? Nursing is a knowledge- and skills-based career. You'll enjoy nursing if you are someone who likes to learn and use new skills and to pass them on to others. Why might a teenager be excited about pursuing a job like yours? It's genuinely a satisfying and rewarding job with room for people with a huge variety of interests and talents. Also, nurses usually have a brilliant social life. Finding a job How do you go about finding what jobs are available? Look on the internet for your local NHS based trust website or check specialist press ('Nursing Times'). Universities will give you information about training. If someone were interested in getting a job like yours, how would they go about it? After you graduate look around at what's on offer. Some units like you to have ward experience before working in critical care, some don't. How important is having a CV for your profession? Nurses need to have a professional portfolio. If you want to work in critical care, it will help if you've attended study days and workshops which are relevant. What is a typical interview like? You will usually be interviewed by senior nursing staff from the unit. You may have been asked to prepare a short presentation on an issue in healthcare. Are there any interview techniques that are particularly useful? Be calm, be prepared, be honest! What is the hardest interview question you've ever been asked? Why do you want this job? Always think about how you might answer this question. It may not be asked directly but if you have a clear idea in your head about why you want something you'll seem more positive and direct, which is always good.
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