Beating the Career Fair Game

I don't like career fairs - they tend to be overcrowded (especially on college campuses) and full of people being overly fake. However, there are definitely benefits. In a place full of some many random people you never know what connections you could make. After attending Northeastern's Mega Career Fair yesterday I thought I might share some of my tips and tricks for standing out in the sea of "Hi, I'll be graduating in May, take my resume!"

1. Have a conversation with the recruiter, find a way to connect. I ended up talking to one guy yesterday about an ad campaign his company had worked one that is one of my favorites. After a few minutes of honest conversation, he asked me for my resume and to follow-up with him with some of my portfolio clips.
   
   
2. Be a real person, not a robot. Another recruiter and I were having a conversation about his house painting franchise business (College Pro), which had a really cool business model. Mid-conversation we got to talking about the crowd waiting to speak with recruiters at a nearby table and how so many of the students at the fair seemed to simply be repeating a memorized speech: "Hi, I'm a Northeastern student. I'm looking for xyz in a job, will you take my resume?" Here's a hint: they're just going to throw it away when they get back to the office unless they remember who you are!
   
   
3. Be selective about who you give your resume to. You might be desperate, but you don't want to seem that way. Keep in mind you're interviewing the recruiter about the company just as much as they're interviewing you. You show good judgment and you save some trees!
   
   
4. Go with a plan, then ignore it. Know who's going to be there and who you want to talk to, but don't limit yourself. Fighting the crowd sucks - let it push you around and take advantage of unforseen opportunities. But don't leave unless you've seen everyone on your list.

(This entry can now also be found on Careerealism)

Offer letter!

I got an offer letter yesterday for a part-time position at a health policy institute in Cambridge that I interviewed at about 6 weeks ago. I'm really excited. Even though it's not full-time it's definitely got a lot of pros:

• Trying out a new industry that I might really enjoy (health/wellness)
• Trying out actual PR (as opposed to marketing or copywriting)
• Interesting research
• Great networking opportunity (a lot of the top people in the office went to Harvard Business School)
• Pays better than Banana Republic!

My schedule is also going to leave me two open weekdays to find temp/part-time stuff from KNF&T. Plus, I want to see if I can get a few freelancing assignments.

In other news, I had lunch with an old boss of mine today who just happens to be the daughter of my boyfriend's mother's best friend. Go figure. The world is a tiny, tiny place. Which can be superb for networking and disasterous if you start burning bridges.

I'm still fighting a mean cold (that has taken over my ears and lungs... please please don't let it turn into bronchitis again). So I'm going to go back to bed with my tea and maybe the Wii.

The Job Hunt & Power of Networks

I blame my involvement in projects like Pursue the Passion for making me unable to just "find a job" that will give me a paycheck. I need to care about the company's product and their mission. Which is why after applying to the Girl Scouts membership specialist position I've been hesistant to apply anywhere else. Nothing, not even postings on Idealist, stuck out at me as "you would love being here everyday!"

Then today Jason sent a note out on Facebook about the company he's working for that's looking for Communications Interns and an Office Admin. As much as the word intern makes me shiver (after 3 co-ops I'm qualified beyond an intern) and the idea of administration everyday sounds like a grad, I was immediately excited by the company. NEHI "specializes in identifying innovative strategies for improving health care quality and reducing health care costs." This is precisely the topic I wrote my paper for LPS on last year. Plus, even though it's an internship it's paid, which at this point is key.

I'm so blessed to have cultivated friendships with people who are involved and care deeply. As we all graduate and begin to find jobs, it's going to be so essential to stay in touch. You never know when something might just fall into your lap.

Dream Job?

Gonna sell my house and cross the border
'Cause somebody told me dreams live in Mexico
Gonna sell my house I got to lose ten pounds
And cross the border
And make sweet love upon the white sandy shore.
[Sarah Bareilles]

I'm applying for jobs. Well, actually I'm freaking out that I'm actually applying for REAL jobs and not coops, which basically means printing job postings then staring at them. I did manage to update my resume though.

The question right now is do I want to find a job as a writer - because I'm good at it, because it was my major, because it could leader to creative director positions (and $$). Or, do I want a job working for an organization I truly love (despite its flaws), even if it means doing some stuff that drives me nuts?

Okay, I'm forcing myself to go write my cover letters now. Big deep breath. Maybe I'm crazy, but I think I want the Girl Scout job more than anything else I've found. Plus, I know I would kick ass at it. Does that mean I wasted my time/$ at Northeastern?!