Last night, my fiance left on a trip to Israel with Birthright, an amazing organization that (through the generosity of donors) provides young Jews with the opportunity to travel to Israel for 10 days FOR FREE. I went on a Birthright trip my freshman year of college, and I know he’ll have a fantastic time. But, from the time I said goodbye to him yesterday morning, to the time I went to bed, I was pretty much a mess. It was like my eyes were faucets, but I had no control over when they turned on and off.

I wanted to write about this feeling without people thinking, “oh barf, good for you, you’re in love.” As sad as I was, I’m grateful for the reasons I’ll miss him so much. I know now that it was the right decision for me to look for jobs in New York City exclusively, because if this is what the thought of 10 days apart is doing to me, imagine having to do long distance again. I say again because for three years, we took turns driving five hours each way every other weekend. It really made us appreciate each other and our time together…but I hope we never have to do it again.

There were moments during both of the times I’ve looked for a job when I wondered if it would be easier if I could expand my search to other cities. I was even contacted about an amazing opportunity in sports over the summer, but I wouldn’t even take an interview. Some people probably think that’s crazy, and would tell me I’m limiting my career etc. etc, and maybe, in a way, they’re right. But, there are other things in life that are just as important, if not more so, than our jobs. Love is one of those things. So is happiness. Living with my fiance and seeing him every day makes me happy. He’s in law school here, so this is where I’ll stay until he’s done. Say I’d gotten that amazing job in sports in another city. No matter how great the job was, I wouldn’t be completely happy. I probably wouldn’t have much of a life either, schlepping back and forth on weekends.

We all have different priorities, and of course, there are times when we have to make choices and sacrifices. But, I just want to make it clear that it’s okay if advancing your career and achieving all your dreams by age 30 isn’t your number one priority. It’s okay if you give up a potential dream job to stay in the same city as the love of your life or to be close to your family. You have to do whatever it takes to make YOU happy. Life is too short for anything else.

On Monday, I’ll be starting my new job! It’s still surreal, but I’m so excited. I’ve definitely learned a lot about the job search over the past four and a half months, and I wanted to share some of my key takeaways with you:

Don’t change yourself to be a “better fit” for a job. No job is worth that, and any that require you to be anything but yourself are probably the ones you don’t want. Faking it until you make it can only last so long before it catches up to you. An employer should hire you…professional, appropriate, polished you, but still you.

Believe in yourself and you will radiate confidence. Of all the interviews I went on, I felt best after the ones that I approached with confidence. Those were the ones where I was the most prepared, where I’d studied up on the company and my interviewers, and practiced talking about myself. I would give myself a little pep talk beforehand and remind myself all of the awesome things I could do for each company. This helped squash my nerves and present myself better.

Take every interview you can, even if the job doesn’t sound that great. I’ll be honest, I was hesitant at first when my dad sent me the posting for the job that will be mine starting Monday. Even more so when they called for an interview. I was worried about the things I hadn’t done before, and that it wasn’t the type of place where I thought I would end up. Then, I told myself to take a step back and look at it from a different perspective. I love learning new things, I’m passionate about the work they do, and there are definitely ways that I will be able to apply my skills and past experience to this position. I went in with an open mind, and ended up with a job offer.

Just keep swimming. This economy sucks. I’m fortunate in that I was only unemployed four and a half months, but even that seems like forever. Being unemployed while the rest of your friends are working or in school can be depressing as hell. Add to that a fiance in his first year of law school, and you’ve got a lot of alone time. There were definitely days when I could have been mistaken for Eeyore, but somehow, I woke up every morning and kept on going. There’s no other choice. You have to believe something will work out eventually, because it will.

Thank you all so much for your continued support! I was honored by the outpouring of excitement and congratulations this week. I’m so grateful for every one of you!

I believe in the importance of networking, and the power our networks have to help us reach our goals. If you read this blog, you probably know that I’ve been unemployed and job searching since July. Although I’ve been fortunate to have a number of interviews over the past few months, none of them has resulted in a job offer. So, I want to reach out to my network, tell you more about my skills and experience, and ask for your help. If you know of a company or a position that would be a good fit for someone like me (preferably in the New York area), please let me know! I’m passionate and enthusiastic, and I can’t wait to get back to work!

Writing and Editing: In addition to this blog, writing has been a part of every professional experience I’ve had. I have written and edited content for websites, newsletters, press releases, sales decks, and more. Topics have ranged from social action issues, to professional football players, to online advertising and marketing. Writing is my true passion, and I love to tell the stories of people and organizations.

Social Media Marketing: I spent a year and a half building the social media presence for an online ad network. In the process, I became well-versed with multiple blog platforms, as well as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, YouTube, Flickr, and a number of other social networking platforms. Social media provides an unprecedented opportunity for companies to connect with consumers and engage in a two-way conversation. Finally, people can see behind the logo and find out what their favorite brands are really about.  I truly enjoy helping companies establish and maintain these important connections.

Web and Computer Skills: I chose to minor in Information Systems Management because I knew computer skills would be vital to the future of the Communications industry. I am experienced in a number of programs on Mac and PC, including the Microsoft Office Suite, video editing programs like iMovie and Final Cut, and photo editing programs like Photoshop.  In addition, I have a working, and constantly expanding, knowledge of HTML and CSS.

One of the most important ways I have learned to combine my skills is becoming well-educated in how writing for the Web is different than writing for print. Visitors to your website aren’t always reading every word, in fact, they’re usually just scanning. Companies need someone who understands the difference and can make their content stand out.

A great example of my work is the philanthropic website CPXample.org. Not only was I instrumental in the creation of the site, but I customized the design and researched and wrote every post. I also put together a social media directory, so people could easily connect to their favorite causes and organizations on Facebook and Twitter. I would be glad to provide more examples of my work to anyone who is interested. For more on my professional experience, visit my LinkedIn profile.

Thanks so much for your help everyone! I know the perfect job will come my way someday soon!

It’s Monday, the beginning of a new week and a chance for a fresh start…but, I’m grumpy. I’m sitting here on my couch looking through job listings and unenthusiastically saving a few for later. It’s been about two and a half months since I was told my position was being eliminated. I’m proud to say that I’ve been pretty positive since, focusing on the awesome opportunities the situation presented instead of the sucky setbacks.

I honestly don’t know why the blues are hitting me so hard right now of all times. As far as unemployment goes, I’ve been doing fairly well. I’ve had interviews at about half a dozen places, and even made it to the final round with a couple of them. Last week, I had a fantastic interview for a job I really, really want. It’s a social media specialist position, and every single part of it excites me. Maybe I’ve got the blues because I want that job so badly, I’m sick of waiting, being letdown and starting all over again at square one. Because I don’t want going to the gym to be the highlight of my day anymore. Because I want to be a part of a team again, putting my skills and experience to good use.  Because this is supposed to be the year when I’m happy more than I’m sad.

I still have faith that something will work out eventually. I will continue to believe that everything that hasn’t worked out wasn’t meant to be, and I will keep applying to jobs until I find the one that’s right for me. I know I’m awesome and any company would be lucky to have me…but, today I just don’t feel that way.  I shouldn’t question why no company wants me, because I know that’s not what it’s about, but I am anyway. I guess it’s all just part of the process, and hopefully soon I’ll be singing a different tune.

Back at the beginning of June, I wrote a post about pursuing your passion. It was sparked by an article I had read about a number of older people who decided to take on second or third jobs so they could make the things they were passionate about part of their daily lives. At the time, I got to thinking about how I could integrate my passion for writing into my every day. Little did I know, that less than a month later I would become unemployed and forced to reconsider my passions and how exactly I was going to pursue them.

At a job interview a couple of weeks ago, the interviewer asked me where I see myself in five years. It’s a pretty standard question, and yet, I wasn’t quite sure how to answer. The truth is that I don’t have it all planned out, and I don’t have a perfect outline of my dream job either. Sure, I have a lot of things I would be happy doing, but if I became queen of the world and could do whatever I wanted…I’d have to think about it for a while.

I’ll be honest, this realization scares me a little bit. I know so many amazing young entrepreneurs who not only dream big, but go after their dreams and achieve them. There are even two incredibly impressive young women who not only followed their dream, but blog about how they pursue their passion every day. Another friend of mine just quit her corporate job to start her own business and freelance full time. Major kudos.

Here’s the thing, when I was first let go, I focused on the fact that this was an opportunity for a new beginning. In fact, I titled a post on the subject “The Possibilities Are Endless.” I still believe that, and I know that I will find the job that’s right for me.  I also know that entrepreneurship is not it, and that’s okay. I need more structure in my day to day right now, that’s just something I’ve come to realize about myself.

When I think more about my broad answer to the five year question, it doesn’t scare me as much as it first did. I’m lucky to have a number of things that I love doing, and several subject areas that spark my interest. Instead of limiting myself, or driving down the career highway with blinders on, I’m keeping my options open. And who’s to say that I should be absolutely sure what I’m passionate about at age 25? Just because some people have it all figured out (or seem like they do) doesn’t mean we all have to. If where you want to be in five years is happily employed doing something that relates to x, y, or z, that doesn’t make you a bad person, or a bad candidate for the job, and it doesn’t mean you’ll never find your dream job. It just makes you, you.

In case you weren’t aware, I’m in the middle of searching for a new job. A few weeks ago, I offered some tips for my fellow searchers, lessons that I’d learned so far.  I called the post Part 1, because I figured I would have more to share, and I was right. Here are three more:

1.  You have to believe that if something is meant to be, it will work out in the end. Getting rejected by a company, or not being asked back for a second interview sucks. Believe me, I know. But, after you allow yourself an hour or so to be sad/mad, really think about the job and the company, and if it was truly a good fit for you. Chances are, they had a good reason for not choosing you, and either way, it’s their loss. You can’t harp on the “woulda, coulda, shouldas,” or beat yourself up for what you could have done better. The past is over and done with, so look to the future and keep your head up.

2.  Don’t psych yourself out for interviews. I know, this is easier said than done, but it’s super important. I’m a worrier, and my gut reaction is to freak out about interviews and drive myself crazy with the pressure. But, this time around, I’ve found that the interviews I feel the best about afterwards are the ones that I didn’t overprepare for, the ones where I was just a more polished version of myself. My advice is to do your research on the company and the people you’re interviewing with, and practice the standard questions a few times to yourself, and a few times with a friend. DO NOT memorize your answers. This will only lead to you freaking out even more when you can’t remember every word, or sounding like a machine when you answer like you’re reciting from a script.  Know yourself, your experience, and what makes you a great candidate for the job, and believe in yourself. You’ll be good to go!

3.  Apply to jobs that ask for more experience than you technically have. When I first graduated from college, I was afraid to do this, even though I’d had three very substantive internships. Now, I don’t let numbers hold me back. If a position sounds perfect for you, and you feel that your skills and experience would allow you to bring a lot to that organization, go ahead and apply. So what if it says 3-5 years and you only have two? Your two years may end up being more relevant than everyone else’s 3-5. Put yourself out there, and go for it!

I’m on the hunt for a new job. I’ve been at it for a few weeks now, and already learned (or been reminded of) some pretty important lessons. This post is called Job Search Lessons Part 1 because it’s a selection of things I’ve learned SO FAR. I’m sure that I’ll have even more to share if I’m still searching a few weeks from now, or G-d forbid, a few months. So, here’s what I’ve learned about the job search process so far:

1) Instead of looking at cover letters as an obnoxious contrived formality that you hate, think of them as a way to tell companies how awesome you are. Use the guidelines from the career center as just that, guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Make sure your letter gives the recruiter some information that they can’t find on your resume, or at least expands on something they can find there.

2) Take advantage of technology. Social media is a fantastic way to set yourself apart. A couple of weeks ago, I started a Twitter campaign* to catch the attention of MTV. I had applied to a social media-related job there, so I wanted to show them that I not only know what I’m doing, but I also have an established presence and a network. It caught the eye of an MTV recruiter, and I had a great phone conversation with him. Unfortunately, the position I wanted had already been filled, but he was very impressed with my resume and the initiative that I took.  So, even though I didn’t get the job, to have a recruiter at a big, popular company like MTV know my name and be impressed with what I’ve done is still an amazing accomplishment!

3) Use your network, don’t be shy! This one is so important, and it’s something I didn’t do enough of the last time I was looking for a job. I was lucky to work with some incredibly talented and experienced people at my last job. Although I don’t work there anymore, they’ve made it clear that they want to see me be successful, and they will do whatever they can to help me find a new opportunity. When people say things like this and offer their assistance, TAKE THEM UP ON IT! They’re not just saying it for fun, they’re offering because they mean it, and they believe in you. So, every time you apply for a job (or at least the ones that really pique your interest) rack your brain and comb through your LinkedIn connections for anyone who might know someone at that company. Then, send them a quick e-mail asking for their help. What’s the worst that can happen? They’ll say no, and you’ll have to respond with a thanks anyway. Big deal.

4. This one ties in with #3. Ask for LinkedIn recommendations as soon as possible after you stop working somewhere. This is another thing that I should have been better about in the past. I had three great internships that gave me the opportunity to work with professionals in the fields I was interested in. My experiences were priceless, but although I’ve used some of my supervisors as references, I never asked them for LinkedIn recommendations. Now, it’s been a while, and who knows what they remember. However, I have learned from this mistake, and made sure to ask for them shortly after I left my last job. Recommendations make your profile much more likely to appear in search results, and give you something like “professional street cred.” There’s no harm in asking. If someone says no, try to think of another person you could ask.

There you have it: My job search wisdom thus far.  What tips do you have and what have you learned when you were unemployed?

*I was going to link to the search results from the campaign, but Twitter is being funky right now. The hashtag was #yoMTVhiresam, so be sure to check it out later.

Image Credit

For what seems like the millionth time in the past few years, something in my life has changed significantly. My familiar routine is no more, and I have to find a new normal. Maybe normal is the wrong word, because who really knows what that means? Really, all I want is to figure out some sort of balance and be at peace with the way my life is right now.  Just like so many try to find that work/life balance, I’m looking for the balance between no work and life.

Here’s the thing, I want to be diligent about finding a new job without driving myself crazy.  As easy as it would be to form a butt indent in my couch and catch up on crappy TV, I can’t get stuck in that rut. But, I also refuse to spend all day every day worrying about not having a job and searching the boards nonstop.  It’s okay if I spend the morning doing that, and then the afternoon reading in the park. In fact, it’s probably better for my sanity.

I’ve also come across a surprising discovery. Instead of blogging and tweeting more, I’ve been doing both less. Even though I technically have more free time, it’s not part of my new routine yet. The majority of my job was social media. I had Hootsuite open all the time, and it was easy to keep up with company tweets and my own. Now, I have to find a way to make time for these things without getting too sucked in.

I’m also trying to balance being positive with being realistic. There’s no doubt that I’m excited for a new opportunity, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid. It’s been a while since the last time I was jobless, and things were very different then. I was just a little college grad looking for my first real job. Now, I have experience and marketable skills, and I want to use those assets to get myself a job I truly enjoy.

Balance, balance, balance.  I’m just trying to even out my scale, taking things off and putting others on to find the right combination. I’m learning to do things for myself, how to keep myself sane through all of this. If the search becomes too much, I go outside and read for a while, or work out at the gym.  I spend some time looking at wedding dresses online, call my mom, or send an e-mail to a friend. Despite this setback, I’ve got a lot going for me, and I remind myself of that every single day.  Eventually, I will find that balance again.

How do you keep life balanced?

It seems like our economy just keeps getting worse and worse. Every time you turn on the news, or go to a news site online, the majority of the stories are about the various ways our economy is continuing its downward spiral. You can find plenty about Obama’s economic stimulus plan, foreclosures and the abysmal state of the housing market, the rise in unemployment, Bernie Madoff’s victims, and more…but, what I want to know is something the media hasn’t been covering: How has our bad economy been affecting Generation Y?

Personally, there are two major ways that I have felt the economy’s effects. Along with thousands of others, I was blessed to be a 2008 college grad, and thrown into one of the worst job markets in years. I applied to over 80 jobs before I was lucky enough to get this one. Difficult though that was, I do certainly count myself among the fortunate, as a growing number of people I know are losing their jobs. Also, our house is on the market, and though we had a decent amount of interest towards the beginning, visits have decreased drastically of late.

Though I could certainly go on and guess about the many ways the economy has affected Gen Yers, I’d rather hear from you.

How has the economy affected you and/or your friends or family? Are you jobless, or did it take you forever to find your current job? Have you had to make major sacrifices because of the state of our economy? Does Gen Y have a story to share that the news outlets are overlooking?

UPDATE: Read Matt Cheuvront’s recession job searching story on his blog Life Without Pants.

If you’ve ever attended a career services session, read a job search guide, or skimmed the articles on job search engine sites, you’ve seen them: the list of standard interview questions. Some of my favorites:

1. What are your three greatest strengths?
2. What is your greatest weakness? (NOTE: Find a way to make this into a strength)
3. Describe how you overcame a difficult situation?
4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
5. What can you contribute to this company?

All of these sound like reasonable interview questions, and as much as I mock them, some incarnation of these questions is almost always asked at an interview. However, a word of advice: practicing your answers to the stock questions over and over is not a good way to prepare for an interview. But Sam, you just said that most interviewers ask these questions, didn’t you? Yes, I did, but the key words are “some incarnation of these questions.” Therefore, if you prepare your answers too much, you’ll probably wind up stuck.

I’m a bit of a “Nervous Nellie.” I do a great job of over thinking and making my stomach do somersaults in high pressure situations. (I should say, I did, as I’ve gotten much better). Interviews were one such situation. I went to numerous career center sessions, memorized lists of potential questions and went over and over the answers I would give to each one. Unfortunately, this didn’t always work so well. If an interviewer asked me a question I hadn’t prepared for, or took a different approach to asking one I had worked on, I was immediately flustered. I applied to over 80 jobs and had about half a dozen interviews, but never got the job.

Here’s what I learned:

• No one really cares about your three greatest strengths. They don’t really want a list of one, two, three.
• The best way to prepare is by knowing yourself and being confident in your abilities. Think back to experiences you’ve had and what you learned from them. Ask yourself, what am I good at, and what could I improve upon? Examples are key.
• Don’t worry about having the exact answer to every question, in fact, it’s best if you don’t.
• If you’re bringing a notepad, write down some key words that you could look at to jog your memory if need be, but don’t write out full answers to questions.
• Learn as much as you can about the organization and the person interviewing you. LinkedIn can be a great tool.
• If an interview doesn’t go well, don’t beat yourself up about it, tempting though it may be. It’s probably not the right place for you anyway.

When I interviewed at CPX Interactive last December, the experience was unlike any of the other interviews I’d had. As soon as I walked in the room, I felt a positive vibe. The interviewer (who is now my boss) and I had a great conversation. I didn’t feel like I was being interrogated, which is thanks to his interviewing style, but I also didn’t allow myself to over think my answers. They came from my heart.

When you go on college tours, you’re always searching for the one place that feels like it could be home for the next four years. You can’t force the feeling, it just comes to you when you’re at the right place. Finding the place you’re meant to work can be much the same. If you sit down in the interview room and your nerves instantly calm, you feel a connection with the interviewer, and your answers to questions are fueled by the excitement and passion you’re feeling for the job you want, that’s probably the place for you.

To sum all of this up: Be yourself. Be confident. Don’t over think or over memorize. Show your greatest strengths through the work you’ve done. Don’t give up, things will work out eventually.

For another great post on being yourself, check out Jamie Varon’s Blog intersected.