I have most recently just completed a two week internship at 'Designer's Guild,' in their sales and marketing department. I was a valuable aid in helping the sales team put together files on the 'Spring/Summer 2013' collection, that were then given out during the two day sales briefing, to the 150 sales team representatives from around the world. It was a great insight, to see how such a successful, interior company is run and I couldn't quite believe how many people worked there in all the different departments, be it customer service/finance/sales and marketing/creative/product development/showroom/press office/warehouse est. Take the time to check out 'Designer's Guild' website www.designersguild.com

I have been lucky enough to have had the chance to stay with family and friends during my work experiences and longer internships. However, I have exhausted my options on where I can stay next. The thought of hostels leaves me cold and they aren’t cheap. Interning is aimed at the elite, some students are incredibly lucky; they already live at home in London with their parents. A select few are supported by their parents and are put up in hostels and other accommodation. I know a girl that spent three months in a travel lodge whilst interning for Alexander McQueen, another girl, her parents rented her a flat in central London for six months whilst completing an internship. Interning is therefore an incredibly expensive investment and in this current climate even more so. I have managed to select my internships very carefully. The longest internship being a month, luckily my dad got in contact with an old school friend and he so kindly offered to put me up in his Wimbledon abode. During other internships I have crashed on friend’s sofas for a week or two. Offering to cook and clean without dispute, especially, if you want to be invited back. I have also managed to gain experience closer to home and made sure that whilst at university I managed to gain some experience within the local area. The cost of travel is so expensive. So my advice would be when applying for an internship, you must ask that they cover your travel expenses and hope to have some left over for a Tesco’s meal deal if you’re lucky. To summarise: Ask friends and family if you can stay with them, be it a couple of days, or if your lucky a couple of weeks. Make sure that travel expenses are covered by the company - keep all reciepts. Save for a few months in the summer holidays, once graduated, inorder to fund work experiences/internships. Take the chance to gain experience whilst at university - look for companies in your town/city/local area and perhaps ask to do one day a week. If all else fails you may have to use your overdraft to help fund some of these placements. Sadly this is what i had to do, but it's not uncommon. Just use it wisely.

I am a recent graduate, having studied ‘Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors.’ Whilst studying in the beautiful, inspirational city of Bath. I had not come to realize that after graduation it would be so hard to find an entry level job. I have come to realize that the entry level jobs are taken up by the ever increasing amount of interns, taken on by companies.

During university I have undertaken a range of work experiences and internships in London, Bath, Bristol and North Devon, hoping that this would increase my chance of finding a job. However, the past six months I have had to continue interning for companies.

The life of an intern... Here is a list of work experiences/ internships that I have undertaken:

Second Year of University • Student Ambassador. • Exhibitions. • Jenny King Embroidery. • Clarissa Hulse Design Studio. • Braunton School Community College. Third Year of University • Arnolfini Gallery – Events. • Wed Magazine – Photo shoot. • Blue Fizz Events. • Goldeneye Publishing. • Caroline Fricker Couture. • Bath Children’s Literature Festival. • Country Living Events. • Designers Guild – Sales and Marketing.

I have gained experience be it in events, design, sales and marketing, editorial est.

Positives • Gained experience in different sectors of the creative industry. • Customer service. • Communication skills. • Leadership skills. • Social Media.

Negatives • Expensive. • Need contacts to stay with. • Managing a part time job to fund these work experiences/internships. • Mundane tasks set by companies.