STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

maya · BCBG

Job advice: Lawyer v. Makeup artist? (long post)

lynnie · Chanel

if you have been looking for a year...then i'd suggest taking the makeup artist position. is the pay good for now? i was sitting next to a girl on the bus and she had graduated w/a finance degree, but took a year off from school when she was 19 to travel w/Clinique and do makeup events. She said she had a ton of fun, made about 50K (!!), and was always staying in nice hotels, etc. I think its a good way to help people feel good about themselves, if you're worried about that. You could also network that entire year w/your clients. So yea, i'd take the job.

carmenb513 · Coach

I agree with Lynnie.

Mandy · Kate Spade

I also agree with Lynnie. I'd take the makeup job and use it to network if you think you still may want to try something in the legal field. What about voluneering on weekends at a law clinic or some type of justice or innocence project?

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

I have to disagree with everyone. Law school is an expensive investment. I think it is a waste of time, money and dreams to work with makeup when you have such wonderful aspirations. Why don't you persue careers at the law firms you interned with? Perhaps you are being too picky and should find a job that is not perfect but use it to network and eventually find something you love.

I do not mean to offend you, it is just that you have worked so hard to work in an industry that is known for being low paying and not very glamorous (pushing products, standing on your feet, trying to make commissions).

I kind of can relate to your situation in a way.. I was pre-law during undergrad, took the LSATs, figured I would take some time off and apply for law school. Right after graduation, I took a corporate position with a cosmetics company. I enjoy my job but what I do cannot compare with what I set out to do.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

XtinaStyles wrote:

I have to disagree with everyone. Law school is an expensive investment. I think it is a waste of time, money and dreams to work with makeup when you have such wonderful aspirations. Why don't you persue careers at the law firms you interned with? Perhaps you are being too picky and should find a job that is not perfect but use it to network and eventually find something you love.

I do not mean to offend you, it is just that you have worked so hard to work in an industry that is known for being low paying and not very glamorous (pushing products, standing on your feet, trying to make commissions).

I have to agree with this. I think that if you have determined what your "dream" job is and you are finding out that you can't do it yet then you need to quit being so picky and get some type of law experience so that you can move on to your "dream" job in a few years. I don't see how sitting out for a year and not working and then possibly longer if you go with the makeup counter idea will look good on your resume if you continue to apply for legal jobs since you won't have any experience except a few internships.

I'll be the first to admit I HATE my job, it is not my dream job by any means, and its not something I plan on doing any longer than another 2 years. Its a job I had to take to get accounting and auditing experience so that I could move on to a better job that fits more with what I'd like to be doing and so that companies would feel I have enough training and experience to handle.

subwolley · Kate Spade

I agree, don't turn your back on law and the education. I think you may regret doing that in the long run.

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

Well, I had a employee when I managed a department at nordies who did exactly what you are thinking of. Nordstrom is a great company with lots of opportunity for growth and most people dont realize that nordstrom sales people can make around 70- 100k a year.

I would say give the job a shot. Even though they asked for a one year commitement retail is never 100% and if you choose to leave even at 6 months there really isnt any reason that you couldnt. I think the only way to know what path you really seem to love is by trying both out.

Besides even though law school was a big investment, IMO it doesnt really matter if you end up in a job you dont really love. You have to work every day so you should love what you do.

jj · Kate Spade

Here is how I would approach your decision:

1. Talk to lawyers in the field you want to get into, to learn how they got there. Did they have to gain experience in private practice first before moving on, or are there entry level jobs available?

2. Are you finding jobs in the area you want to get into, and they're just not the "right" job, or are there really no jobs period?

3. When I have interviewed for something, and don't get it, I asked for feedback. Was it lack of experience in a particular area, weaknesses, etc...so I could improve in those areas for the future.

4. This is kind of personal, but you need to look at finances. If you are going to be hit with paying back law school loans, you may not make enough $$$ as a makeup artist to survive.

It's totally up to you to use/not use your law degree - a lot of my friends have a JD and aren't practicing lawyers. But if you really have a dream job in mind, I would explore every avenue to get there before throwing in the towel.

littlebean · Kate Spade

If you think that you have a pretty decent shot of landing a part-time make-up job, I think that you should go for that route so you can give it a shot and have some income while still pursuing your true career aspirations in law.

Suasoria · Chanel

I agree w/ Alliegurl. They can't hold you to a "one-year commitment" anyway. (You're a lawyer - you'll get out of it if you need to!)

I really don't see a downside, since you can pursue law jobs in the meantime. As for having to take a full time vs. part time job there, that policy may change in a few weeks or months. Ya never know.

More metaphysically speaking, it sounds like makeup artistry is a passion of yours and I think you owe it to yourself to at least give it a try for a few months. This sounds like a good way to get a start versus going to school for it...and what's the worst that can happen? Nobody will take away your law degree because you're doing this for a while instead.

It's a horrible thing to be stuck in a job you don't like doing, or working for/with people you don't like. Until and unless your dream job in law comes around, this sounds like something you'll really enjoy.

honey · Gucci

i feel like no matter how much advice you get (and you've gotten some great advice) it will ultimately boil down to what matters to you, which is hard to figure out. i'm of the follow your passion opinion. if you do something you love money will ultimately come, if you don't, no amount of money is ever going to satisfy you.

a law degree is one of those things that you can always go back to since it's kind of like a mark of legitimacy (i.e. this person must be smart & talented since they made it through law school and passed the bar.) also i don't really see it as turning your back on law. you have a JD and passed the bar. i might be wrong, but my understanding is that as long as you pay your dues you'll always be able to practice. so you haven't given it up, you're just exploring other alternatives.

eta: if you do take the nordstrom job, make sure you & the company are on the same page. be clear that you want to advance as quickly as possible, and also makre sure that you understand what the steps would be. i.e. in 6 months you're promoted to sr. assc., in a year you're promoted to another title, etc.

-- Edited by honey at 17:29, 2007-04-24

kittenheels · Coach

It's a tough decision. Everyone who posted previously had really good insights. I recently started a job as a government attorney after working at a large firm. While you didn't specify which sort of government agency or entity you wanted to work for, my experience was that they were more interested in my legal experience in general, rather than specific things.

It seems like the makeup position would allow you to explore another avenue that might ultimately be more fulfilling for you than practicing. My only thought is that you might want to work at a legal temp agency or some other sort of legal job during this period, so that if you ultimately want to pursue law at a firm/government, you have kept up and developed your legal skills.

Good luck!

joy0302 · Kate Spade

It doesn't really sound like your heart is set on practicing law. Unfortunately, sometimes once you go to school for something you realize it isn't what you want to do for the rest of your life. I agree with AllieGurl, it is more important that you are happy, and only you can figure out if that is going to be by being a makeup artist, practicing law, or maybe something completely different! If you are working retail IMO Nordstrom is probably one of the best places to be. Being a makeup artist involves a lot of creativity and maybe that is a side that you are not able to express in a law setting. I say go for it and see how you like it and keep your eye open for something else if you decide you don't want to do that fulltime.