Everybody loves a bit of vintage...

Hey everyone!

Sorry it’s been *gasp* 3 weeks since my last post. Again I’ve been busy with job-hunting whilst working, but (drumroll please) you guys will be pleased to know that all the job apps and interviews have finally paid off (well for now anyway!!!). I have been offered a paid internship, which is so rare to find anyway, at an ad agency in Tunbridge Wells! Ta daaaa! The process happened so quickly, and I am starting immediately, i.e. tomorrow! So bare with me whilst I start to adjust to full time work again (it has been 4 months since I left Shanghai!) but don’t worry, I will fill you all in as soon as I can!

In addition to enjoying the glorious sunshine (spring is finally on its way yay!), this weekend I also had the chance to attend a gem of a fair that is actually run by one of my closest friends and her boyfriend. My second time attending (shamefull, I know, as this was their 14^th fair), antique vs vintage at Bourne Hall in Ewell didn’t disappoint! I bought presents galore (I would put pics up, but hey that would ruin the surprise element of present buying) and had to restrain myself as I saw so many wonderful things that I was tempted to buy juste pour moi!

If you have a love for all things vintage and/or antique-y then this is the place to come monthly as everyone is so friendly, and most importantly all the goods are genuine!!! From jewellery, to dresses, to china and much much more, be sure to leave enough time to rummage around Surrey's original vintage fair. Plus these places are so good to have a rummage around in, particularly for those who are trying to keep an eye on the pennies, as everything is so reasonably priced, and what with all the wonderful stories that surround all these objects, are excellent value for money! Just think of all the history that one handbag could be connected to?!?! Anyway, enough of me talking, the next fair is on Saturday, April 7th, so go ahead and see for yourself..!

Ooops, just seen the time - I’d best get ready for my first day at work (eeekkk!). Wish me luck! :)

Marie xox

Assessment days...

So you’ve just received an email saying you got through to the next round of a grad scheme! Hurrah! But as you continue to read the black and white squiggles across your screen you notice two words: Assessment. Day. *gulp*  Yep that happened to me over a week ago when I received my invite to Starcom MediaVest’s Assessment Day, and two feelings came across me. One of absolute joy (they actually are interested in me! I’m not just a name and words on an application form yippee!) and the other of anxiousness (actually I guess three if you include the standard girly remark of “omg what am I going to wear?!?!”). Before this week I had never been to an Assessment Day before. I, like so many grads, had heard of the terror stories of “Apprentice style” tasks where for the whole day you are on show to everyone who has come to watch you squirm. But oh how I was wrong.

 Don't worry, during Assessment days you won't have Karen, Nick and Lord Alan Sugar breathing down your necks!

From my experience (yes, I am aware I’ve only had one, but I’m sure they are all like this, well for advertising/media anyway) the agency is very much on show to you, the potential employees, so that means that they are trying to impress you as much as you are trying to impress them. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming at my Assessment Day, with many a nice thing to say to try and calm us wide eyed grads down. It didn’t take much to be fair. The muffins, sandwiches, crisps, copious amounts of coffee, tea and coke (hmm come to think of it there was a lot of caffeine provided which I definitely needed having left the house at 7am…) worked a treat and with an environment that was so relaxed the former nerves soon died down.  After an hour of presentations about the agency, the training programme and our potential roles, the real work began.  We were split into groups and asked to work on a brief for a new mobile phone which we would then present to various members of the agency after lunch.  In addition to that we also had a maths test (lets just say after 7 years since I did GCSE maths my percentage skills were a bit rusty), and a psychometric test which included verbal reasoning, arithmetic and communications skills - *phew* makes me tired just thinking about it all.  The day (particularly the morning) went extremely quick, and unlike a standard interview round, it was really nice to have the time to talk to the other candidates and employees. My one word of advice is to just be yourself and with that you will relax a whole lot more.  As we kept getting told throughout the day, agencies normally have specific types of people in mind to fit specific roles so don’t take it personally if you don’t get through! In the end, I’m sad to say I didn’t get chosen to join their training programme, but that hasn’t discouraged me from the industry altogether (oh no, if that was the case, I would have stopped applying a loooonnnggg time ago last summer!).  I learnt so much, and actually, in hindsight, had a lot of fun and received lots of great advice from people who have all gone through the tedious and stressful job hunt. Yes it is frustrating to start all over again and go back to the process of looking for jobs, but determination is key. In fact, this grad has got another important interview in a few weeks time…. so fingers crossed!

Marie xox