I Need a Boost.

If you work in the field of marketing, you know that there are two ways to get a job. One is through your contacts, the other is through recruiters. The whole affair is a balancing act. You want to work your contacts without being pushy or seeming desperate (look man, I really need a job!!). It really is true that the best jobs are never posted. If you're lucky, they are created just for you. But that's when the economy is jumping and companies are throwing cash around for sexy campaigns. That's not the reality right now. While the economy may be turning around (at least in Canada), marketing budgets are still tight and there is a long line of super talented and qualified candidates for every job. Trying to find a new job is a daunting task and it's easy to feel defeated before you even put a foot on the floor in the morning.

Despite all that, today I met with a recruiter. It's hard to get excited about the thought of a "potential" interview with a "real live person" at an (omg!!) "company". Recruiters are often the holders of the golden keys to the position you want. Like everyone else, they are doing a job. But they don't work for you - they get paid by the company they are finding candidates for and don't you dare forget it. So you trot your ass in to the recruiter's office and sell seLL SELL yourself. You have to muster up your confidence, swagger, and energy to portray the perfect candidate for them to put in front of their client. It's sort of like qualifying for the Olympics. Once you are in, then the real interviews start. If you add them all up, you may have to go through 3 or 4 interviews to get the gold medal. Assuming you are the chosen one.

So, forgive me if I don't get super stoked anymore when I go for interviews. Every interview is just another iron in the fire, and you need A LOT of irons to get one job. This will all work out, but damn, this process is something else. I think tomorrow I'll go party with my friends and see if I can get a job that way (more fun, for sure!). But hey, in the meantime, if you have any leads on potential gigs, hook a sista up! Max's therapy isn't going to pay for itself...

I'd Hire Me.

If you haven't heard, I'm looking for a job. You heard it right, I am on the dole. Searching for a job...it's a job unto itself though. It's emotionally exhausting. Every day you have to psych yourself up. Hey! You're talented! You're super smart! Witty! A team player! Organized! Strategic! Hard working! Hell, I'd Hire Me!!

Some days, despite all best efforts, nothing happens. I remind myself that to get a single job, you have to put A LOT Of irons in the fire. Every few days there are phone calls. And on the best days, there are interviews. On those days, after making sure I have someone to help with Max, I pull myself together, make myself look professional and remind myself that I have a lot to offer. I have over ten years experience in the marketing industry. I've worked for big companies, little companies, agency side and in-house. I'm an award winning blogger and writer. People like me, damn it. And when I get into an interview I treat it like a two way discussion, because not only is the person I'm talking with trying to figure out if I'd be a good fit for their company, I'm trying to figure out if they will be a good fit for what I'm looking for in an employer.

So, if you are a prospective employer, this is what I look like after being up for 15+ hours and counting, modeling my new pajama bottoms (a Christmas gift made by my talented friend, Jennifer), while writing a blog and importing cds into my iTunes library. Not to worry, future boss, my business casual wardrobe includes less colourful pants.