contact name:Aarika Walton
message from sender:
I am currently in my last semester of undergrad to obtain my degree in fashion merchandising. I am very interested to know more about your job as a stylist because I am looking to make a career of styling after graduation. I have a class project that requires an interview of someone in my ideal career field and I was hoping you could help answer 16 quick questions given to me by my professor.
1. What do you like most and least about your job?
2. What is a typical work day, week or month like for you?
3. What skills & abilities are most valued and respected in this field?
4. What training and education do you need in order to do your job?
5. What past jobs have you held?
6. What are the main or most important personal characteristics needed for success in your field?
7. In your profession is there different treatment of men and women related to job duties, pay and opportunities for advancement?
8. What is the salary range for this career?
9. Do you have a set schedule or flexible hours?
10. What kind of technology do you use and how?
11. What do you know about now, that would have been helpful to know when you were starting out in this career?
12. What are the toughest problems or decisions with which you have had to cope?
13. How much of your job involves interacting with others?
14. How did you decide on this career?
15. What are the sources of stress at your job?
16. Are you comfortable with you level of power and influence?
Hi Aarika,
Thank you so much for thinking of me for this interview, its quite flattering.........so lets get started and hope this helps you get an A.........xx
1. What I like most about my job, is that I'm doing what I love and what I've always dreamed about. I get to work and be around people who enjoy the same things as me and absorb so much creativity and beauty. There is something that clothes do, a feeling that it evokes, and if you know how to tap that, the possibilities and the emotions/attention/beauty you can draw from that is beyond satisfying. The thing I like least about my job is the politics behind it. The mentality of its "all about who you know" to get you in the door.
2. This job is freelance and you have to hustle to get your next gig. So for me when Im not working on my blog, Its me going to the gym to get my mind right and the focus straight. Then I'm either buying clothes at places that have a return policy, or are that extremely cheap to stay within a budget for a film project or a editorial shoot . or Im either on the computer or phone all day contacting PR companies to borrow clothes for upcoming shoot, which helps me maintaining and starting relationships with very important contacts for a vast number of designers . Or im reading as many blogs and fashion magazines to stay current in the Fashion world.
3. The skills that I feel are valued and respected in this field are always being able to work well under pressure and with time restraints. Always be prepared to deal with anything that can be thrown at you. Being Creative and having a good eye.
4. The training and education that you need for this job is kind of a you really don't learn until you try it. Education is power, so any type of fashion styling program that you can take is so helpful.
5. Past jobs that I have had are bieng a babysitter, dance teacher, a waitress/bartender, and a astrophysicist............just kidding on the last one
6. Some of the most important characteristics to be in this field needed for success are being Creative, not shy, having an opinion, creativiness, being able to network, being persistant, being able to take criticism, determined.
7. In this profession the difference of treatment between men and women I don't think really matters. The men that are in this Field are few and usually gay and who doesn't love hang around gay boys. They have the best personalities.
8. Salary range...........lord knows, Im still trying to figure that out....
9. You don't have a set schedule, its unpredictable what you'll be doing in a day so its as much work as you need to put into a job....
10. The technology that I use is the internet, an Iphone to be able to recieve my emails immediately, laptop to keep all my photo references and media,
a steamer to make all my clothes look crisp, a camera to save pics and refresh my memory on looks.
11. What I know now that would of been helpful in this career in the beginning is to network, network, network, knowing people can help open alot of doors
12. Some of the toughest decisions and problems that I had to deal with in this profession is for me was being in NY by myself away from family and friends.....the big city can get really lonely, really quick.
13. I would say that 90% of this job is interacting with other people, that 10% is when your on the train riding to and from destinations with returns or buying clothes.
14. I grew up taking jazz, ballet and tap. So when I started teaching dance and do choreography for the students I realized I loved designing there costumes and going out to buy them and put them together, I was very resourceful and efficent and I started to really enjoy it, alot. So I started exploring the fashion world.
15. The sources of stress of this job is wondering when your going to get your next job, when are you going to pay your credit card off, are you doing a good job cause you don't really have a boss to tell you that.
16. I am very comfortable with my level of power and influence, 1. Because its so reassuring to know that someone enjoys your expertise and I like being my own boss...
