Sarah McLeod
What subject did you study during your time at NTU?
BA Hons Fashion Design.
What is your current job?
Creative Media Teacher & Student Support at Shrewsbury Colleges Group.
What was your most memorable moment during your time at NTU, that helped you with your career development?
When I won the River Island Graduate Fashion Week Menswear Design Award for T-shirt Graphics.
My top tip for the Class of 2020 in one sentence:
Be determined yet adaptable. Big or small opportunities will come your way and you might not think they are strictly part of your career ‘plan’ but get involved anyway and build your contacts. This is one thing I am grateful for doing because small things tend to lead to bigger things.
What did you find most challenging about graduating in 2008 (e.g. effects of recession on career plans)?
I assumed I would walk into a comfortable design job after I graduated. However, the recession hit many fashion suppliers hard and I found myself looking for a new way to carve my path and still work in my dream job. I decided to be brave and set up my own business to work on a freelance basis for companies that needed design work as well as creating my own line of printed silk scarves to retail at events across the country. These are normally things that people go into after having a lot more work experience than I had at that time and it was a huge learning curve, but I’m so glad I stuck at it.
Over time, I gained new clients and collaborated with different organisations, leading me to opportunities to speak at events for people in the freelance creatives and tech arena. I have spoken at lots of events including at Google Campus, the IPEX Print Fair, The Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards and Graduate Fashion Week to name a few. I was producing design work for companies such as Alfa Romeo.
All of these things were a big challenge, but had the recession not happened just as I graduated, perhaps I would have found that comfortable job and maybe I would have just stayed there. But I was forced to think on my feet and adapt to a new plan which led me to so many more exciting opportunities in the end. I have now produced design work for companies such as, Alfa Romeo, FIAT, Budweiser, River Island and many more.
Looking back at my graduation in 2008, I can honestly say that even though I thought I was unlucky back then, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have been able to do so many more things than I had anticipated and in 2017, decided my next step would be to qualify as a teacher in Further Education, as I felt ready to tackle a new phase in my career and to share with students the importance of adaptability.
Do you have any advice for current students or new graduates to improve their employability prospects?
In my experience, clients, employers and colleagues have all appreciated the genuine article when it comes to a person. I know that the phrase ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ can be a useful way to motivate yourself to speak out even though you feel shy, but overall I have known people to value honesty and integrity above most things. Think about the ways you can apply this in your working life, including on your CV and at interviews. Avoid using clichés about how passionate you are and instead focus on what you have achieved, the experiences that have shaped you and how you have learned from those.
Also, have a great website to showcase yourself and your work and tidy up your social media presence.