The Dreaded Interview

It's been over a month since my last blog post (pathetic, I know) but I'm back! And I've made a very important (and ambitious, I might add) decision to blog on the reg - blow off some steam, publish my daily wisdoms... those kinds of things.

And since I have dedicated this blog to unemployed graduates across the nation, perhaps I should blog about something related to just that: interviews.

This week, I had my first in-person interview in a long time. Sure, I've had phone "conversations" and interviews and exchanged emails but this week, I was called in for the real deal.

Until now, I've been fairly confident in myself when it comes to interviews: I'm eager, professional and generally prepared. This confidence is often shattered when a question pops up that I do not know how to answer. I stumble over my words, chatter nervously and ultimately fail.

So this week, I am determined to do the opposite. And with one interview down, I can say that I have succeeded thus far. Here are the key wisdoms I've come to learn about interviews:

1. Show some personality: Until now, the employer has seen only a resume. You are a mere sheet of paper. Therefore, be personable - yes, you should remain professional but you want to show that you are a human being.

2. Know the company: It never hurts to do some research about the company itself before going into the interview. Read their recent press releases, check out their clients and understand their mission. This lets the employer know that you've done your homework.

3. Make your goals clear: My dad is constantly reminding me of this and I have finally begun to see the light. Write down the three points that make you the best candidate (e.g. your education, experience and work ethic) and emphasize these points in different ways throughout the interview.

4. Ask questions! This goes with #2. Once you've understood the company and the position you're applying for, prepare questions - always! You are interviewing the company just as much as they are interviewing you. For all you know, the position pays hourly minimum wage!

The list isn't long but for me, it's extremely helpful. And for having completed only one of my interviews this week, I'd say that I've made some serious headway in terms of my interviewing skills.

Today's interview prep paid off - now just keep your fingers crossed that I get a callback!

Let the Babysitting Begin...

So. Like I mentioned in my last blog post, I finally came up with a post-grad plan. I figured picking a city would be a little bit better for me than waiting around on a job. This way, I can at least narrow my search a bit.

However, until a company (ANY company) recognizes that my talents simply cannot be put to waste and decides to hire me, I have decided to babysit. Here are my thoughts behind it: yes, it will leave a teeny blank in my resume but it will provide some serious cashflow and connect me to people who may have just the connections that I need.

Thus far, babysitting has been quite the experience. Here is what I have learned (and what all babysitters should understand):

• Children, particularly under the age of four, do not express when they need to use the bathroom so you must ask over and over. Otherwise, it could cause a seriously unfortunate situation.
• If a child opts not to nap, a major disintegration will occur. Be prepared.
• Going to the pool is by NO means an "easy" day. In fact, it may be more difficult than entertaining children that are not allowed to watch TV.
• The second you get locked out of a house, the kids will decide that they are hungry, hot and bored. And more than likely, the neighbors will not have a spare key.
• Kids tend to get some sort of pleasure out of doing the exact opposite of what you ask them to do... unless, of course, you bribe them with candy.
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These are only a few of the many wisdoms I'm sure to learn in the next month. After all, I've only been babysitting for two weeks anyway. So stay tuned because there will surely be more stories to come...

Sigh of Relief

I know I haven't written in a while - but let's just say that these last few weeks have been a serious roller coaster ride. Now I'm down to five days left on my college campus and it's time to write.

No, I am not employed yet and yes, I am still searching thoroughly. But I do have a plan and in my Type A book, that's all that matters.

It was figuring out that plan that was so stressful...

About 2 weeks ago, I was offered a house sitting opportunity. One week later, the woman reneged. A week later, the offer was available again. Fishy, eh? My thoughts exactly.

But, lacking a salary and needing a free place to live, I decided to visit the house. Here was my (seriously hopeful) vision: relatively large home in a great neighborhood, cute family, and wealthy enough to both "summer" (not vacation) and afford a house sitter. I knew two cats were involved but if the aforementioned situation existed, it could be worth it.

Reality did not match my vision.

Okay, yes, the house looked normal from the outside. But the second she opened the door, I knew the situation would not work out. Strange looking dolls sat on her hallway tables, blue ribbons lined the ceiling of the living room and a picture of the woman and her husband, dressed in a 18th century gown and tails, sat atop the TV.

The tour proceeded and we visited the bedrooms. At this point, I could barely eke out a smile, much less a "how quaint!" sort of comment. The guest bedroom was bare with only a bed placed in the corner. No headboard, no bedspread...nothing. A second bedroom consisted of junk, scattered everywhere. (At this point, I wanted to yell "No!!!" and run for the car). The master bedroom was much more decorated, but in no way that sparked my interest.

If this visualization did not turn me off enough, the woman had more than an obsession with her two cats. In fact, the need for the house sitter arose because the cats would be too lonely for the entire summer and needed constant love and attention. (I have not yet mentioned my extreme disgust/fear of cats but it exists.) She even told me that the cats would sleep with me...! Immediate deal-breaker.

Needless to say, after this almost indescribable experience, I declined the house sitting job and found a house with two friends.

Yes, it was a free place to live for someone with no steady salary but in the end, I'd rather spend what little money I have on rent than go home to a piano-painted kitchen table in a cat-lover's house.

The Beginning

Never having blogged for personal use (I’ve done it at work), I decided now was the time to start. The title of the blog stems from various backgrounds: The Graduate – obviously. A personal favorite movie of mine. As I embark upon college graduation myself, I thought it appropriate to title my blog after the movie. As I search for post-graduation careers, however, I found it necessary to include the word “hopeless” because, frankly, that’s how I feel.

I’d like to say that with Day 1 of this blog, it is also Day 1 of my job search but alas, that is not the case. Rather, it’s about day 90. Ish. And even after countless emails, phone conversations and face-to-face meetings, I have stooped to a new level: I’ve sent out babysitting flyers.

And the ironic thing is this: I will graduate as a major in public relations in one of the top journalism schools in the country, a minor in business in one of the top business schools in the country, and will have numerous internships under my belt. So what’s the problem??? I have taken every possible step to find a decent job that I am qualified for.

Hopefully this blog will allow me to let off a little steam about the search but for now, I must head off to my unpaid internship.