Where I've been, and where I'm going

One last "Hail to the Victors" at graduation

Guess what! I'm back! In fact, I didn't really go anywhere - neither did this blog, figuratively speaking, but that's besides the point. So, so much has been going on over these last few weeks (months? has it really been that long?) that I really have been too busy to blog, and seriously, that's the truth. And you know what? I'm not at all apologizing for this. My lost blogging minutes were spent studying for finals, applying for jobs, and doing absolutely nothing with my best friends while we were all actually in the same place. Oh, and I also watched President Obama deliver my commencement speech as I became a college graduate. NBD.

Here's some actual news: I got the internship! You know, the one I flew to New York to interview for. I was quite hesitant to take this position, since I'm basically getting paid nothing and that city ain't cheap; furthermore, although it's been hinted multiple times that I could get a full-time offer after the summer, this by no means is a guarantee. For type-A moi, this is no good. I want the security of an actual job, and I've been working my ass off to get one all year. Is that so much to ask for?

Apparently, it is. Although I did accept the internship I have continued to interview at other places, because I really do believe one should always keep his/her options open. I'm not sure if I'd take another job at this point, since I've already settled on the idea of this internship in New York, but you never know. Anyway, I spent 3 hours (!) at this one digital marketing agency the other day. Everyone seemed totally awesome, and I'm pretty sure they liked me back. Turns out, they did like me, but I guess not enough to actually offer me an entry-level position. "We do have a great internship, though." Ugh.

I've also been interviewing with an educational publishing company right here in Boston. Like I said, I've already wrapped my head around the idea of being in New York for this summer and possibly beyond, but, I have to admit, I'm really warming up to the concept of being in Boston. Maybe it's because I just found out that two of my best friends will be here after they graduate. Maybe it's because although he's looking for jobs in New York (anyone know of any open i-banking analyst positions?), my boyfriend might still be in Boston. Or, maybe it's just because I bought some really cute shoes on Newbury St. the other day. Whatever.

Bottom line is, why limit myself? Although I absolutely love New York City and I do hope I wind up there, I shouldn't consider it the be-all-end-all of locations to live my life in. That decision will be made - when the time comes - based upon the job opportunities that arise, and what will truly be best for me and my career. Surprisingly, I'm okay with not knowing exactly what's next. On deck for my more immediate future plans: Going to New York tomorrow to look for summer apartment rentals, trying to read Eclipse before the next Twilight movie comes out (sorry, Vaness), and enjoying the brisket my mom is cooking tonight in honor of the whole family back together.

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.

Is "internship" a four-letter word?

A few weeks ago, I had a bunch of phone conversations with this particular company, thanks to an introduction to one of their higher-ups from my mom - yet another reason why she's the shizz. Anyway, all of these chats went pretty well; each person I spoke with seemed cool, and as I spoke to more and more of these employees, I could really see myself becoming a part of this team and what they do.

I'm not so sure that I'd call any of these conversations an "interview" per se. Each phone call lasted no longer than twenty minutes - some of them only ten - and it didn't really appear as though there was an actual position available that these people were looking to fill. Of course, they were all so nice, told me that I'd fit in well with the company, that they would be in touch, blah, blah, blah. But, I wondered, was I being led on?

This reminds me a little bit of sorority rush, where we aren't allowed to tell girls that we'll see them the following week, just in case they don't get invited back to our house (Mean Girls, much?). I'm also reminded of The Bachelor, which I watched last night for the first time thanks to all the roommate hype I endure on a daily basis. In the show, my friend Carrie informed me, contestants vying for the hottie's affection can tell him that they love him, but he is not allowed to say it back until the very end of the show. I wish interviews were like that. I've gotten my hopes up in the past, and as I've written, it's not pretty.

I e-mailed each of my "interviewers" to thank them for their time, and I didn't hear anything for a few weeks. I actually contacted the HR rep who I previously spoke with a few times, wondering whether the company had assessed their staffing needs or not. Time went on.

Finally, the HR lady got back to me, letting me know that although everyone really enjoyed speaking with me, the group was still unsure of their ability to bring on more full-time staff. They'd know more around May, she said, and if I was still available/interested, they'd definitely want to talk again. In the meantime, they are currently hiring summer (paid) interns, and she could set up an interview for that if I was down.

My immediate reaction: disappointment. Obviously I'd prefer a full-time job with the security of continued employment beyond August. I felt a little bit like the girl who was dirty-rushed, told by the older sorority chick that her house cannot wait to see her next round, only to find out that she was not invited back. But was this feeling warranted?

I tried to relax for a sec. True, if I took the interview, it could lead to signing on for yet another internship, only to possibly have to begin the employment search all over again. But, it also could lead to an eventual full-time position after the summer is over.

I had a few questions. One: if I took the interview and hypothetically got the internship, would I still be considered for entry-level positions in May? Her answer was yes. And two: if I took the internship interview, got hired, and was then offered a full-time job either during or prior to the actual internship, could/should I take it? I didn't actually ask her this one. After talking to my mom, we decided that the answer to that one had to be yes as well; as a recent grad, anyone would have to understand that I'm looking for something that will continue to pay the bills full-time. And besides, all of this is assuming that I even get the internship, which might not even happen.

I wrote the woman back and told her that I would be happy to take the internship. Let's face it, this employment search is going to take way, way longer than I originally anticipated. It would be nice to have something cool to fall back on, just in case I still don't have anything full-time by then. An internship can get your foot in the door, and a paid internship is even better. I've come to the realization that I'm not in any position to rule out opportunities or possibilities, no matter what they are. I'm just hoping that things work out eventually, even if an internship delays that satisfaction 'til after the summer.

Happy Valentines Day, peeps!

I've been pretty busy this weekend, hanging out with my valentine and doing absolutely nothing. More later this week on job schtuff. In the meantime, enjoy some V-Day love from artist Phil Hansen.

When it comes to applications, it's quality over quantity

I already have a New Year's resolution, and for the most part, I'm sticking to it. I got a gym membership (!) and I've actually been using it almost every day, with no sign of stopping anytime soon. I'm giving myself a pat on the back for that one. But the other day, I made another resolution - to try to apply to five jobs every week. To me, this didn't seem like too daunting a task.

I even designated a chunk of time to work on this goal, and nothing else. This can be pretty tough for me sometimes, because more often than not, I tend to let my schoolwork get in the way of my job search. Already, things were looking pretty good. It was a Friday afternoon, I had already visited the gym, and I had a list of saved jobs on my Indeed.com homepage, ready and waiting for me.

But once I began researching these positions, their respective companies, and any current employees that I might be able to network with, I realized that - if done right - this seemingly easy "routine" of applying to a few jobs a week might take longer than I thought. In the few hours that I had set aside for the Employment Effort, I sent a ton of e-mails, LinkedIn messages and invitations to join my network. I added notes to each of my saved listings on Indeed, of who I contacted via what mode of communication, their position, and my relationship to this person (past employer, UM alumnus, etc.) Now what?

Because it is always better to have a direct contact at whatever companies I apply to, I know that it is worth the wait for the (potentially quite few) responses that I will receive. For the time being, the ball isn't in my court anymore. And I'm okay with that. I was even able to set up a few calls about certain positions and/or organizations, although they might only be informational interviews; I'm not sure. If people don't get back to me, I'll probably try again this weekend. If round two is similarly unsuccessful, I'll either try to find some other contacts or just go ahead and apply for those jobs.

Bottom line is, while goals are absolutely important, it's important to make sure these goals are realistic and truly in your best interest. Even though I left the UgLi yesterday feeling completely depressed/unproductive/like a waste of space, I know that all of my communication efforts aren't for nothing. In my opinion, it's way better to go into a job application prepared than to simply pump out copied-and-pasted cover letters and resumes. I think? Hopefully, I'll actually see some results. Stay tuned!

Why I (Should) Blog

I'm pretty psyched about this semester. I, believe it or not, actually really enjoy all of my classes that I'm taking. I truly feel like each one pertains to both my interests and my career goals - a double whammy!

Last week, for my Technology and the Humanities class, we read Andrew Sullivan's piece, "Why I Blog". It really got me thinking - why do I blog?

Yes, I blog to vill a void I felt has been left open in the online world, that void being an open forum (led my me, duh) on the painstaking process of finding one's first post-grad job. Yes, I blog to share resources and offer experiences for fellow college students (and hopefully others) to empathize with. And yeah, I'll admit that I blog because it's somewhat therapeutic to get all my thoughts out on the table that is the online world. But do all of these factors really make this blog worth it, even if I don't blog nearly as often as I want to/should? If I want to communicate with readers, I have to have some readers in the first place, right? And I know I personally wouldn't continue reading something that only uploads new content only every two weeks.

Ally - one of my precious few regular readers (this far, wink) - told me last night that she enjoys my blog more when I veer off course, when I blab about stuff that isn't necessarily job-related. Complaining about my career ventures, she told me, might sometimes even produce more anxiety within readers. Hmmm.

So, I've decided to really make an effort to blog more. Really. I know I've said this before, but I think that the reason I've held back is because of my previously proclaimed theme of this blog, a theme that I deeply care about. Although I do wish to adhere to this theme from time to time, in the past, I think that because my posts "had" to be somewhat informative, writing here felt like a minor chore.

My promise to you, dear readers, is that I will be more honest about my daily life and all that goes on within it, including interviews, rejections, and the creation of new contacts. But there will be less of a limit upon this. All that I ask of you is to comment! I really do want to hear what you guys think - maybe you can offer me some advice (or make me laugh, cry, or want to throw my computer out my second-story window). As Sullivan says, "Rudeness, in any case, isn't the worst thing that can happen to a blogger. Being ignored is...The conversation is the point."

Oh, and by the way, I had another phone conversation this morning with that same company from last week - things are going well. I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch, though. But that's not my point anymore! Consider this blog a little less anxiety and a little more fun.

How much preparation is too much, really?

Ummm...pretty sure I have a 3-hour long interview tomorrow morning. No big deal.

Essentially, I need to call three separate people from this company at 10, 11, and 12. Hopefully, these conversations will end with a little bit of time in between for me to regain composure. The thing is, I'm honestly not so sure how ready I am. I have reviewed the company, their major clients, and my interviewers. I have brushed up on my own experiences, so that I'm ready to discuss leadership or teamwork experience with ease. I've even looked over certain vocabulary to strategically include in the conversation, that might be key terms the interviewer is looking for. But for some reason, I still don't feel ready.

I think that the reason for this is the sheer fact that I just returned back to school from my winter break; because I haven't had any real work yet, I'm still not in a motivated, go-get-'em mindset. But I have prepared. So, is this relaxed feeling such a bad thing? In the past, I've gone so crazy preparing for these interviews that I have given myself such bouts of frustration and fear that borderline classify as minor panic attacks. Maybe I should try to reinterpret these feelings of unreadiness with feelings of confidence. If I go into an interview feeling at ease, I'll probably act as if...I'm at ease. Which is good. Right?

I'll report back with news!

The job market today: sour, but also sweet

Related to what I said yesterday about getting your friends and family involved in the job search resource hunt, my friend Ali pointed me to this link this morning, subject field: "thought you might find this interesting :)".

The page consists of a review for the recently-released documentary, Lemonade, detailing the paths of several individuals recently let go from their jobs in the advertising industry. Specifically, Phil Johnson highlights how the advertising community rallied around the project, celebrating the creative abilities of those involved (or not, anymore), in their industry. While I'm not directly involved in the advertising world, I think that this movie could still be pretty damn inspiring, conveying that we have the potential to lead successful lives within more than one career. Our jobs can't define us, because if we lose these jobs, we would have nothing left; Lemonade illustrates this. There's other stuff out there that matters, regardless of career path. Tonight, that stuff consists of Chinese food and dancing.

As the movie is playing in Cambridge, I'd definitely like to see it when I return home for December break. Oh, and by the way, everyone should check out the blog that Ali contributes to, which covers all sorts of sports from a female perspective!

Facing rejection

It's been a while since my last post, which means that there's much to discuss. I mentioned last time that I had another interview - a phone interview, ugh - to prepare for. This particular position was for a company I'd absolutely love to work for, a very creative place seemingly filled with fun, smart people. However, while I felt confident about my research on the company itself, my nerves were concerned with another aspect of this interview: the case study.

Although my last interview had been pretty intense, from what I had read online about interviews with this place, some of these questions were going to be tough. Very tough. How the hell am I supposed to know why manholes are round? Is there even a right answer? But, after training myself with these questions, I realized that these people just wanted to see how I can think creatively and strategically, in hopes that I might apply the same on-the-ball approach to challenges at work. I anticipated a few of these questions, along with a case study or two to see how I would solve actual real-world issues in that particular field.

To be honest, I would have been absolutely lost without the help of a Michigan alumnus that I found on LinkedIn, who works for this company. Clearly, from the rest of this blog, I could ramble on about LinkedIn forever. But in this situation, it also proved beneficial to be a member of another network - that of the University of Michigan. I sought this alumnus out, and he was happy to guide me through the recruitment process, specifically helping me prepare for my interview. He, along with my boyfriend who prepped me over the phone (since he's pretty seasoned with crazy interviews like these) really saved me in this interview. When the calls came, the conversations flowed, I went through the case studies with ease, and I thought everything went great.

Well, I thought wrong. Despite my feelings of relief after this interview, I did not receive an invitation to go through to the second-round. I was actually shocked. I have learned the harmful effects of getting my hopes up, and definitely didn't let this happen with my last interview with the company that previously let me down. However, I really thought that this interview went great, and that I hit it off with the interviewers. I don't really know where I went wrong; the Michigan alumnus told me that it could just be that this department of the company does much recruiting within Ivy League schools, and I think I could have had a little more past experience within this particular field. Plus, we've got to throw in some impactoftheeconomy, blah blah blah. I'm going to e-mail the recruiter to find out if I could possibly get any feedback.

On top of this, I was also not offered a second-round interview with the first company I talked to. I had at least prepared myself for this, and I happened to be at Wisconsin visiting my sister at the time, so this was actually less rough. I think that - although these are only 2 rejections so far - it has finally hit me that this is going to be a longggg process that will definitely last through second semester. I've decided that December break is going to be my time to really buckle down and get out a zillion applications. And, strangely, I actually feel sort of positive about next semester. I know that I will be much less overwhelmed with my school work, and will finally have some time to focus on this (more important) job search. These rejections have shown me that, unfortunately, I'll need it.

Finally getting going

Ummmm so...I'm pretty sure that I applied for my first job yesterday. No big deal.

I have been in contact with a recruiter from a company that I'd love to work for during the past few months. Basically, when I applied there for an internship last summer (and didn't eventually get it after interviewing and everything - I was devastated), they had kept my information on file. I was out at a Welcome Week party when I received the first e-mail from this recruiter. He sent me such a nice, informal message, that to be honest, I thought it was a scam. But, after doing some research, it wasn't! It was really an incredible feeling to be reached out to, instead of hopelessly reaching out, myself.

Anyway, this guy basically said that we would be in touch throughout my application process for the 2010 opportunities at this company. I was psyched, but their job postings hadn't been updated in a while. He told me that I should keep my eyes peeled, that the site would be updated sometime in October.

And, come October 1st, I got the call.

The recruiter not only told me that the postings had finally been updated, but that I had to send my resume and other application materials to him, ASAP. In case you hadn't realized (I know you were just waiting on pins and needles), I obviously had not updated my resume since my oh-so-successful meeting at the Career Center, or else I would have blogged about it; come on, now! Needless to say, I had a minor freak out. This stuff not only needed to be rushed over to the recruiter, but, due to the sheer amazingness of this company, my materials had to be perfect.

I decided to go to the library, since I'd probably be the most time efficient there. Good move, too, since I had issues scanning my transcript and had a lovely librarian on hand for assistance. I didn't consider the irony until later that I was applying for a job that would require me to get much more technical than figuring out buttons on a scanner. Hmmm...

Anyway, I sent my stuff out in pretty good time - and in pretty good condition, if I do say so myself. I'm trying very, very hard to not get my hopes up about this application, considering how high they were last year for the internship there and how crushed they were when I didn't get it. But, even though I have some friends, particularly those into finance, who are already hooked up with sick jobs for next year, I think that it is a pretty BFD that I just applied for my first job. I'd like to give myself a virtual pat on the back. Even though this is only application number one, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

...While I still can

In case you (whoever "you" are) haven't noticed, I've been sort of slacking lately when it comes to these posts. I know I promised to maintain my interest in this blog, and truthfully, I have, even though there's nothing material to show for that. I actually think about what might work for a post while I'm out and about!

But let's forget about all those ideas running around like crazy in this little head of mine. I think it actually makes sense for me to just explain why I haven't really posted so much recently, and this explanation is simple: I've been busy being a senior. As much as I really do enjoy writing, and hopefully helping others out with tips that come up along the road, I've just been out having fun. And you should too. Tonight, I wasn't going to go out, but since Michigan came back in the clutch in the last 15 seconds of the game today (I love you, Tate Forcier) I plan to put my lameness on hold for the night. I will push myself to do my work tomorrow - more on that soon; I'm finally going to put in that dreaded time to edit my resume, ugh.

A lot of alumni are visiting this weekend and all I've been hearing from them is just how much they miss their college life. And, since this is the first week of school and I don't have THAT much work to do, I plan on not taking my time here for granted. Here's to staying young.

Just take it easy, cause there's no stress

Today was the first day of classes in Ann Arbor, and I am feeling good. Although my friend (and wonderful blogger, might I add) Vanessa pointed out that this year's ever-exciting "first day" is actually somewhat bittersweet now that we feel like we're at the top of the university totem pole,

Reasons why today was a great last first day:

One. I got off a waitlist! I'm really excited about this class. It's got a fantastic reading list, and we even watch some classic coming-of-age films (i.e. Rebel Without a Cause). Woohoo! In addition to being nerdier than the average college student (see above), I realize that I am also slightly more on edge than the vast, but waitlists seriously give me mayjah anxiety. And I am currently still on two. But this day was just so great, I have convinced myself that it will all work out.

Two. No discussion sections before the lecture first met. This meant that I only had two classes today instead of the three I will usually have on Tuesdays. Perfectly good chance to work on my resume, sort out my credit transfers from my semester abroad, or any of the other 9871291 things I've got on my to-do list, but instead, I spent that time doing absolutely nothing, just hanging out. Mmmm.

Three. Max is coming to visit! After hours and hours of frustration and trying to figure out flight options that fit into our time frames and both of our budgets, we finally found a flight that works, and he'll be here next weekend. Something to look forward to! Aside from reading The Others for my aforementioned English class. But that just goes without saying.

I don't really want to make this blog all about random thoughts I've got going on in my head, none of that "current mood" bullshit, but I just felt like sharing the love. I promise you - if there even is a "you" at this point in my blogging hobby/passion/career - that this sentiment will absolutely not last, but let's enjoy these last few happy-go-lucky glimmers of pre-schoolwork sanity for the moment. Shall we?

Why I hope to be a poster child for the anti-senioritis movement (that I just made up). At least until second semester.

Since I have been on a mission lately to get as much non-school-related stuff done as possible before classes start next week, (we can call it a "conscientious" streak), I decided to visit my school's Career Center the other day with two of my friends. One of them is, like myself, hoping to find herself a sick job when she graduates - which she absolutely will, considering that she's very smart, qualified, and generally amazing. I'm actually currently holding date screenings for her, Khloe Kardashian style, and there's a line around the corner. If you're lucky, she may put on a show at the end of the auditions where she'll perform her infamous choreographical replication of "The Nicest Kids in Town" from Hairspray.

Anyway.

The other friend I visited the Career Center with has recently decided on a defined career choice (I'm seething with jealousy) and is looking to apply to grad school. She's equally awesome of course. Basically, the three of us wanted to go to the Career Center to get some extra help editing our resumes in one way or another. My issue: after adding in all of the great stuff I learned at my web marketing internship last summer, my resume is almost two pages long. I know, I know, I'm just such an incredibly experienced, cultured, all-around perfect candidate for any job and everything on my resume just attests to that fact. Sure. But two pages long? Not so easy on the eyes. Yeah, some interviewers have asked me about random experiences on that second page, but in general, I think that I need to make myself as marketable as possible on that first page, and trim off any unnecessary fat.

When I sat down with my assigned advisors (one was training, I think), the first thing I noticed is that they were my age. Oh! I just remembered that one of them was standing behind me at the football game today - obligatory "go blue"! This first impression didn't exactly sit well with me, because I honestly wonder what they know about finding a job that I don't already. I would like to say that I've been lucky enough to have had some pretty wonderful internships/jobs these past four years, so the confident side of me thinks that I know a little something about this process. As the meeting went on, my opinion didn't really change. Sure, the two girls offered me a few helpful hints, which was nice, but ultimately, I realized that what I really need to do is sit down and take some time to myself to decide what to take out. Only one of my friends left the Career Center that day without feelings of frustration. Needless to say, I obviously chose to pretend I didn't see my advisor at the game.

However, the meeting wasn't a total waste of time. I did get a few specific ideas on what to take out of my resume, and the two girls showed me around the Career Center website and gave me a handy little sheet with resume samples. Maybe the sheer fact that this was an actual appointment forced me to take the time to review this stuff. The bottom line? I need to stop acting like a know-it-all and be a tiny bit more open to help from others. Personally, I think that the best help in this department comes from my dad, who really specializes in this human resources find-me-something-that'll-bring-home-the-bacon sort of thing. But these resources are only helpful if I actually take advantage of them. My boyfriend, who has already gone through this rigorous job search and really came out on top, is, in my opinion, another great resource to have. He really utilized his school's career resources, and has to be one of the most proactive people I've ever known; I've witnessed the benefits of that. I need to be more like that.

At the risk of sounding kinda lame, we all need an extra push sometimes, even from ourselves, to do everything we can to reach our goals. I think I can, I think I can...