Anxiety over button-downs and loafers (I mean, my interview)

It's definitely worth noting that I absolutely love to shop. Anyone who knows me (ahem, 100% of this blog's readership, most likely), knows that. But yesterday, I had to tackle the daunting task of purchasing a few items to make me look awesome and über-professional for my upcoming interview in New York. Let me tell you, this was not easy.

I like to pride myself upon the fact that, most of the time, I'm pretty good at picking out an outfit for myself or my friends, whether this is from within our own closets or while out at a store. I figured I would be a natural at shopping for a specific occassion, where the guidelines seem pretty simple: nothing too tight, nothing too low-cut, nothing too loud. I was wrong.

I already have a pair of nice black pants, and a conservative-chic 3/4 sleeve grey Theory blazer to hopefully knock this interview out of the park in less than two weeks. All I needed was an appropriate shirt for underneath, and a nice pair of flats; heels are out of the question for this all-day-long affair. But when I walked into my first store and started browsing the racks, I began to panic.

Although in my opinion, it's always better to over-dress for an interview, this is the first real, serious, business-y interview that I've ever had. While I currently own more clothes than I know what to do with, I've always worked in semi-trendy places. I looked around the store, not even knowing where to begin. I was seriously lost, and I needed help.

Even when I asked a sales girl for some assistance, I felt like I didn't know what the eff I was doing. Yeah, I love to shop, but I've never had to buy stuff like this before. How is it supposed to fit? Am I supposed to look uptight? I'm pretty sure I was in the middle of a panic attack in the fitting room, because I actually started to sweat profusely. I made a mental note that whatever shirt I wound up purchasing for the interview must be short-sleeved.

I wound up leaving with two shirts and a pair of shoes, most of which I actually think that I'm going to return. I found a shirt in my closet that works pretty well and still manages to feel somewhat like me, but the silver accents on my new loafers clash with the gold accents on my bag. Although my mom told me to calm down because it's "just clothes," I know that in order to be taken seriously, I have to look consistent. Hopefully I'll find another pair that works.

I never realized that shopping could be so stressful. What if I get this internship and take it? I'll have to get lots more stuffy business clothes, and I'm not sure if I can put myself through this again. Now that I've almost nailed the outfit, though, it's on to more important things. Like...actually preparing for the interview itself?

Taking the plunge

Okay, it's been FAR too long since my last post. What gives?

Well, what gives is that I've been out trying to live my life the best way that a second-semester senior can only know how. These past couple of weeks, my days have been filled with laying in sunshine, green beer, and, yes, attempting to complete (on an A-level) a few major assignments that I must fulfill before I graduate. "The Scramble" isn't just about getting her ass on full-time payroll after graduation, people. I've just been spending more time doing and less time writing about it.

But, good news! That internship interview last week went very well, and the folks over there called me the very next day to offer me a second-round. Woohoo! Only problem is, the second-round interviews are to be held at their New York office. The woman from HR that I have been corresponding with assured me that the communications/media consulting firm would be happy to arrange a series of phone interviews instead, and that this would not interfere with any final decisions.

I wasn't born yesterday. I know that, if I show up in person, groomed to perfection, with a glittering smile and stunning composure (this is my blog here and I can write about any fantasy world I damn choose), they would be fools to turn me away.

But after looking into flights, they didn't exactly cost peanuts. Also - and I feel like a brat for admitting this - but I honestly wondered if I would feel like I was missing out if I opted to leave school during one of my last few precious weeks left. Plus, despite my previous, more positive professed stance on internships, I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant to fly to New York just for an internship interview; I might not even get the internship, and even if I do, I might not get a full-time offer after that.

Luckily, my parents are dying for me to get/take this internship. Obviously, I'm very into the program also, but sometimes, it's that extra support that counts. In other words, after chatting with Harriet and Peter, we decided that flying out to NYC was definitely an investment to make. I leave April 7th, and I'm actually very excited. I even tacked an extra day of room onto the trip, so that I could hopefully schedule some other meetings. I'm just waiting on some return e-mails. And waiting...

As the semester winds down, I've learned that a full-time job offer isn't exactly necessary for post-graduate success. I have friends attending graduate school, friends teaching in Israel for a year, and friends who don't have the slightest idea where the hell they'll wind up. Although my admittedly type-A personality would love to have the anxiety of potential unemployment taken off my shoulders, I have confidence that in the long run, things will work out. In the meantime, all I can do is keep on truckin' with my applications, and enjoy my last 6 weeks of college - even if it means spending a little less time on this blog.

Girls networking badly

In case you haven't noticed, I have taken a much-needed hiatus from my online presence, including that within the blogosphere. Call me a hypocrite, but I actually have many other things going on in my life aside from this blog. Shocking, I know.

For the past few weeks, I have been studying incessantly for midterms, and enjoying a well-deserved vacation over my Spring Break. But even in between my time spent lounging on the beach, my naps, and my nights at the casino, of course, I couldn't help but think about that little nuisance that's looming over my head. You know, a job?

As I enjoyed sunny Aruba, so did about 400 young adults at my hotel, sent there with all expenses paid by CareerBuilder.com. Judging from how they sent so many employees (and their guests!) to the Caribbean simply for pleasure, clearly, this was a company that was doing well...and worth looking into. My boyfriend, ever-encouraging, told me that now was the time to network.

At the casino craps table on one of our first nights, I decided to use the sociability of this game to my advantage. I don't remember who started talking to whom, but I found myself in a conversation with the man in his late 20s/early 30s next to me. When he said that he worked for CareerBuilder and they they sent all these lucky people here because they're a great company that's "big on recognition," I asked him if they were hiring for anything entry-level, as I graduate from the University of Michigan this May and I'm very interested in online content development, to which he replied that he believed there were a few openings at the company. After chatting for a few minutes, the CareerBuilder employee told me that not only was he from Michigan (went to State, but I'll let that one slide), his wife was from Newton! Score.

After that interaction though - and a couple great rolls of the dice by my hotshot boyfriend - the conversation dwindled. I couldn't muster up the courage to get this guy's contact information, and we walked on to some other table games, all the while kicking myself as my boyfriend asked me what the hell happened. I guess I figured I had all week to schmooze, since the CareerBuilder people would be at the hotel until Friday.

In the end, I walked away with nothing but a peeling nose. For some reason, although we talked to lots of these people at the casino each night, I just couldn't close. I was on vacation, and so were they...although I could have scored myself a few business cards, the last thing I felt like doing was bothering them.

I usually don't like to call out the companies that I apply to, interview, or network with, because who knows what will come back to bite me in the ass? However, since I was such a flop with this one, I figure I have nothing to lose. Oh, well. There are plenty of other online conglomerates in the sea. For now, although my vacation is over, I'm happy to be back in the swing of things and enjoy the less than 2 months (!) I have left here.