Hello planet earth, let's play ball!!
As stated in the previous post, I will go over what has happened to me in the past few months. Next, my employment phases.
After I graduated in May, I did not want to sit around and become a statistic. I did not want to be another college grad who sat around without any hope of finding a job. That being said, going into my Senior year, I was proactive. I applied for a few positions and hoped that I would be given an opportunity to interview for them. Because I was going to be graduating with a degree in political science, obviously I applied for a whole lot of political positions, and a few that I thought was a good cross, such as sales positions. One of the first positions that I heard back from was a city administration job. I wasn't qualified, but I was hoping that I would be given an opportunity because I knew how small government functioned, and because I was young and they would potentially be willing to teach me if I was willing to stay for an extended period. I was informed that I was not qualified, and the only way to be qualified was to have 3+ years of experience. When I replied how do I get experience, they said that it wasn't their problem, and that I should consider specialized schools and a graduate degree in order to better my chances.
I thanked them for the opportunity, and didn't think much of it. After that, I heard back from a few sales positions. One allowed to keep my resume on file until after I graduated, and would give me a call (they never called again). I finally heard back from a sales company that would allow me to interview over Christmas break. I was ecstatic! This was my opportunity to get a job and have everything set for me before I finished. I went and interviewed, and they thanked me for coming in and said they would call me. They did, and they wanted me to come back in for a shadowing day to see how they go about their business. I did, but it was so cold out that they did not have anyone going out and actually going on sales calls, so I didn't see first hand what they job was like, which was too bad, because I would have not taken the job had I seen what it was like.
I accepted the job, and started one week after I graduated. I started with a day of learning what to say to businesses, and who to look for, and filling out paperwork. It was an easy day, and I didn't have any misgivings. After the paperwork, I got to go out into the field and experience the business for myself. I trained with an older sales exec, and he taught me how to talk to business people. In general, it was tough work, and most business people hated the sight of us. Often times, we were told to leave and never come back (only in stronger language). That treatment was unfortunate, and I learned really quick that if I were to keep going with the job, that I would need think skin. I eventually got to go out on my own, and what my day consisted of was waking up at 5:30, driving to work so I would be there at 7 and prepare for the day ahead, at 8 was a sales meeting, and released into the field at 9. From 9 until 5, I visited between 80 and 100 businesses, often times skipping lunch in order to try to meet as many people as I could so that I could try to make a sale. At 5, I would drive back to the office, and then discussed the day with the rest of the office. There was a lot of negativity among the other sales execs, and I stayed as positive as I could for as long as I could, but the long days and working on 100% commission was extremely difficult, especially when I was trying to save up so that I could pay for a marriage and pay off my student debt. After 2 months of working this nonsense, I saw the writing on the wall and got out before the company went belly up. I quit. Shortly after, the company went under. I am not bragging that I was what kept the business afloat, I am saying that I saw what was possibly going to happen, and I got out before something bad happened.
After quitting my job, I entered the job pool. I applied for a few political positions, but most wanted free work, and as stated above, I couldn't afford to work for free at this time. I also applied for a few sales jobs, because I had the tough experience, and lots of businesses were looking for that grit. I went on a few interviews, and nothing really sparked my interest. Additionally, I got the great experience of being rejected from a few. I am not saying this sarcastically, I am being sincere. I had not had the opportunity to be rejected from an interview because I was given the first job that I applied for. It taught me to be tough, and what many people that are interviewing are looking for in a candidate. I learned how to be persuasive and how to convince people that I can do the job. After 4 months of interviewing, I was given an opportunity to apply for a sales consultant position at a car dealership. I got the job, and have been working there since late October. It's a great opportunity to grow and to learn a new industry. We will see where this new opportunity takes me.
What I have learned in my brief working experience, and the interviewing process that has proceeded it is as follows:
First, don't you ever get discouraged. You never know when a new or different opportunity is just around the corner. If you get down on yourself, if you sit and are stagnant, there is no way that you can or will improve or get what you seek. You have to stay positive.
Second, you need to put in the effort if you want to get anything. As I stated in the previous post, if you don't work, you don't eat. You need to put in the effort in order to get anything in life. If you want to skate by, have fun sitting at home in your sub par home, with your sub par car, and your sub par life. Do the work. It's not fun, and it's not for the faint of heart, but if you put in the work, if you put in the effort, you can better yourself and your life.
Finally, be the person you want yourself to be. Obviously, if you want to be a top executive in a high level company and you can't afford it or aren't in a position to be there, you need a change. Do the little things that will get you to that position. If you need a suit, go get one from Salvation Army, or get one from a family member. Do the little things first, before you do the big things. Work from the bottom up, learning how the company works in order to grasp the whole of the company its self. Make yourself indispensable by doing the little things, so that you are more necessary to be kept than to be released.
If you do these things, you will be successful. I believe in you.
Until next time,
Best of luck in your future endeavors!
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