CollegeRecruiter.com Blog

This morning began with that attitude's lingering pall. But there are times when you have to pull yourself up and stay on top of the heap. Well, staying on top of the heap and pulling myself up were things that happened this morning, in spite of the detractors.

What was it, about a week ago that I commented on how it's important to be ready for an interview at the drop of a hat? Well, I was tested on my own counsel this morning.

I ran into a neighbor who's aware that I'm looking for some work as my contracts build. I didn't see her coming toward me. She was coming from a direction different from where one would expect. But she saw me and commented on the fact that we were going in the same direction.

It's great to network. Even if you don't think it's something that will help you in the near future (if not immediately) it's great to network. She needed to prepare for two tests this morning in two different classes. So we practiced.

As we debarked from the bus, we noticed that we were still going in the same direction. In fact, we were both headed in the direction of her school. She reminded me about the opportunity there that she'd mentioned about two weeks ago. She admonished that I should get an application in soon. She said, "Come with me."

Even though I was on my way to the gym, I was dressed in business attire. Even though I was on my way to the gym, I had my rolled tote with me. It was packed with the books I still need to finish reading, my notes, my research, my resume. "Come with me," my neighbor beckoned again as she hurried toward the school.

She showed me the building. It's next door to the gym. She walked in and asked where the Admissions officer was. She told people she wanted to introduce me to the Admissions officer. She pushed her way into groups of people and stopped the Recruiter in his tracks. I heard her whisper to him, "This is my neighbor. She needs a job. She's really great. She writes. She's got legal background. She has a Bachelor's degree. She's got a lot on the ball. You should interview her."

She introduced the two of us to one another, then waved a "see ya later," and went off to class and one of the two tests.

Networking and preparedness. The recruiter asked me about myself and my background. I used my stronger history, law and mediation, then sigued into adult literacy tutoring and the success I had in that, followed by youth tutoring (5-8 year olds) and the triumphant successes and accolades from teachers and parenets I earned from that experience. My speech was interrupted by the recruiter.

"Do you have a resume?"

"Why yes, I do. It's right here." And I reached inside my tote to pull out a clean (and the only) copy of my resume neatly stored inside a clear vinyl folder. As I felt the quality of the paper, I realized it was the original copy that was printed on high grade paper. However, I realized it was a small sacrifice to let it go and comforted myself on the thought that it could easily be re-printed on another computer.

The resume was faxed that instant to the owner of the school. The original resume was returned to me. I was instructed to call the owner for a telephone interview in about two to three hours.

About an hour ago, someone in a business center commented on how elegant I look today. It's the same outfit I was wearing this morning as I made my way to the gym and ran into my neighbor.

As I said about a week ago, when you're out there looking, it's important to be ready for an interview at the drop of a hat. ... or the run-in with the neighbor you've been networking with.