I'm in love...with Jack

I couldn't help but grin when the elevator doors opened to the fifth floor of 142 Berkeley Street in Boston.

 This is exactly the type of place I'm looking for.

My boyfriend and I left Rhode Island at 9am yesterday for my 11:30 informational interview with Jack Morton. The entire trip up there I couldn't get out of my day dreaming mode. I have been following Jack Morton on twitter as well as keeping up with their blog, but I still had no idea what to expect. How will the interview go? What are the people like there? Who will I meet? What will the place look like? Will they like me? Is it as cool as I think? Let's just say it was better than I imagined. The women I met with were absolutely wonderful, gave me great insight into the company, and could not say enough great things about Jack Morton. Lucky for me, a woman from HR stopped in to say hello and informed me that they were interviewing for an open Freelance position....even though I wasn't there to be interviewed, she said I would considered if it was something I was interested in....(how exciting!) so we'll see what happens! Overall I left there beaming and was sure to snap the above picture before the elevator doors closed on me.

I extended my stay in the city and spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Boston with my boyfriend. He took me to lunch at Salvatores (where we spent our first Valentine's together!) and we window shopped on Newbury Street... something I'll be doing one day with my bff during our lunch breaks ;)

It was such a perfect day....and I can't wait to soak it all in again this Thursday with Gessenia.

Present Occupation: Beach Bum

FINALLY THE SUN IS OUT! And things are looking up.

Khiara's Informational Interview went better than imagined, let's just say a situation 2. My older sister Kendra, who just graduated from Providence College with a Masters in Special Education, had her first interview for a teaching position last Friday (and I thought the job market was tough for my Field - try and be a teacher in the state of the Rhode Island) and ironically, her best friend Lindsay who has lived up the street from us our entire lives, had an interview the same day ( She also studied PR at URI.) It was only fitting that both of them got confirmation that they got their first "big girl jobs" yesterday within hours of each other. Weird huh? I can't tell you how happy I am for both of them. Seeing my sister jump up and down , a 25 year -old, tears in her eyes of just pure happiness. I Know what she was thinking, " it was all worth it." Every decision and step she made, substituting for almost two years, busting her butt to get into grad school, from being dead broke, living with her parents all through college, taking all those summer classes and not making it to the beach... all lead her to where she is today.

And Lindsay. She's something special. The type of person that just draws you in with her humor, charm and good looks. Always was that "in" girl, promoted for a liquor company, lived the fabulous young life, bar hoping, trips to Vegas, a total beach bum in the summer, and her worst worries were if it was raining or too cold out- she wasn't going out. But as she got older, 25 now, the panic started setting in, of when this real job was going to happen. She told me how interviews started going sour, when they were asking what has she been up to for the past three years and why she hadn't already been hired. Now, in two weeks she will be doing marketing and events for a medical company, which requires her to travel and be on the go and starting at an impressive salary. As linds puts it, "a cubicle was never for her."

After getting the good news, us three and a few other friends went down to the beach yesterday, taking advantage of the beautiful weather. And me and Linds got to talking. She was expressing her excitement and fears about finally starting her professional career. I told her mine. We talked about how our mind sets were different after graduating college. When she graduated college in 2009, she wasn't on careerbuilder looking for a job frantically yet, she wanted time to enjoy herself, and that the people she knows that did do that, weren't so happy. I thought about this. It's not the first time. I know I'm young, 21 - years -old. I have my whole life to work. And I'm sure that first job I get most certainly won't be my favorite. But I am ok with that. I am ready for something new. I want to be somewhere different. Not to discount Lindsay's path for a second, everything worked out for her. Because in the scheme of everything, our lives are not resumes that we need to continuously build to impress others. It's an experience. And how you spend your time and find fulfillment is only up to you.

So things worked out. Everyone has their own path. Things happen. Good and Bad. But Everyone gets there. Where ever "there" is. I'm sure my journey to my Scenario 1 Life isn't going to happen over night, but I'll get there. In the mean time, all you can do is soak up the sun for what it's worth.

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

But here's a few dozen:

1. I'm a member of Planet Fitness 

(I highly recommend it)

2. If this girl plans on using this machine, she's facing the wrong way 

(she is well aware)

3. Okay, it's actually a friend of mine
(SMH)

4. She's going through a little rough patch 

(let's just say boys are stupid)

5. Motivation

(is clearly not present)

6. I'm in the market for a new gym partner. 

(Any takers?)

Informational Interviews 101

Another rainy day - it's OK- Another productive day.

Went to the doctors and got medicine for this on going sinus infection- Kept up with the Weight Watcher's Diet... Soup for dinner followed by 6 Oreos (It's within the points!) And got a confirmation for an informational interview.

Thanks to a friend of a friend my parents know, I was able to reach out to VP of New Directions in Boston. They are a Portfolio company, and from my understanding a little mix of life coaching, marketing and branding for individuals and businesses. They help people get to their next step. (HELLO Just what I need!!) But- I am not going there as a client, but as a young professional to ask questions and flatter. We finalized the date, for Thursday next week - in Boston (YES)- I already have my outfit picked out in my mind. But that is the only thing I have prepared thus far.

I need information on how to make use of an informational interview.
Kind of Ironic when you think about it. Your are going there to get informed, yet I need to be informed before I get there.


The way I see it, is people of these industries love talking about themselves and an informational interview can play out in 2 scenarios. 1- they do the same song and dance that they do for every graduate that reaches out to them, telling them the same story of how they got to where they are. or 2- I suck this interview for all it's worth and really make and impression.

Now how to accomplish situation 2. Dissect their company's website. Make a list of questions pertaining to my life at the moment. etc. etc. There is going to be some major preparation for this, and this isn't even a Real Interview. I might even go buy Crest White Strips. Over the top? I don't think so people, this is a recession.

On Vacation Until...

" G, you will be able to come with us to the condo in Florida right?"asks my father as he sits in front of the computer on Southwest.com. We are faithful Southwest flyers.

"When?" I reply.

" The day after Christmas to the New Year." The same annual trip we have being doing for the past 6 years...

"Ughh" racking my brain.. "I mean sure, yeah... If I don't have a job then..."

It's June. If I don't have a job by December....

Someone Hire Me.

Spell Check

Thanks again to another week of Rhode Island's humid rainy weather, I have been forced to be indoors, glued to the computer as the #jobhuntsontinues- but, I finally got something accomplished. (I wasn't being sarcastic- thank you R.I. )

After writing my first cover letter of the summer, sending it to some friends and generous alums, getting it back changing it, revising it, starting over completely, changing it back-two weeks later- I came up with my final draft. Well, what I thought was my final.

For those that don't know, I freelance once a week for the Media Department at RISD. By only fate, is my supervisor a former employee of an agency in the Great Boston Area, Racepoint Group, and was kind enough to offer to take my cover letter and resume and send it through some people she knows that still works there. Ironically, I follow them on LinkedIn, and notice they were hiring, Like I said, fate.

I admit, I am a little rusty on the whole cover letter format thing, I haven't written one in over a year. It is a little awkward starting off, finding that balance of modesty yet wanting to show off your skills without sounding so desperate-"PLEASE HIRE ME." Not to mention the pressure, you have one shot, one spelling error, and BOOM- trash can- or I guess in these days "DELETE."

Therefore, I thought two weeks was more than enough time, and this cover letter had to be complete. I sent it to my supervisor. SEND. I reopen it to give it one more read, and right there in the first paragraph, I am missing a period. My heart stops. IMPOSSIBLE. So I come up with an excuse that I sent the wrong CL, resent it in a PDF, after adding the period and a couple other things... Two hours later. I re-read it. And my mind is going back to Journalism 341 Editing for Publication (my least favorite class) I know numbers over 10 should be typed in numerals, and majors should be capitalized... I didn't do these things. CRAP. I am really messing up on this one. I go back and forth on the options to my bff Khiara- should I just accept defeat? or confront it, resend ANOTHER , explain and make a fool out of myself. Khiara votes- fix it, and it will show you want to have things right.- So for the THIRD e-mail, I make the revisions and admit to my supervisor my nervousness and lack of experience writing cover letters. I don't hear from her. My thoughts are , she's thinking - "I am not putting myself out on the limb for someone as idiotic and careless as this."

To my surprise, at the end of the day she responds that she understands, is more than happy to help and even made a suggestion herself. THANK GOD. Goes to show you, people remember how it was first starting out, it's scary, we are new at this, and all we can do is learn. So lesson? It's important to get it right. Maybe not always four e-mails worth of trials, but my mind was in the right place and I am sure my supervisor saw that (I hope.) Regardless, I get a good laugh every time I open my e-mail and see that ridiculously long thread (seriously ,click the picture- you will too) But despite it all , I wrote three more cover letters,even one to CONE in Boston, and it's only getting easier. Wish me Luck.

Unknown Number

"Always keep your phone charged and answer every unknown number." Words of wisdom from who else but my other half. Our day at Sophies is already paying off! I just received a call back from Jack Morton in response to my request for an informational interview. #ThereisaGod I couldn't be more ecstatic. I'm all about experiential marketing- and if there is one agency that rocks at it, it's Jack Morton. Follow them on Twitter to check out their latest work- In the mean time, I have some preparing to do.

#JobHuntContinues

It's officially been a month. Back at Sophies with Gessen. "It's a local thing, you wouldn't understand."

Ice Queen

Another Friday has come and gone and Mother Nature once again, selfishly took away a well deserved night out. I spent the stormy evening in with my boyfriend watching Get Him to the Greek- which I really can't complain about, however I'm still waiting for that typical "summer night" and longing to get caught up in the music at the Coast Guard House. Thankfully Sunday nights have saved me and are what keep me going throughout the week. Since I've been back in the area, I've found myself at Trio in Narragansett every Sunday night. Whether it's drinks with my gf or dinner with the boyfriend, it has yet to let me down...and the perfect summer drink may or may not be found there! Gessen and I first tried it out on a whim a few weeks ago- "being decisively spontaneous" is our new thing- and it was a pleasant surprise. I ordered the Midnight Martini: Patron XO, Svedka Vanilla and Kahlua-HELLO! and she ordered the ever loyal original cosmo. Both drinks were delish but it wasn't until my next visit the following week that I was tempted to call this the place of Summer 2011. My boyfriend and I went for drinks and half off apps and that's when I was introduced to the Ice Queen. It's one of Trio's best selling martinis and I can see why! Grape vodka, white grape juice and ice wine, topped with real grapes-so perfect. I didn't hate the food either: we had their "Pizza of the Moment" and although the name sounds silly, this pie was nothing to joke about. Although I'm now in love with Sundays, there's still an opportunity for Fridays to share the spotlight.

We Got The Cup

After Picking up the boyfriend at 10a.m. at Logan, searching frantically for a place to park and to get on the T, taking the blue line to the green line- we made it to Boylston st. Not to mention front row spots to the parade, and getting to see the one and only MVP Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins with the Stanley Cup. One of the best times of my life!

Ready... Set... Elevator Speech

It's Mid-June. (When did that happen?) And I feel as if I have gotten no where and so far at the same time. After getting in a little argument with my Boyfriend, (also a URI alum who now works for APC in Costa Mesa, California) - I was frustrated.

I Keep on talking about my Senario 1, ( read 2nd blog post) all day, everyday, even in my sleep. I am very enthusiastic and self-assured about my future life. I'll spare the trigger of the argument, but as it escalated low jabs start blowing ...

"You can't be making all these plans Gessenia, these things cost money" - "You need a job to live there"- and even worse-"What the hell have you been doing? Where have you even applied too?"

Talk about a supportive boyfriend. I was mad. Mad that he was being so insensitive, and mad because he was right. The jobs I have applied to thus far can be counted on one hand. But here I go, acting like I have it figured out, that I know it's going to happen, yet I have little to show for it.
An hour goes by and I'm over it. Know why? because I have been doing something. Even though it's June 19th (crap) I have been working a lot towards my goals in other ways. Off the bat, the golf course. Yes, for the obvious reason I am making money (and saving) for my scenario 1 life. But it's more than that, I have been making opportunities out of the available resources I have. I started a Facebook group for the restaurant end and even wrote a press release for a charity event we do every year. Not to mention I just made another Facebook group for a Charity Foundation, Kenvo Foundation (Okay Okay it's my parents) nevertheless I am taking the skills I've learned and applying them. Learning. And I am networking. So it might not be a CEO's BBQ, but I am on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and shaking hands with anyone I meet.

Take for instance, at the Kenvo Open on Friday, I introduced myself to a women who works for Bank of America, I remembered to shake her hand firmly, flash the pearly whites that I have gotten so good at doing at the golf course, looked her in the eye and repeated her name. - I got her Business Card and she has a potential job opportunity to share on direct marketing and social media.

Or today, making small talk with the employees who work at Beaver River. I shared my awesome time at the Bruins Parade (that deserves a whole post in itself - my crazy boyfriend flew 300,000 miles to be in Boston for 24 hrs, literally) but I continued to tell Dave at the Pro Shop how much I love the town and what I want to do, and how I will get there. - He tells me to to connect with him on LinkedIn and he knows a guy that works at an agency.

So- Do I have job prospects? technically no, but it's in the works. As the saying goes, Luck happens when opportunity meets preparation.

Making Room for the New Me

I finally started transferring all of my belongings from the foyer into my bedroom. Yes, it has now been three weeks and I still have not given my mother the relief she has been begging for. Every morning I wake up to:

"Rise and shine, sweetie! So...will today be the day?! Can we please make some sense out of your stuff down my hallway?"

"It's a process, Mom." I always reply with a smile.

I decided to give her some hope a few days ago and managed to get a few bags of clothes together to donate to the Salvation Army. I was feeling good until I started setting up picture frames on my dresser and my dad mentioned additional shelving he would make for me in my closet.

"Yeah! That would be great, thanks Da-"

No. This is not happening. How long do they think I'm going to be back here for?! I immediately texted my other half: Sophies in the morning? She knows the routine.

At 9:30am the next day we grabbed our iced coffees and sat at the table closest to the outlet. With the exception of our what-word-am-I-looking-for-convos, we sat in complete silence. Before long we finished our cover letters and continued applying to our list of potential careers. For her, the focus of the day was Racepoint Group and for me, McGarry Bowen. We swapped some fun facts about the companies: Racepoint Group was the first agency to follow her on Twitter and McGarry Bowen recently acquired the Burger King account- does that mean free fries for life?! and then as usual, drifted off into our dreams for the future. We wrapped up our Sophies date by shaking our hands wildly in excitement and left with big smiles knowing we were one step closer to our dream jobs.

My mom has been patient long enough so I promised her the hallway will be cleared by tomorrow... however I'm sure I can get away with keeping  at least one bag packed.

Chew on This

Up until yesterday I was unamused by Tridents latest 30 seconds, "Pay Me in Gum." I didn't think it was that funny and although I do enjoy their new flavors, I guarantee you I will always prefer money. (If it were chocolate it may be a different story) However yesterday afternoon while I was at a nearby Benny's to get four new tires for my car I had a change of heart.

"That will be $430, Miss."

"Oh my goodness! Do you accept Trident Layers?!"

I couldn't help myself. That was the first thing that came to mind and I was desperately hoping he would surprise me with a "Why, yes!"

Let's just say I left the store $431.59 lighter... Four new tires and another pack of Strawberry Citrus Trident Gum.


Bravo Trident.

Here and Now vs. There and Later

I'm in downtown Boston, wearing my new tailored jacket, hot coffee in hand, waiting for the T. Excited, because my new new Account Executive position at my agency has lead me to three new clients, whom I have meetings with throughout the day. It's a Friday, and the Sox are scheduled to play the Yankees, and because of a friend of a friend in my office, my roommate and I have tickets to tonight's game...

REALITY SAYS

I'm on the golf cart, fanny pack strapped on, serving beers and Powerades to old men, for yet another summer. As far as scenario 1- A rough draft of the life I will be living come this Fall. In the meantime I am putting in my hours at the same golf course I have been bartending and driving beverage carts for the past four Summers. Yes, there comes a little sting when I engage in those generic "What are you doing now" conversations, as I explain that I don't have a "real"job yet, that I am still at Beaver River and still rockin the same khaki shorts I bought when I was 18, as I endure my job hunt in Boston.

But To be frank, the sting is minuscule. A very similar version of Scenario 1 WILL happen. Not to toot my own horn, but I have the "smarts" and even more, the conviction. So, I'll flash these pearly whites, do the fake laugh, pull out the same one liners that I have ever year.."I'll catch ya on the back nine,"... "Another Bud Don?"..." Who's buying this round?"..etc etc... and even more, I will deposit all those ones and SAVE, because, God knows that apartment on the skirts of Boston won't be cheap.

So for Now- It's a Friday, it's Hot, I am 21 years old in Rhode Island-the world is my oyster. And more importantly there is a DJ at the Coast Guard House tonight and my gf and I have yet to find the perfect Summer drink.

The First Step

I sat by my pool today and talked about life with my girlfriend in between complaints about the heat. We were taking in the 102 degree weather while letting out our usual stresses, triumphs and inspirations. Its been almost 20 days since I walked across the stage at Bryant University- for her, the University of Rhode Island and we are now both back home and settling into our usual routine. Every moment we've spent together since our "big day", we've attempted to nail down an answer to the text we simultaneously sent to each other on May 22nd:

(401): Now what?!

Did we solve the mystery today? Hardly. However, this blog was the result. We have big dreams and are more than determined to make them a reality. "Looking for a full-time job is a full-time job in itself" and we are willing to put in the hours.

With that said, we also know how to make the most of what could potentially be our last Rhode Island summer and will not leave out those details on our journey with a #GraduateSwagg.