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One of the most common questions I get asked is how I started my career. I usually respond by saying that I was in the right place at the right time. While this holds some truth, it’s the unexpected learning experiences and the people who have supported me along way that have helped me get to where I am today. I’ve teamed up with LinkedIn for their #InItTogether campaign to share my career journey and what pushes me forward.
My sister and I were raised by a single mother who put us through college all on her own. She’d wake up early, take us to school, and head in to the office. She’d often stay late and traveled a few days out of the month for work. She never made excuses and, come to think of it, I don’t remember her taking a single sick day. Observing this behavior for 18 years+ not only taught me the importance of being able to provide for myself (and others), but having the motivation to show up, be present, and work hard everyday.
After graduating college I thought I would enter the world of PR or advertising. I wasn’t qualified for anything other than unpaid internships and that wasn’t a viable option. I ended up landing a sales gig at a clothing boutique in San Francisco. It was there that I started to develop an interest in personal style and retail. Working for a small business meant that no job was too big or small — from attending dressing rooms to dealing with shoplifters, each task was a teachable moment and I absorbed them like a sponge. Ready to take on more responsibilities, I asked for additional duties, like assisting with buying and helping with marketing initiatives. The shop owner trusted my judgment and let me run with my creativity. With her support, I became confident in my craft and eventually decided to apply these skills to my personal brand.
It was then that I started my blog and Instagram. Monetizing these channels never really crossed my mind. I used them purely as portfolios to house my passion projects, hoping it would show future employers that, although I didn’t have years of experience, my consistent quality of work would prevail.
Easier said than done. My blog was growing, but it wasn’t bringing in the job opportunities as quickly as I had hoped. However, three years at the boutique prepared me for a career in a more relevant field — merchandise buying… or so I thought. A short stint taught me that buying was not an avenue that I wanted to go down. I quit after 6 months without a new job lined up. I continued working on my blog, but wasn’t ready to take it full time. The clock was ticking, rent was due and I was going to get kicked off my mom’s health benefits in a few months.
Reality set in and a more frantic job search began. I sent out what seemed like a thousand cover letters, got some interviews, got turned down, got some offers, but nothing quite “clicked”. This ended up working in my favor because I got a foot in the door at the company I currently work for. My patience paid off and my blog served the purpose I had originally hoped it would — I landed my dream job in social media, which eventually lead me to my current role, editorial manager.
Long story, long, my career largely fell into place through happenstance and persistence. Without my sales job and encouragement of the owner, I wouldn’t have started my blog, and without the work ethic my mom instilled in me, I wouldn’t have kept it up. The second most common question I get asked: “How do you balance a full time job with your blog?” I tell those aspiring for a career in fashion (and/or blogging) that it’s a marathon, not a sprint — it takes endurance, patience, and discipline.
What continues to propel me forward is the challenge to live up to the sacrifices my mom made. I’m in it for her and ultimately, I’m in it to prove myself.