Internship Number Three Please

Updates.. I finished interning at Flax PR last Thursday. It was great to learn so much about how an agency runs, and it was a hugely informative experience.
But it really just wasn't fashion forward enough. Half of the whole PR excitement for me, comes from being passionate about the product/clients.
Passion for Cath Kidston/Laura Ashley, I do not have.
So I interviewed on my birthday for another internship (after dragging myself to the interview because I was THAT SICK - my birthday was not a happy time) and tomorrow I start in the press office for none other than ..

Nicole Farhi.

Very Excited.
I think it's fabulous because I've now had so many different experiences, in-house for a smaller designer, agency, and now in-house for a huge, established designer. Nicole Farhi has done wonders for London Fashion Week and I think it's really to her credit that LFW is known and respected in the fashion world.
Huge fashion houses like Nicole Farhi, Paul Smith, and Burberry just give London the brilliant name it has.
What to wear for the first day?!
Fail safe black. Works everytime.

In Love.

I am so head over heels. Completely and truly smitten.
Unfortunately, t'is not a man at the centre of my affections, but these trousers.

They are utterly delicious.
Smart, and casual, show my personality, nod to st patricks, and still oh so on trend for this season's florals.
I thought they'd be one of those pieces that I ADORE so much I have to ignore that others hate them.
BUT I wore them to a party last night and had exactly 1 million people ask me where they were from.
Love is a very splendid thing.

F U M I N G

Oh, ANOTHER rejection for paid position. At Burberry. Just to make it hurt a little more.
ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY. AS IF I CANT BE A PRESS SAMPLES ASSISTANT. How could you BE more qualified?! I would genuinely like to know what makes you qualified to be a samples assistant, not a general press assistant, no no, a SAMPLES assistant. Are. You. Kidding.
I'm angry. So angry.
That job would be a quarter of all the responsibilities I had at my in-house internship. And I would work SO HARD. Urgh. I freaking hate the recession. I hate it. And everyone who has a job a the moment and is getting paid for it. Its a far off concept for me.
And hell yes I'm bitter about it.

Dance it out

No worries.
Just danced around my room to banging music like a hooker on tequila.
Et voila.
No more frustration.
p.s. 2 intern offers in a week - I'm doing something right.

Oh here's a novel idea..

Hire me.
2 interviews this week, both for intern positions, all positive and in the right direction and bla bla.
Both went well, both were clearly impressed with me and my portfolio.
But it's just like.. why don't you give me an actual job!? I will not disappoint!! It's frustrating, because I can DO THIS. I would do such a good job, I would work my actual ass off. I would be efficient, dedicated, I have positive energy, I'm trustworthy, I want to learn - I'd hire me in a shot!!
You know what I need, I need a break.

Technologicified

This is me making an effort to be all things PR. Not only have I created a 'Linkedin' page (which titled me as a Public Relations and Communications Professional - easy there, let's not disappoint so soon..) but am currently opening a twitter account.

About to start the tutorial and am so out of my depth I may even take notes, uni-lecture style.
Goodness help us.
I may even.. I'm ashamed to even type this.. Tomorrow I'm going to call and see if I can get hold of a blackberry..
I'm literally selling my soul and doing something I always said I wouldnt..
BUT its actually becoming a real issue. If I'm serious about PR I can't be travelling and impossible to get through to/contact/have no internet. Still.
#sellout

Playing with the Big Boys

I finally finished my killer cover letter, it starts

Dear XX, I realise in your position at XX your time is precious and you receive a plethora of emails daily. However, please allow me 3 paragraphs to prove I am far from a time waster.

Boom. So today I've been sending out applications to the biggest fashion PR players in London. As I was sending I could see that I was getting messages back at the same time. My heart sank because the replies were so fast there's no way they could be good responses. Hesitantly, I click 'open'..
'Would you like to interview with regard to an internship?'
'Thanks very much for your response. I would definitely love to interview.'
'Free at 4:30pm on Tuesday?'
Oh shoot I have lunch with Alexandra Shulman and Sarah Burton.
Of course I'm free.
As always, not naming names, but I have an interview with an account manager working for one of the biggest global fashion PR companies in the world. I'm talking London, NY, Paris, Milano, Hong Kong.. Their offices are based in Mayfair, naturally.

Despite my excitement and willingness to intern (if you work with good people, its great and takes the pressure off - you're there purely to learn and be taught, which i adore) I do have reservations..
I spent 3 months interning and working my a s s off getting into huge amounts of debt. With no job at the end of it. Am I an idiot doing the same thing again?
It is a different situation I guess. This is a huge company. They wouldn't hire me because they hated me rather than couldn't afford me. I have no problem with that. In fact I'd probably rather that.
Being told 'We want you to work for us but don't have the budget' certainly does not pay the bills. Or keep me warm at night. And all other cliched phrases.
Also now I have this magical thing.. options..
I now have 2 potential 'jobs'. I can choose, keep looking for paid work whilst interning, and hopefully, one of these days I will work for someone and they will give me money in return. A novel idea.
One big shot replied with details of his agencies paid internship program, which sounds rather promising. Except then I have direct competition, which I don't love the idea of. I'm good at standing out from a pack, but I don't appreciate the variables in competitions - even MORE applicants to be better than, some poor slave of an assistant trawling through tons of applications, hating us more than she hates her job, so tired she starts picking out applications purely if she likes the applicants name.. I don't like competitions. I don't like relying on someone else to make my career. That said, I'll apply. Definitely can't hurt. Shall let you know how swanning around Mayfair goes next week, I'm off to party for the weekend. x x