Holli Parkinson
H&M
Design Assistant (Young Girl Department)
My Journey
After graduation I always knew I was more suited to high street design. The fast paced environment with fixed hours and a set salary was appealing to me. It helped to know I which general direction I wanted to move toward. I began my search by researching and calling companies I was intereted in working for, with H&M at the top of my list.
My first step was to call the H&M head office to ask if there was a design office in London and find out who I should contact. From there the process was straight forward, I sent over my CV and cover letter and my contact replied to request some images of my work. I was then invited for my first interview. The interview went well, H&M has a very welcoming environment, however it was only then I realized the job was in Sweden!
Two weeks later I was invited for a second interview with someone from the HR department. This interview was orientated towards finding out more about me as a person rather than my portfolio, but again I felt encouraged by the very warm and friendly environment. Following this interview I received an email to say there were no positions but as-and-when a position became available I would be invited to Sweden for a third and final interview.
I thought it was a ‘brush off’ so continued applying for jobs else where. But a month or so later H&M invited me to a third interview (YAY!!!). I was flown out for the day and informed I would have an answer within 2weeks. I didn’t feel too confident after the third interview, however just after the 2 week period a lady from HR called me to offer me the job personally! I started the following month. The total length of time between first interviews to starting the job was 5 months, including the month’s notice I had to give at my previous job.
My life with H&M
I would most definitely recommend HM for future graduates and students, they offer well paid placements for 3 months and the work is very hands on. My experience at H&M has been fantastic; I have a healthy work life balance and flexible working hours. The internal values of the company are made really clear and create a great environment to work in, the work of each individual is important however good team ethics are still valued, there is a belief that no one person is better than another – everyone’s opinion is valid. I immediately felt welcomed into a warm friendly environment. I was worried as I didn’t use Illustrator when I started and all designs are produced on this programme, but they have training courses for EVERYTHING! This training helps to make your work life easier and more enjoyable, as well as being a perfect way to make friends who are at a similar development level.
There is free fresh fruit everywhere in the building, free teas and coffee which is nice and the most beautiful dining room with fantastic food! H&M offer opportunities to travel with the brand and there are regular trips to India, China, Bangladesh; LA, Paris & London. We are given the chance to move around the organisation, taking up new roles in new departments. It’s a refreshing place to work and a lot of senior member of staff have been with the company for so many years, and they still love it!
Moving to another country was a scary prospect however H&M seem to understand this and support in anyway they can. You are given a 2000 pound relocation allowance, a huge info pack about Stockholm and things you need to do when you arrive such as advice on housing. The most difficult thing when moving is housing, it is a massive issue in Stockholm generally many people struggle, thankfully I found somewhere quickly, but it’s not always the case.
Overall I would say I found a brilliant graduate position…I LOVE H&M!
My ‘Top Tips’
- Think in advance about how your portfolio will represent you
A friend who is extremely talented and has had a lot of success within design, however she applied for a job with HM and they refused her a design position as her work was too eccentric. She is now a pattern maker with HM, but wants to be in design. Remember although your third year is a time to be experimental and playful, it’s always worth thinking about how your portfolio may present you to those you wish to work with in the future.
- Be persistent and committed to your search
For me the transition between student and working life is all a blur. From university I was working full time in retail and applying for jobs as and when I had the time. I knew I wanted to work in high street and only a few appealed to me my search was quite slim, I was also applying for Buying Assistant roles as well as looking into forecasting companies like WGSN. Everything was all so fast paced, I didn’t have the luxury of taking the time out to think too much about my options or to do a placement I was very lucky that everything seemed to fall into place and put a lot of it down to good fortune, being persistent and looking for jobs in my free time. I think if you really want a job don’t stop applying!
- Be proactive. Don’t take any opportunities for granted
I was a little disappointed towards the end of my degree; I found students who received press attention at the graduation show also received a lot of career support and tutors tended to focus more on their future development. It felt as though they had little time for anyone else. However in all fairness I know I didn’t make the most of the facilities available to me, like the careers team, whilst I was still at LCF. I found the UAL jobs web page a very helpful tool, I applied for many jobs there but as you can imagine it was a very popular and over subscribed service. Looking back I think it was a really important time and could have been a little more focused on the opportunities available to me.