Tuesday

Week 10 EOC: My plans for the future

I have many plans for the future; some realistic and some unrealistic. The most realistic plan that I have for my future is to graduate college. This is one of the most realistic plan because I am only a year away from graduating. I also need my degree to help me peruse my other plans for the future. Ideally, I would want to be a designer with one of the top brands that is in the same level as Gucci and Louis Vuitton. This is an unrealistic plan. The chances of having a brand as successful as Gucci and Louis Vuitton is one in a million. And if I do end up achieving this, it would take a very long time and I might not even be alive to see it. A realistic plan, would be to be one of the head designers at Gucci or Louis Vuitton. I plan on working as hard as I possibly can to achieve this dream.

Another plan I have is to make enough money to live comfortably on my own. Everyone desires to be rich and famous but I would be content with being able to hold my own. I don't want to live pay check to pay check. I want to be able to have enough money to pay all my bills and have enough money extra to travel or shop. Right now I am living with my parents. In a couple of years I will have to leave the nest and make it on my own. I want to be able to leave and be able to stand on my own two feet. This plan has to do with my first plan of graduating college. With my diploma I will be able to get a high paying job which would put me in a position that would make me able to live comfortably on my own.

One of the last plans I have for myself so far is to get married and have a family. This plan is going to be put on the back burner until I get my career in order. But eventually I want to settle down. I want to get married and have a big over the top princess themed wedding. I feel like that would be the last time I could really feel like a princess. I also want to be able to raise children. I love babies and little kids and I think  would love to be a mother. I want little munchkins that I can teach and make memories with.

I admit that I don't have it all together. I don't have everything planned out and the things that I have planned for myself aren't planned properly. I have yet to map out a plan that would help me achieve my goals. Even though I don't have it all planned I think that I am still young so it's okay. I am only 20 and I am still on the verge of finding myself and truly understanding what I want to be. I think when I have those things figured out it would be easier for me to relly plan out my future.

Week 8 EOC: 9-5 Workplace Harrassment

Harassment in the workplace is unacceptable. It makes the victim feel very uncomfortable and sometimes ashamed. Workplace harassment can happen to both men and women.
"Harassment is unwelcome conduct based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin,age,disablitilty, or genetic information"(pg570)
The most common type of harassment is sexual harassment. Sexual can happen to both men and women and does not necessarily mean physical contact. The victims of sexual harassment are usually traumatized. They no longer feel comfortable at their workplace and in many cases the person is too scared and/or embarrassed to tell another coworker or supervisor. This can cause poor job performance by that person. Sexual harassment if not reported can continue. The person that is guilty of sexual harassment should be punished as a criminal. They are taking advantage of an innocent person for their own sick reasons.  There are two forms of sexual harassment. The first is Quid pro quo. This means that the person either expresses or implies sexual favors from another person as a condition of that person's employment or to prevent being fired. The second form of sexual harassment is hostile enviroment. This is when unwatned sexualy intimidating or demeaning behavors are used and makes the person feel uncomfortable. An example would be telling offensive sexual jokes.
"Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination and is an issue of particular concern.."(pg570)
It is the duty of the employer to protect their employees from sexual harassment. They should be aware of everything that is happening in the workplace at all times. They need to make sure that everyone working there feels comfortable in the enviroment they're in. They should also provide some type of therapeutic services to the victims of sexual harassment. Being a victim of sexual harassment can mess a person up mentally. If it was a forced physical situation that worker can feel scared and not want to work in the same enviroment as the person that harassed them. In this case the person would most likely quit. If this was a good worker, it's a loss for the business.
"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act requires emplyers to protect their employees from sexual harassment by other staff members and anyone in the workplace.."(pg570)
Even though sexual harassment is the most reported, there are other types of harassment in the workplace. This includes harassment due to race, religion, pregnancy, age, disability and sexual orientation.

Week 8 EOC: Five Plus Five Soft Skills

One of the soft skills I put on my resume is customer service skillsI think that customer service skills are important because It means I know how to speak to customers to make them feel comfortable and important while shopping. making a customer feel important and comfortable is important in a retail operation that is based on selling because it makes them feel more comfortable in buying. I only showed this skill on my resume by just simply writing customer service skills. I could communicate that by saying I make many sales at my current job just by being able to hold a conversation with an customer and make them feel comfortable enough to let me help them find what they are looking for.

Another soft skill I have on my resume is self motivatedThis is a very important skill.  Being able to be self motivated is extremely important when it comes to a retail operation. There were be times where you don't have anything tasks to do or you've finished all the tasks you were assigned. It doesn't look good if you are constantly asking your manager or whoever is in charge what to do, especially when they are busy doing something themselves.  The only way I've expressed this was by simply writing the words self motivated on my resume. I should've expressed my possession of this skill by showing an example. An example I would have would be when we are doing floor set at my current job. Instead of waiting around to be given a task, I take a section of the floor set none is working on and begin working on it by myself according to the guide. It was that act of self motivation that led me to be promoted to visual of the store.

Another soft skill that I posses but don't have on my resume is handling pressure.  Being able to keep calm in a situation that can be really stressful especially working in a busy retail environment. It can be really stressful when the customer is rude. When the customer wants specific things such as discount and colors that we do not have they can often get upset and possible raise their voice. You need to know how to handle that situation without losing your head. You need to understand how to solve the customers problem and make them less angry is a professional way. Another thing that sometimes be very stressful is when a customer is looking for something specific but doesn't speak english. This can be stressful because you can not understand what they are saying or what they want. I did not put this skill or and example of me possessing this skill on my resume but the example i would use was a time I was able to successfully assist a deaf person in finding the purse that she was looking for.

Another soft skill that I did not put on my resume but I do possess is time management. Time management is important when working in a retail environment because there are certain deadlines we have to meet. Not meeting those deadlines could lead that specific coworker or all the workers in the store getting in trouble depending on what the assignment was. I did not put this skill on my resume but If i had, I would show my possession of the skill by explaining how getting my part of the floor set done in a timely matter was another big reason on why i was promoted to visual.

Another soft skill I did not put in my resume but i do possess is Communication Skills. Being able to communicate well is not just important in the retail environment, it is important in every workplace. Being able to talk fluently and efficiently to not only the customers but to your coworkers and your bosses. I did not put this skill on my resume but and example i would use to show my possession of the skill is how I interact and communicate with every customer that walks into the store. I make sure they are content and if they need any help. i also keep conversation witch makes the customer feel more comfortable with me.

Week 7 EOC: Profile Statements

Self-motivated fashion professional with strong skills in Patternmaking, Sewing, Draping and sketching. Results oriented with the flair and ability to meet tight deadlines.  Determined problem solver and dedicated team player.

Extremely creative and well developed Fashion Design professional that is results oriented and is a determined problem solver. Actively trying new things and testing the limits.


A confident, energetic Fashion Design professional with strong skills in Patternmaking, Sewing, Draping and sketching. A strong team leader with an entrepreneurial  spirit.

Week 6 EOC : Job Analysis

     The job that I chose was a Buyer for Gucci. This particular buying job is for children’s clothes.  The main goal of the buyer is not only to buy, but also to be able to make smart decisions in what to buy. They are responsible for buying the clothing that will be shown on the sale floor. The buyer also has to be managers not only on the selling floor but the showroom floor as well.  The buyer has to be able to help keep Gucci a leader in the market by providing timely and insightful competitive feedback. The buyer has to constantly give feedback in order for growth.  The buyer is also responsible for making connections with markets and other buyers.
     Not only does the buyer have to be management support, they also have to be retail support. The buyer needs to be able to make sales through the store. You have to support and participate in the events and other in-store activities. They need to have constant communication with the stores letting them know about new trends and product arrivals. The buyer needs to create and manage development plans to ensure job satisfaction. The most important responsibility that the buyer has is to be a leader. The buy has to lead by example and desire to be at Gucci.
     I think the requirements are reasonable for the job at hand. A bachelor’s degree in fashion, business, finance or anything related is necessary. I think this is a reasonable thing to ask for. It would be very hard for a person to succeed in the buying world if they don’t have any type of educational background in either fashion or business. You need to have 4-5 years of relevant buying experience and experience managing a team.  The buyer would also have to have advanced proficiency in programs such as Microsoft Office or excel.  

https://www.gucci.com/us/en/st/careers-landing/careers-corporate

Week 5 EOC: What I'm Interested In

The first tweet that got my attention was the Vogue article talking about what  First Lady Michelle Obama wore when she made an appearance on Ellen. She wore a Gucci dress made to look like she was wearing the world map. This article interests me because she is such an amazing women. She is a show stopper. What I like most about her is that she stands out. She has a personality that makes her different from the previous First Ladies. Not many First Ladies were known for anything more than being the president's wife. Michelle Obama does not stand in the background. She has her own opinion and beliefs and she expresses them freely. She lets it be known that she is not just the President's wife. She also does this by working own projects apart from her husband such as her fight to end childhood obesity. Lastly, she stands out from the previous First Ladies with her style.
"Obama stepped out in a look by Alessandro Michele for Gucci, underscoring the global reach of First Lady style."(http://www.vogue.com/13476568/michelle-obama-ellen-degeneres-show-gucci-celebrity-first-lady-style/?mbid=social_onsite_twitter)

The second tweet that got my attention was the Vogue article going through all the Coach bags throughout the years. I liked this article because I learned a lot. I did not know that Coach has been around for 75 years nor did I know what a coach bag looked like 75 years ago. I have always been a fan of coach and I found it really interesting to see where it all started. 
"The brand, which is celebrating 75 years in business, was founded by a group of leather-obsessed artisans in 1941. Seventeen years later, the company introduced its signature glove-tanned cowhide, inspired by a baseball mitt, a durable yet flexible material that helped usher in a new type of bag for a new type of woman, one for whom structured and “fussy” bags held no appeal."(http://www.vogue.com/13476609/coach-1941-bag-evolution-75th-anniversary/?mbid=social_onsite_twitter)
It is also interesting to see how much the style of the bags have changed and what has stayed the same. I think as a fashion major you have to know all about all the top brands and where, when and how they started and how they got where they are today. I think its good for a designer to know this things because it not only makes you more knowledgeable, but it can serve as an inspiration. 

The third tweet that got my attention was the Elle article showing the evolution of female clothing. In this article they show 100 years of women fashion. I found this interesting because you get to see how much female fashion has changed. It is also interesting to see how the women dressed 100 years ago. It's amazing how the trending issues and/or environment changed the way people viewed fashion. 
"From the first little black dress (it debuted in the 1920s) to the first stiletto heel (1950s), it's crazy to think about how recently so many of the classic fashion staples we take for granted were introduced to us"(http://www.elle.com/fashion/trend-reports/news/a39180/100-years-of-fashion-revolutions/) 

Week 4: EOC Physical Atractiveness

Physical Attractiveness should not be a factor when being considered a job.  The way you look has nothing to do with the skills you have. A person shouldn't have to look a certain way to get a job. Unless the job is based on looks such as a model, the way you look shouldn't matter. The only thing your consideration for a job should be based on should be the requirements you attain.
"BFOQs are employment practices that would constitute discrimination toward certain individuals"(pg409)
Even though these BFOQs are in place, unfortunately discrimination still occurs in some places. The victim of this discrimination are usually female. Many females are judged by how appealing they look to the interviewer. Appealing factors are things such as dressed provocatively, how "pretty" the women looks to that person and can even go as far as body features. Majority of the interviewers that participate in this discrimination are males. Their opinion is biased based on their tastes. For some places, a more voluptuous women would get the job. This way of hiring is wrong. Nobody, male or female, should be discriminated by the way they look.
"The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other government agencies enforce laws that ensure everyone gets a fair chance at any job opening"(pg414) 
In my opinion, more women and men should speak up if they feel they were discriminated based on their looks. If more people speak up, we can find the places and employees that are participating in this way of recruiting and hopefully end it. Discrimination based on looks can be very harmful. If a person feels that they did not get a job because of the way they looked or that they weren't attractive enough it can significantly lower their self esteem which affects their mental health.
"Hiring the best people is the starting point for making the operation a place where both customers and employees want to be"(pg416)
If you only hire the people you think are good looking, you are not hiring the best person for the job. The person that looks attractive might not have the same amount of skills or experience that a less attractive person has. A job should be looking for the most qualified person, not the best looking applicant. It is extremely unfair and biased. I repeat, nobody should be discriminated by the way they look. The employers that are doing this way for hiring, need to be caught and stopped immediately.

Week 2: EOC; sweet chairty. What she did right and what she did wrong

During the interview scene in Sweet Charity, she did some things right but most things wrong. When she first saw the interviewer and saw that he was on the phone, she should've stepped away from the door. She instead stood in the doorway and listened to his conversation. This is the first wrong thing she did. It was wrong because by standing there and listening to the conversation she came off as rude. That in a way ruins her first impression which is one of the most important things during an interview. The second thing she did wrong was she didn't list any skills. When he asked her if she could do certain things, she said she couldn't do anything. She didn't give herself enough credit and she made herself look useless.
"The best job candidates will be those who can perform the tasks of the open position with or without reasonable accommodation"(pg418)
If she has no skills the employer isn't going to want to hire her. A person with no skills are bringing nothing to the company. Employers don't want ignorant workers. It makes the job harder for them and also the workers that do know how to do things. Another thing she did wrong was put her elementary education on her resume. Employers aren't interested in education lower than college. By putting that she made herself look silly. She also made it obvious that she probably never applied for a job before. "Hiring the right people makes a dramatic difference in the success of the store"(pg416)
With all of the things shes's done wrong halfway through the interview, it is obvious to the employer that she is not right for the job. The last thing that she did wrong was beg. When the interviewer told her that she did not get the job she started begging him to give her a chance. This made her look very unprofessional. It also made her look very desperate. It is not the employers fault that she needed a job really bad. She should've known that begging would not get her the job. She did not need to discuss her personal business with the interviewer.
"It is always important to be careful what is, how things are said, and when things are said, and when things are said throughout the screening process"(pg417)
Charity only did an few things right. The first thing she did right was dress up for the interview. Even though she wasn't dressed the same way that the women working there were, she still made an effort to look nice for the interview. The second thing that she did right was bring a resume. Even though her resume wasn't very professional and had no skills, she still thought to bring one.

Wednesday

Week 1 - My best and worst jobs

                The worst job I've had was my first job. When i turned 18, I got a job as a snack bar girl at Crystal palace Skating rink. My job was to take orders, make food and clean tables after closing. I call this job my worst job for many reasons. The first reason being unprofessional. On my second week I had a coworker yell and curse in my face for supposedly smiling at her boyfriend. When I tried to talk to the management about it to later find out that they  knew about the whole situation accruing before it had actually happened. I also found out that the managers along with other coworkers were telling this girl that I was constantly staring and flirting with her boyfriend. There statements made no sense seeing as I did not work on the same days as the guy so there was no possible way for me to be staring at him.  The situation was ignored by the managers and no repercussions were given to the coworker who screamed at me. Another reason I say it is the worst job is because we weren't allowed to take breaks. There were days that I worked for 8 hours with no breaks. There was also a time when I was sick with a fever and could barely stand up and they wouldn't let me take a break. It took me breaking out in tears for them to acknowledge the fact that i did not feel well and I was able to leave early.
                   I haven't had a job that I truly like as of yet. The job I have now, however, is much more professional than my last job. I work at Kipling which is a store that sells purses, backpacks, and luggage. Along with other accessories. My favorite thing about this job is that the hours were based on performance not favoritism. Also because I get acknowledgement for doing a good job. At the skating rink I was only spoken too when I did something wrong.  Because the hours are based on performance, it pushes me to work as hard as I can to get a lot of hours. This is not the perfect job nor is it close to my dream job; but I see it as a stepping stone that will help me be in the position that I want to be in the future.

Week 1 - EOC - my voice

                     I am an artist. I see inspiration in every thing I come across everyday. I strive to be the best. I am constantly reinventing myself and finding more challenges to face. Fashion design is my passion. I can't see myself doing anything other than this for the rest of my life. I put my heart and soul into everything I design and create. I am considered one of the best; one of the most daring. I am always pushing my limits and see how abstract I can be with my designs. I am not afraid to fail; for it will only make me stronger and wiser. I take my loses as a learning experience. When my designs fail I know what isn't working, so when I do it again it'll will be better. I am a perfectionist. I'm always looking for how I can improve. I never put out a collection that I am not completely happy with. I put long hours into my work. I'm the first one to come to work and the last one to leave. I am considered one of the best in the industry.