Tiana McInerney, Textile Design, Reflections, LEAP 2020-21

Tiana McInerney
Textile Design BA

As a LEAP finalist, the career workshop pathway has increased my confidence, whilst providing me with a clearer idea of the steps I plan to take following my graduation.

Key Career Events
The ‘Job Searching during Covid-19’ webinar with Mary Anne Thompson contributed insight into how the Covid-19 Pandemic has impacted the job landscape at a global scale. One of the key points taken from the webinar is the idea that freelance work has become more common, as a result of increasing online communication throughout the pandemic. With freelance work taking away geographical limitations, I have started to look at worldwide graduate job opportunities and internships. Having said that, the Alumni focus session with Art & Design Graduate Emma Bentley Fox, has also made me consider the benefits of seeking out local opportunities. The focus session provided insight into the best ways to gain experience as a graduate designer and I became aware of several Leeds-based companies and social enterprises that I have already started to look into. Attending the Creative Access Masterclass day provided me with the tools to confidently apply for graduate level jobs and internships. I learnt about the key buzz words to use in CVs and the most effective language to use in cover letters. In addition, I was introduced to useful questions to consider when going through the interview process, as well as tips on how to maintain confidence under the pressure of an interview situation.

Careers Guidance Consultation
Speaking to a careers consultant was beneficial, as we were able to work together to build an action plan, which will be followed when finishing my degree. The first step of the action plan is to refine my CV. Within this step, a key barrier identified was my lack of confidence in describing my strengths. The second step of the action plan is therefore to fill out a skills audit document, which will help me to understand where my strengths lie. The third step is to visit the graduate job site ‘Prospects’. By researching careers within Textile Design and seeing the range of jobs currently available, I will be able to gain a stronger sense of direction within my specialism of printed textiles. After refining my job search through the Prospects website, the fourth step is to build an online portfolio to showcase my final year work. Finally, I worked with the careers consultant to comprise a reasonable timeline for my actions. The current plan is to apply for jobs and internships throughout June 2021, to give time for interviews in July 2021. If I am unsuccessful in securing a job before the end of August, I already have a conditional offer for the Textile Sustainability and Innovation Msc at The University of Leeds, which begins in September 2021. If continuing to further eduction, the masters course will develop my skillset and interest in sustainability, to enhance my desirability as a job candidate for future applications.