Week 2 EOC: Sweet Charity

In the movie Sweet Charity, Shirley Mclaine plays a taxi dancers looking to get out of the biz and do something better with her life. "There ain't no use flappin' your wings, 'cause we are all stuck in the flypaper of life." (Sweet Charity). exclaims Helene, another taxi dancer character from the film. Charity refuses to accept this and while everyone else around her becomes complacent with the life they've been dealt, Charity actively tries to make a difference.She goes to a staffing agency hoping to get hired somewhere even though she has no office experience and essentially does a lot of things wrong in the interview itself. "The industry in general, and many organizations more specifically, have implemented and publicized efforts to upgrade the industry's reputation by making genuine efforts to offer career opportunities, with all of the advantages that accrue to them, to all interested persons" (Hayes and Ninemeier 15). While the interview definitely was not the most welcoming, Charity still should have done her due diligence in what was needed for a job. Looking around the staffing agency, one can see that she is dressed differently than the other women in the office. The women in the office are all dressed in skirt suits and she is dressed a bit more casually in a top and skirt. She should have come a day earlier and scoped out what the company attire and culture of the office was to get a better sense of how to dress. Another misstep she makes is getting emotional during the interview. She feels as if her chance for another life is slipping away when she cannot answer "yes" to any of the answers the interviewer is asking her. While this is certainly discouraging to anyone in the situation, the best thing to do is to stay calm and approach the situation in a professional way perhaps by asking what courses she can take to prepare for the position, etc. A woman entering the professional workforce, or any person, so leave over the top emotions at the door and become the professional (enter job title here) they are meant to be once they enter.

Charity did however do somethings that she should be applauded for! She was the only taxi dancer who actually followed through in their resolve to have a better life as she tried to answer the question presented in song in the film, "Where am I going?" (Sweet Charity). That takes a lot of gumption! The first step to success is making that first step and Charity made the decision to go to the interview and try looking for a professional position in an office setting. Another thing she did correctly is not give up when the interviewer kept asking her questions she could not answer yes to. Her tenacity is to be applauded as it is a tough job market out there and one must definitely have a tough skin.

Week 1 EOC: Best and Worst Jobs

Worst Job

The worst job I have ever had was as a sales associate at a very popular clothing retailer for bridge level men and women's clothing and business apparel. I was hired and very excited to work for the company because I had a friend who referred me and told me it was a fantastic place to work. Well to say it wasn't was an understatement. I never received any training and was essentially "thrown in" and told I would learn as I go. The location I was at could be very slow at times so instead of management pulling me aside and "showing me the ropes", I was told to fold clothing that, by the way, was already very neatly presented and perfect. I was also not allowed to enter other rooms and had to stay in my section and I could not talk to other associates. It became clear to me management took no interest in their new hires and was merely going through the motions. Felix, a character from a case study in Human Resources Management in the Hospitality Industry, sums up perfectly what I thought to myself on many occasions during my shifts, “A lot of our supervisors have been there for a long time and really don't care about the organization or their staff members. They sure don't treat staff the way they would want to be treated themselves.” (Dr. Hayes and Dr. Ninemeier 25). It was apparent there was little respect given to the employees, especially those that were new, in getting them acclimated to the company culture. This is a shame because I was excited to work for a respected brand but after my time there ended (within a month), I left there not speaking very good things about the company, at least at a store level.

Best Job

The best job I have held is the job I currently hold. I work for a small company in which we work very closely with the owner. Never have I had a job with so much responsibility and accountability in which I felt like I was truly making a difference. Everyone on the team treats each other with a high level of respect and it is great to say that I truly enjoy the people surrounding me. We do not bring new people on often, but we do bring on interns every quarter and we are tasked with helping to educate them alongside the owner herself. The responsibilities we are tasked with give me a sense of purpose and placement within the company which is why I feel natural putting all my effort into my work.

Dr. Hayes, David and Dr. Jack Ninemeier. Human Resources Management in the Hospitality Industry.        2009. John Willey and Sons, Inc: Hoboken, New Jersey. 25.

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

Fashion is exhilarating. It is constantly changing and we must change along with it or be left breathlessly behind. This idea of an industry that can affect millions is why I love fashion. From a single garment we can change the ideas of many and spark a movement. My love for fashion is as multifaceted as the industry itself. The art of design moves me. In a mere second one garment can illicit such a powerful response that I am moved to tears. It can horrify, mesmerize, stupefy, or delight.  It is as profound and important as any of the great artworks treasured today. I value the art of styling an outfit to express individual taste, as well. It takes talent to show the world who you are without uttering a single word. In as much as fashion makes me feel, it also makes me strive to be something. My diligent work ethic, gregarious personality, and keen sense of business are all needed to make it in the industry. It takes a sharp mind to turn a passion into a thriving business. One day I will move to New York and succeed in a field I love. I aspire to work closely with emerging designers to help them become “the next big thing” by marketing and selling their work to fashionistas around the globe. I will be the person who helps turn their vision into a reality. Fashion does more than simply clothe me, it inspires me to make my mark in this world.