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Prevailing rage, trying to get a wage.

OHHIGUYS!

Over the past few months, I have been searching for a job. Hamley's didn't work out because when I got there, I was told that they no longer wanted me to dress up, and that I would be on the sales floor (pfft), and then, AND THEN they decided to change the hours in my contract to a measly, couldn't live on it even if I ate sand, four hours a week!. So I had to continue my job hunt. I then found a job in a cafe, that I shall not mention, for the fear, THE FEAR! and I thought everything was going to be ok, that I could afford to buy myself whatever I lusted after and be the darn best dressed cafe worker in all of Dublin. But alas! This job did not work out either. So I had to start the jobhunt AGAIN! which is pretty difficult in Ireland, AKA: Recession Land. 

And this is where I have beef with Irish employers. I have been on probably, oh say, 4734 interviews in my quest to find a frequent income, and the amount of crazy ass, humiliating and downright inhumane shit I have been asked to do at interviews is an outrage! 

So I have composed this wee list of things to expect when going for an interview nowadays, (cos it ain't like it used to be!) in order to help any of you who are looking to find a job.

1: Expect the unexpected! So people always say to be prepared when going for an interview, to know what you're going to say, and to have background knowledge about the company you're interviewing for. These are all good points, however, I found that interview techniques have now changed and most big companies hold recruitment days, or group interviews where you can be asked to do the most bizarre, demoralizing shit ever. I have been on my fair share of group interviews and I have been asked to..... ahem....

- Design a dress made out of carrier bags and paper and sellotape said design to a model, and then present it to the room giving details of fabric, colours, design features and pricing.

- Plan a party for a six year old girl.

-Style an outfit for some Z list celebrity that I've never heard of.

- Slurp some coffee, and give details of the flavours I got from it. 'Oh yes, I'm definitely getting some hazelnut undertones'

And these are to name but a few! So eh, yeah, if you have to attend a group interview, don't be surprised if you're asked to give a rundown of the company's history, whilst peeling an orange with one hand and masturbating with the other. IT'S ALL COMPANY POLICY!

2. Expect to wait around for AGES! I hate being late for anything, so I always turn up WAY too early. But what really irritates me is when you have made the effort to turn up 10 minutes early, in order to make a good  impression for your potential new boss, and they turn around and say 'Oh you're actually quite early, so you'll have to wait, we told you 10 o clock, not 10 to'.
I know I'll have to wait, I decided I would arrive in advance because I wanted to impress your ass, and show that I am an eager fucking beaver who is just dying to sign my soul away to this evil conglomerate, that you call a workplace. If I get the effing job, I'll never be early, honest! Please don't hold my magnificent time keeping skills against me!
And then to punish you for being early they make you wait around for sometimes hours in a crowded, either too hot or too cold room, whilst they sort out the paperwork that should have been done a week ago, when they asked you to attend the interview. If you find yourself in a situation like this, use your time to speak to the other interviewee's, it will give you an inkling into who your biggest competition is, and then you'll have time to conjure a plan to destroy them. (maniacal laugh)
3. Expect there to be an outrageously, obnoxious, overly-confident C. U.Next.Tuesday. Yes every group interview has one, and if you're after coming from one where there wasn't an unnecessarily loud, big mouth, loathsome person, then you my friend are THAT person.
The way to tackle these human abominations is to let them speak as much as they want, (which will be ALL the time) because the employer will more than likely see that they are complete, nauseating morons and won't want to employ them. Now the trick is after they finish talking, you perk up, and answer next. If possible try to use what the egotistical dickhead said in a negative way, and then answer the question showing why your way is better than theirs.
eg. 'I can see what Tom the giant douche bag is saying, but I think that customers may view his approach as too in your face. I always prefer to acknowledge the customer and offer my help without being too forceful. I find people are much more receptive when they see you as caring and helpful, and not a sales orientated, arrogant cock, .... isn't that right Tom?'
See! It's easy!
4. Expect to be split into teams and given a task to complete. Employers want to see how well you work with others and that you're a team player, so in order for them to do this, they must give 'team tasks'. These tasks can range from anything like 'list 10 examples of excellent customer service' to 'do as many fisherman knots as you can in 10 minutes'. BECAUSE WHY THE F**K NOT?
5. Expect to make a fool of yourself. Yes at these group interviews where you could be asked to do just about anything, you really have to give it your all. It can at times be frustrating when you know that what you've been asked to do doesn't really relate to the job you've applied for and is more like an acting workshop, but try to prevail! Don't take yourself too seriously, and try to have fun with it. They make great stories!

Employers hold group interviews because they want to see who stands out, and who can think for themselves. It's a fine line between standing out, and becoming Tom the Cock. Never talk over anyone, wait until they have finished, then raise your hand and answer. Make sure you always answer the question, never say 'I don't know', because behind every Tom the Cock, is a quivering Silent Susan, who says nothing. Always be up for the challenge, and try to think about why you're doing this, THE JOB AT END OF THE RAINBOW!!!!!!

I hope these few tidbits of knowledge help, and I would be extremely interested to know about your group interviews. Please let me know! :)
Ciara K.


P.S. I have finally found myself a job, and I really like it! I didn't have to jump through hoops to get it either!

My Jean Strike......

So for just under,.......... say five years, I have not worn, donned, sported, harnessed, put on, slipped on or clothed myself in a pair of jeans. I know to some people this will seem insane, as many of my friends find these simple denim trousers  a wardrobe staple, a necessity, ESSENTIAL! and I know that many of you will have shelves and shelves devoted to your favourite denim leg buddies.

I however could give or take jeans........... in-fact I do neither, I simply don't go near them.

I can't remember exactly when or why I chose to stop wearing jeans, ( Oh yes, I have worn them before, I wasn't raised in a weird 'Denim is the Devil' cult ) but I assume it's when the marvelously free 'legging' came back into fashion. I grew weary of the restrictions that jeans have, as I'm partial to a bit of side-kicking, cart-wheeling, and freaky dancing when the mood takes me and the constrictions that I found in jeans did not allow me to get 'weird and freaky' as much as I would have liked.

THESE MAGNIFICENT FEATS OF THE HUMAN BODY COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED WEARING JEANS

 Maybe I was buying really bad jeans? Or maybe I am super sensitive to constrictions............ and have the need to feel like I'm naked even whilst wearing clothes? 

 Has anybody else boycotted jeans for this reason? 

But the 'Legging' really did solve all of my problems, comfortable, affordable, can dress up or down, can do pretty much everything jeans can do, and a bit more! Try doing the splits in a tight pair of skinny jeans, and get back to me, I'd say you would need more than just a new pair of jeans. In leggings however you can do all the stretches, lunges, and star jumps that you want! 

Beautiful, restriction free lunges!

I really don't want to be a hypocrite though, and say that I will never wear a pair of jeans again, because I am aware that there are new soft cotton/ denim mix jeans that are super soft and comfortable ( I know this from my friend making me rub the leg of her new TopShop 'Super Soft' skinny jeans, all the while she oohed and awed at their cushiness ), but for now I am satisfied wearing my leggings.

Shit Hot.

So here's a post on things that I think are Shit Hot at the minute.
Ahem.............


MADMEN

I was a bit late jumping on this bandwagon, but it worked out well, as I got to spend all my time watching the first 5 seasons back to back! I fricking love this show, and actually almost cried when I finished the last season, knowing that I'd have to wait over a year to see it again! I'm honestly considering watching it from the start again, just so I can get my Don Draper fix. Jesus Christ alive, the man is amazing!


NEON!

                                                                                                                             

I'm usually not a fan of colourful things, probably due to the fact that I was a raging goth back in my tumultuous teenage days. But lately I have been feeling a little more experimental, and down right brave! so I decided to give this trend a go. I blew caution to the wind, stood up, took a deep breath, and went on nastygal.com and ordered myself a pair of neon yellow litas! (pictured above)
Since buying the shoes, I have added more neon items to my wardrobe, and I am really beginning to like colour........... who knew?


AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS

I have been looking for a job since I moved to Dublin MONTHS ago, but until recently it was to no avail. So to stop myself from going insane, and to waste away the long, jobless days I got myself a library card. And it is here, that I discovered Augusten Burroughs. This man is an amazing writer, and through his books he shares his fucked-up, crazy ass, you couldn't make it up if you wanted, life in a sarcastic, funny, endearing way. He's so good, I went without sleep just to read more, and ended up reading 3 of his books in one weekend. READ HIS BOOKS!


HAMLEYS!

Yes! Every kids favourite place, and I am their newest employee. My work days will soon involve dressing up, playing with toys, hosting parties and eating all the candy canes I want! I am very excited about this new, magical adventure that I am soon to set sail on.
After months of gruelling, sometimes cruel interviews I finally got a job in the funnest place ever! Unfortunately it is not in London's Regent Street store, but Hamleys in Dundrum is equally enchanting, boasting 3 floors, a dance studio, party room, and even an inflatable pirates island. Jealous much?

Photoshoot with Brian McNamara.

A week or 2 ago, (can't really remember, I've been mental busy recently, and my head is about to explode!) I did a quick photoshoot with the lovely and very talented Brian McNamara. It was quite a relaxed shoot, no outfit changes, and we just wandered around Dublin, looking for pretty places to takes pictures.
Here's a few of my favourite pics:

 

 

Scarf: Robbed from my boyfriend :)

Jacket: Vera Moda

Rings: Topshop

Leggings: Made by me

Shoes: Ebay

I was really happy with how the pictures came out. I love how the background is slightly distorted, I think it gives a really cool effect. 

Brian's work can be seen here, check him out! :)

Hope you like the pics, more to come from other shoots! :)

See ya ! 

Ciara K.

Oh a wee joke for you! 

Have you heard of the new corduroy pillows?

They've been making headlines! 

I pissed myself laughing at this joke when I heard it, I am so lame! :)

                                                           

Love and Loathing in Las Vegas....

I thought for my first post  that I should show some of the stuff I'm really liking at the minute, and some of the stuff that damn right upsets me! As I'm only starting out, I'm not really sure what I want to do with this blog, whether it be for fashion or for general musings, (which would probably involve mostly fashion with the odd tea rating, or a movies that made me cry countdown )  Anyways here it goes:

Pedometers!

Yes I know, not fashion , or tea related for that matter, but I do love my pedometer. It's a giant unattractive, brick of thing, that doesn't look good with anything I wear, and gets me quite a few odd looks, but FECK it, I really love it.  I can't afford a gym membership, so on my quest to be healthy I invested in one of these bad boys! A healthy person is supposed to do 10,000 steps a day , which is a lot, but I find when I have my trusty Pedometer, ( who I named Vladimir )  seeing that step counter go up and up, really gives you the push you need to get to 10,000. Vladimir also tells me how many calories I've burned, how many miles I've walked and he even wakes me up in the morning! 

Ciara + Vladimir 

forever.

xxxxxx

Toxic Vision Studded Biker Jacket

                               
                                                           Studded Biker Jackets

I'm REALLY loving these at the minute, how kick ass is that jacket? I love the heavy embellishment, and the thick chunky zips. The monochrome is pretty cool too, I usually avoid black and white for fear of looking like a liquorice allsort, but it works here. We have to design a jacket/coat in college, and I think I'm gonna make mine based on biker jackets, with maybe a retro 80's feel. I'm thinking 80's power jacket meets Hells Angels. What dya think?

ASOS Treacle Metallic Shoe Boot

Metallics!

I am really digging metallic colours at the minute, especially gold. I can't get enough of em!

I am lucky enough to own the above pair of shoes, got em on ASOS on sale, and I really am delighted with em. I feel like a little robot when I wear them. I have my eye on a few more pairs of metallic shoes, Jeffrey Campbell has awesome Litas in silver and pewter! WANT..... 

I am currently on the look out for a pair of metallic gold leggings. I got a pair in topshop, but I was disappointed with them, I don't like the material, and they're not as 'foily ' as I would like.  Anybody know where I can get a pair? Any help will be rewarded with me busting out my best robot moves in your living room. :)

Yo Bitch Be Hatin:

Insomnia

Yep fecking insomnia! It's kinda ruining my life right now. I'm finding it increasingly harder to sleep, which isn't fun when you have to be in college for 9 most days, or when you have a photoshoot, and  you're supposed to turn up fresh as daisy, when instead you turn up looking like death.

Oh the joys!

The Flippy Dress

Yes I know, I know, how can I dislike such a wardrobe staple? When the flippy or skater dress or whatever you want to call it comes in such a wide variety of colours and prints to suit everyone's taste, how on earth could I dislike it? 

Well to be honest I think that's it. You can get the flippy dress in every colour imaginable, in every print imaginable, but it's still the same dress. In every magazine there's the new must have flippy dress, this time in duck egg green! Maybe I am being a bit hard on the aul' Flippy dress, I mean it does have it's features, you can dress it up or down depending on mood or venue.  But where's the PAZZAZ people? I just think it's a bit boring, and every night I go out I see the same silhouettes, but with maybe a capped sleeve and extra Flip. 

Yep, so that's some of my loving and a tiny bit of my ranting out now.

I would be UBER interested to know what you are loving or hating ( or both, go mad! ) at the minute.

See ya!

Ciara K.