Real World: Job Search #10

Before the Conference [The Art of (Not Being) Subtle]

(This is the first in a series of three where I will reflect on my conference and Placement experience)

About a week out from the conference and from interviewing, I was a little nervous. I only had four interviews. While I acknowledge the fact that I was fortunate to have ANY interviews at all, especially since I know several who are still waiting for that first one to happen, I was wondering if I was wasting my time going to the conference for these four interviews. I could have done them over the phone, after all.

But I took a look at my “Maybe I’ll Apply Here If I Have Time” list and reevaluated some of these positions. I saw something in some of them that I hadn’t before. One school in particular had an entire section dedicated to professional development in their position description. This is something that I value very much. So many of my mentors have said that you need to use your first job to prepare for your last one. I sat down and asked myself where I wanted to end up…and the answer helped me decide to apply to some of these schools on the “maybe” list.

So, four days before the conference, in one day, I applied for six jobs. But this time, it was different. Every position to which I had previously applied, I would submit my application, resume, cover letter, references, etc through their HR website or directly to the person in charge of the search committee.

This time, I forgot the subtlety. I was a lot more direct. I submitted my materials with an accompanying email saying, basically, “Hey, I’m going to be at this conference and I’d really love to interview with you while I’m there.” I knew it was risky. It was a lot more forthright. Would they go for my direct, go-getter approach?

You bet they did. Before the day was over, I had three interview offers for the conference. The next day, I got a fourth offer. And I got emails from the other two schools saying that their schedules were filled up for the conference, but would I be interested in a phone interview? Um. Yes. Thanks.

So with six more interviews added to my schedule, I was feeling pretty good going into the conference. The addition of these interviews did stress me out slightly, because now I had six more schools to research. And hours before my flight, I still hadn’t packed.

And somewhere between packing and the airport, it hit me: this is it. I’m graduating in forty-something days. I’m finding a big girl job. I’m growing up.