One of the main reasons I started this blog was to document what it's really like trying to break into the fashion industry. A lot of shows show what it's like for celebrities to have a fashion line, or people that are already in the business. But there isn't a show out there that really talks about what it's like for an outsider to break into the fashion world.
Let's start with finding a job. You might apply for 100 jobs, and only hear back from 2 or 3 of them. Being on the job hunt is like being on a roller coaster: one day I'm down and no one wants to talk to me, and the next I'm slammed with emails setting up interviews. That's actually what New York itself is like. Some days are full of excitement, and others are just filled with dirty streets and hobos.
Which brings me to my next point: you have to figure out which jobs are worth it. Some of these jobs I've found are really sketchy, like having to be a "personal assistant" for someone living at home, and your only responsibility is cleaning their house. That's called a cleaning lady, not a personal assistant. Most young people here have either a few part time jobs, or a couple jobs on the side. That's how you make money in NYC: you need to be constantly finding things to do that will pay you. Even when I do find a job, I will probably have a part time job too. If you want to survive in New York, you really have to not be afraid to work.
I'm glad I had some expectations of this journey before I got here. I knew it wouldn't be easy. That's what aspiring fashion designers, or anyone wanting to move here, needs to learn: New York is not an easy place to make it. But at least I know I'm one step closer to conquering it than I was yesterday.
xoxo
Ms. Manhattan
Let's start with finding a job. You might apply for 100 jobs, and only hear back from 2 or 3 of them. Being on the job hunt is like being on a roller coaster: one day I'm down and no one wants to talk to me, and the next I'm slammed with emails setting up interviews. That's actually what New York itself is like. Some days are full of excitement, and others are just filled with dirty streets and hobos.
Which brings me to my next point: you have to figure out which jobs are worth it. Some of these jobs I've found are really sketchy, like having to be a "personal assistant" for someone living at home, and your only responsibility is cleaning their house. That's called a cleaning lady, not a personal assistant. Most young people here have either a few part time jobs, or a couple jobs on the side. That's how you make money in NYC: you need to be constantly finding things to do that will pay you. Even when I do find a job, I will probably have a part time job too. If you want to survive in New York, you really have to not be afraid to work.
I'm glad I had some expectations of this journey before I got here. I knew it wouldn't be easy. That's what aspiring fashion designers, or anyone wanting to move here, needs to learn: New York is not an easy place to make it. But at least I know I'm one step closer to conquering it than I was yesterday.
xoxo
Ms. Manhattan