Going out of fashion

Careershifter question

By Anonymous on 1 November 2006 at 15:32

I have been employed by a fashion retail (shoe) company for a period of 9 years.

I started my employment with this company as a full time sales assistant, within 9 months I was promoted to supervisor, 9 months later I became assistant manager and within 10 months I became the only assistant manager in a flagship store where I remained for just under a year.

At the same time I gained qualifications at the London Institute

  • Display and presentation ('96 - '97 City and Guilds)
  • Prop making for design ('97 - '98 BTEC)
  • Retail Management ('98 - '00 Higher National Certificate)
  • Fashion Buying and Merchandising I ('01) and II ('04)

Towards the end of 2000 I became the manager of a new concept, high fashion/designer shoe store that the company I work for was opening in 2001. I gave input in everything ranging from the interior design of the shop to design of the carrier bags and price stickers. It was great fun and a big challenge!!

A passion of mine at this point in my career was fashion buying, so gradually I was involved in the buying and was working one day every two weeks alongside our buying department.

Unfortunately the company was soon after sold and things started to change slowly.

At the beginning of 2003 I was asked to move on and accept to manage a larger store which in the retail world is a promotion. This was a busier shop and it needed all my attention, I no longer was involved in the buying. I still wanted more responsibility so I trained new managers, assistant managers and supervisors that joined the company.

I have been in the same store since.

There have been a lot of changes within the company, some for better, some for worse.

I know the company I work for very well, I know the people, I am on a good salary and it seems silly to give up all this away and step into the unknown.

However, my personal life and preferences have changed. I am not happy where I am anymore, I am bringing my unhappiness home and it is not working out for me. The hours I work are very antisocial, I would like to have kids in the next couple of years and this is not the job I wish to come back to. After 9 years of working for the same company and 3.5 years in the same shop it is definitely time to move on.

I am very career orientated individual who is always aiming for a better position, a higher status… this is what motivates me and keeps me going.

When I think about changing just the company, I can hardly see the point. The hours will be the same, I know I am very keen and I will adapt quickly…it is basically not enough of a change.

I would like to work Monday to Friday, in a busy environment where there is lot of opportunity for a promotion.

The range of management skills and experience I possess is very broad and can be used in all aspects of business. Everything I do I give 100% and I take pride in my work and results I achieve. I am interested in and have an eye for a trends and fashion.

It is very hard for me to say what I like or dislike about my current job…

I definitely do not like arriving home from work at 9pm, also being in one shop for 3 years is just too long for me. I feel I need to be moving on and at this management level it takes longer. My salary is decent and I worry that this career change will have a big impact on that too. I guess this is why until now I could not make a decision on what career path to take next.

ShiftDoctor answer

By Lisa Mitchell on 18 November 2006 at 20:12

Hi Anita,

It’s clear from what you have said that you are a very focused and successful individual who really enjoys progression and a sense of purpose in your life. You obviously have great skills and talents which have enabled you to get this far in your current career. Believe me, your determination and drive coupled with your talents will also help you to move forward in whatever career you choose in the future.

I am presuming from the information you have given that this is the only job you have had and that you have worked for the same company for most of your career to date? If that’s the case, then it is obviously a scary decision for you to think about moving on and it’s important that you take the time out now to really consider what you want in the future. You describe it as ‘a step into the unknown’ and fear of the unknown can put a real stop to change in our lives. Change has to be broken down into manageable steps so that the fear loses its hold.

Also, sometimes when we aren’t happy where we are, it can be very tempting to just jump into the first available opportunity. However, this very rarely leads to a happy career because you just take your current frustrations and limitations with you. My strongest advice to you is to take some time out now to really consider what you want in your life and what options are available to you.

You say that your personal life and preferences have changed and this is where I am focusing in giving you some advice to move forward. I believe that you have to look at your career in the context of your whole life; your career affects other areas of your life and vice versa. We are not compartmentalised as human beings so you need to start to look at what you want in your life overall before you really start to focus on your career.

In coaching we often use a tool called The Wheel of Life (which you can download here).The Wheel shows the different areas of your life such as career, family, health etc and asks you to score where you are right now in terms of happiness with each area where 0 is not happy at all and 10 is couldn’t be better! The scores are just a gut feel at this point in time, there is no right or wrong and they might be slightly different if you did them next week or next month, don’t get too hung up on that.

So, print off the wheel and score the different areas – remember there is no right or wrong! Once you have done your scores have a good look at them and see what they say to you. Which are the areas where you’d like to move the scores up? What would that area then look like? What steps could you take to increase the scores? Remember that all the areas inter-relate so if you are spending 90% of your time at work, that could have an impact on your relationship, your recreation time and your health.

Most importantly, how does your career fit into the balance of your overall life now? If you were going to give it a percentage mark, how much of your energy do you put into your career – 50%, 80%? Does that percentage feel right for you? If not, what would you like it to be and what would be the impact of the change in the rest of your life?

Hopefully the wheel will challenge you and make you think about where you want your career to fit into your life as a whole. Once you have done that, start to think about what you would like your life and career to be like based on your findings. Really allow yourself to dream about what your life would be like. Ignore any practical or logical voices in your head at this point; you can work through the logistics later. Give yourself the freedom to imagine and dream and make the vision really real by using all your senses. Ask yourself, if you created this life – what would you feel like? What would you be seeing? What would you be hearing? What can you smell? What are the sounds of that place? If you are a visual person, you might want to make a collage of this vision, if you are auditory you might relate it to a piece of favourite music, do whatever works for you and allow your creative juices to flow! Only by dreaming can you start to see something different for yourself and start to think outside the box of where you are.

Once you are clear about where you want your career to fit into your overall life, you can then start to look at your career specifically, but taking the time out now to look more broadly will pay huge dividends in the longer term.


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By Wesley Forrest on 24 March 2007 at 11:33

Hia, I am desperatly seeking a career change away from the media. I have been working for the past few years as a transmission controller, a rather uninspiring, well paid job with loads of time off! sadly it wasn't for me, I want something I can really get my teeth in to and actually feel I've acomplished something. I am HUGELY motivated by money so am looking for a career jump that will supply this. I am looking at property, law and investment banking at present. The big hurdle I have come up agains is my destinct lack of qualifications, I have an HND in theatrical management and a diploma in law (which im currently working part time towards a law degree with) How do I convince these industries to take me seriously?

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