Geek Hit London. End of.

Looking down at my 17 papercuts, I know I've done the right thing.
I have decided to leave my placement. And I will tell you why.

Internship in·tern·ship [in-turn-ship] any official or formal program to provide practical experience for beginners in an occupation or profession: an internship for management trainees.

My internship (which I will still not name) did not live up to my expectations. Please don't get me wrong, I am willing to be the bonniest filer in the land. I am willing to spend my own money, which I now have very little, running around London for you. I am willing to make your tea and photocopy your emails, file them straightly and neatly. I am willing to be treated as if I don't exist and have my personal space invaded on the tube every morning. I am even willing to run out of time to eat my lunch for you.
The only request I asked for was some training. An insight into the clothing supplying business. Some relevant information of the relationship between a buyer and a supplier. How they do business, that sort of thing.
My placement offered me none of this. From the get up, there was no structure, no understanding and no time to be invested in 'the work experience girl'.
When I heard that 'generally our interns help me in the office' I knew I had to find something else that can offer me some skills and CV gems. This is exactly what I did.
However I do owe them a 'thank-you'. Thankyou for teaching me that if you feel you are being undervalued, if you feel that you are not getting anything out of your work experience, ASK them. Ask everyone. Make a plan and present it to them. Remember some firms want to exploit their interns and treat them as robots. Still not naming any names.

The good news is I start my new internship with Kite Kids. An exciting local business with beautiful beautiful Eco friendly product.

So maybe I've lost a friend in fashion. Something tells me I'll be just fine.
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Geek Hits London: Day 6 of placement

Happy Tuesday. Today was a better day, despite being whacked in the chest with a giant metal rail being held by complete moron.
I went in, scared out of my knickers. I went along to my boss, plan of action in hand and with my tail between my legs, in such words, asked if I can have some dates in the diary for some buyers meetings, development meetings, anything-of-any-substance meetings etc.
However, I get the feeling I'm in for much of the same admin stuff, although she did tell me that I'd be involved in some more relevant stuff. I did ask the director (ooh) if I could come with him to a river island meeting. Yes! He seems v nice.
I feel so much better putting myself out there, I'm always better when I have a plan. I like things out in the open.
Speaking of which, guess who was FAR too out in the open? With normal civilians? THE Janice Dickinson. Speaking rather obnoxiously on her 'cell'. Just call me 'Herez Hilton'.




Here's a pic of the tres scary Arcadia Group HQ. The calls to that clapper thing.

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Geek Hits London: Day 5 of placement

Woke up this morning feeling positive and gradually went from bad to worse.
Sorry the post is later than usual, I'm proper stressed out at the mo.
My day was spent, yet again, filing, dropping off/picking up samples, sending UPS parcels etc. This is all fine. I just wish it was dispersed between experiences that I will take away with me. Real scenarios that I can learn from. Everyone is so busy, I feel like a bit of a nuisance and I'm y'know a little petrified of having a conversation with my boss about WHEN I'm going to be learning the cool stuff.
Boring as it is, I do think I'm going to have to assert myself in this workplace. I need to assure that they can facilitate me in order for me to do write my report based on tasks other than admin stuff. I didn't think I'd have to learn how to do this. It's guna be scary.
I'm going to rest my merry-go-round head now, hopefully tomorrow will look up :)

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Fashion Is Danger.

I'm home now and feeling silly. If you have never seen Flight of the Conchords, WTF.

Geek Hits London: Day 4 of Placement

Saw this on the way to work this morning



Funny eh?
Bit of a short post as I am too busy snogging the face off my loved one. Havnt felt well today and got sent home early. It's not going to stop me though, my boss has already given me some great advice about the industry.

I have learnt, as my week has come to an end, not only alot about the company and how is processes thousands of orders etc, but I've also learnt much about office life. I have encountered some bad office attitude, and I am certain it will happen again. I guess that comes hand-in-hand with London life and a hectic job. I'd like to think that that is not true of everywhere and is fo' sure a life lesson I would like to disregard.
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Geek Hits London: Day 3 of placement.

'Home is the most important place in the world'
Trust Ikea to print some BS like that on an oystercard and it's enough to stop me in my day and make me feel all blue.
I have now come to the conclusion that I am a homebird. I don't mind living in London, I don't even mind the filing. I just miss the people closest to me. Every morning at 7.30 all the workerdrones on the Picadilly Line look like they're going over the top of the trenches or something.
Today was a much better day. And the best news is that TOMORROW I get to sit in in a meeting with Penny's!! Hopefully I'll understand their Irishness. Very exciting! So happy I get to be amongst buyers and see real business rather than delivering it to reception. I do totally get that I have to be a bit of a postman pat, just JESUS do my feet kill. Sorry, this will be the last time
I mention my feet on this blog again, readers!
Speaking of which it's great that all you newbies are reading and enjoying my wierd posts. Big 'Hello' to everyone in Corfe Mullen, Jboy and my Steve - thankyou!
Also I think I'm gaining the trust of my boss little by little. I have been doing a lot less little elf things and have been calling fabric manufactures and emailing and all kinda of stuff.
Still LOTS of photocopying! I'll let you know how the meeting goes, and I'll put up some of my dress-to-impress styles that I have even workin' this week.
Keep it real guys, like I am so very much doing.



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Geek Hits London : Day 2 of placement

Holy moly you should see my feet. They are swollen, red and probably stinking a horrendous day of tubes and London drizzle.
I'm afraid my posts maybe a tad similar until I get trusted with the big girl stuff.
Today was a combination of organising swatch samples into a room with about 60 gazillion folders from each factory. Whilst eating my wrap and a mullar rice amongst files and folders. It's that awkward thing - will I get judged for taking a proper lunch, away from my desk, with other cockneys keeping me company rather than mounds of files? The boss assured me I was entitled to, but will they get all fashiony if they do? They all seem to have soup at their desks....
Also did another 'drop' at Miss Selfridge, Urban Outfitters, New Look and Asos. This again involved me lugging a bits and bobs around London and making SURE the buyers get them. Very stressful. Am getting a new spot everyday.
This is very costly for a student who's fricken loan company don't know what's going down. So, I'm poor, smelly and a bit dazed but I can already tell, amazing things will happen from here. I feel at the right place at the right time. A feeling I havnt had since I was at Tesco.
I have to go, my right foot is looking gross. Hopefully I'll get to go to some meetings soon - that will be a huge insight into what the buyers want. Better get a new notebook. Night blog fans!
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Location:Foxmead Close,Enfield,United Kingdom