Haven’t quite landed your dream job yet? Don’t worry–you’re not the only one! It’s rare to find 20-somethings who have it all figured out, especially when it comes to our careers. Snagging an amazing internship is usually the first step. Then, you have to nail the interview for a gig that will hopefully get you out of the ‘rents house. And to inspire you not to give up, we asked five 20-somethings to share how they became successful in their twenties.
Jaimie De Santis, 24, New York, NY
Food & Beverage Office Manager, Mandarin Oriental
“As the Food & Beverage Office Manager of Mandarin Oriental, New York, I am previewed to some of the top events in the ‘Big Apple’ such as: fashion week, movie premieres, gala events and so on. I feel so lucky to have been chosen to be a part of a hotel where I can create memorable experiences for VIP clients and well-known individuals around the world. I also have the privilege of working with celebrity chefs as well as coming up with the creative concepts behind all of our menus for Restaurant Asiate, Lobby Lounge and Mobar. My day-to-day work life is never the same I am always walking into some sort of chaos, but at the end of the day, it some how all gets glued back together.”
Meghan Tarmey, 27, NYC and Myrtle Beach, SC
CEO, MBCG LLC aka “The Caddy Girls”
“I have an awesome team of over 50 of the hottest, most awesome girls that are golf caddies. We have expanded and are caddied in NJ, NY, AZ, GA, NC, SC, MD, PA, NV and CA. We travel all over the country to work golf events, bar-tend at bike rallies and work tradeshows (kind of a mini circus at times!). I could be working 120 hours one week and have off the next seven days–it’s random and every day is different. And I meet people from all over the world!”
Ashley Simula, 23, New York, NY
Design Coordinator of Handbags, Accessories & Shoes, Tory Burch
“I coordinate tie backs (prints, colors, hardware) with each department to make sure everyone is on the same theme for the season. I also work on creative and special projects. Everyday I look forward to something new and exciting!”
Elissa Singer, 29, Cambridge, MA
Cheesemonger, Formaggio Kitchen
“My passion has always been eating good food and sharing it with others. This job allows me to learn and study cheese and other specialty products and to share my knowledge and my passion with the customers. I explain the history and description of artisan cheeses from around the world and what other foods and wines to pair them with. I have always loved being in the presence of delicious foods, especially cheese. and being able to learn more everyday and share this love with people who appreciate it, is extremely rewarding.”
Jessica Rawls, 27, New York, NY
Fashion Assistant, Marie Claire
“I run the Fashion Closet at Marie Claire. I work as a liaison between our editors and PR companies to traffic samples in and out of the magazine and to and from our photo shoots. I assist the fashion department while overseeing an average of 20 interns per semester. I am currently working on all of the ticket requesting, schedules and planning for New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week. From the second I walked into Marie Claire as an intern, I was hooked. I fell in love with the high pressure and fast pace of the industry. To then be offered a staff position with a company I respected so much was a dream come true. I love coming to work every day. I have met some amazing people within the industry and am continuously challenged on a daily basis!”
What are you doing to achieve your dream career?
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