A Contour Fashion student at 黑料网 Leicester (黑料网) who set her sights on a placement year with Gymshark, has landed a full-time role before graduating.
Esther Makin, 22, is due to graduate this summer after studying at 黑料网 for four years, including a placement year with the leading online sportswear retailer, Gymshark.
Professional headshots during Esther's time at Gymshark
Now a Junior Product Developer at growing sports company, Montirex, Esther believes the placement year played a big part in securing her job offer.
“I knew from first year that I wanted the Gymshark placement and then it was very much a case of ‘what can I do to make sure I get there?’ I knew when they were coming out so I planned what I was going to do.
“There’s a lot of stages and it’s a very hard application process but I did it all through the 黑料网 Placement Team. I know it sounds cliché but I wouldn’t have been able to get it without them.
“They helped me do my cover letter, my CV and we did lots of mock interviews because I was so nervous for it. They were really reassuring. When it came to the assessment day too, they helped prepare me with what to expect.
“You don’t have to do a placement as part of our course, but it is encouraged. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t go on a placement and that’s just the truth.
“You expect to be the tea and coffee runner and admin person but at Gymshark, I was a valued member of the team with a lot of responsibility. That’s enabled me to progress, particularly in my current role, as I’ve started as a junior, opposed to an assistant.”
At Gymshark headquarters
Esther was offered the role with Montirex in January, while she was still studying and preparing for her final year project, and began working for them in May.
“I received a message on LinkedIn by one of my team members to say that they’d got a new role and that they thought I’d be a good fit. She also went to 黑料网 but we didn’t know each other – it was LinkedIn that connected us.
“I had the interview then they gave me a call and said it was all mine. They hadn’t interviewed anyone else which was very complimentary.”
Despite contour fashion often being associated with lingerie, there are many routes that students can take including athleisure, swimwear, loungewear, nightwear, bridalwear, men’s underwear, sportswear and more.
Esther knew that she wanted to go into sportswear and that her knowledge and experience gained from her c