The networking event that changed it all…
ROLLINS! My university in Florida had its first networking event in late June. Now, this wasn’t the typical networking event I’ve been to in the past. I’ve been sticking to nonprofit events where the crowd is, um a bit different than the Rollins crowd. Google Rollins College, and you’ll see what I mean.
I met my college friend at the event. She’s now attending law school at American University and the job she has now she got through her university, typical. When I told friends who’d never been out of the country that I was going to attend grad school in Sydney, a typical response was, “How are you going to get a job later? How are you going to make connections?” I of course proved them wrong. But, no doubt, there is a huge advantage for getting a job in D.C when you attend university in D.C. Many jobs aren’t published for the general public but are posted on university sites. Professors in D.C also have a huge pull in D.C. Sadly Americans trust national universities more than outside universities – unless you have Oxford stamped on your resume.
But I never wanted my life to be about what I needed to do to get a job later. Though this didn’t stop me from gaining internship experiences starting my second year of college, this was because I wanted to learn and stay busy – and because I wanted to stand out. Americans (I say this like I’m not one haha) typically live their life to get a job, because the competition is tough, and our culture almost demands it…work hard, get a good job, make money, buy things, COMPETE! Climbing the latter of “success” is never how I wanted to live my life, I knew from a very young age this wasn’t what gets you true happiness. I live to learn and to grow, to meet interesting people, to view the world from different lenses, to have unique experiences, to be anything but ordinary, to challenge myself, and of course to one day have a family, to be a strong partner for my other half and educate my children.
Like I said, if you can network, have a good resume to start, and are positive and persistent, the graduate school you went to shouldn’t be a factor.
Anyway, upon walking into this event, I could already tell I was in with the moneymakers –lots of lawyers, Tobacco lobbyists (yikes!), and people working as staff members for governors. My mom, who was a graduate of Rollins in…uhh the 60’s?…also came along. She scoped the scene for me while I made conversation with a couple of lawyers. The event was great fun, but I didn’t think I would make any solid connections that could lead me to where I wanted to go. The typical thing happened, a couple conversations with interesting people, a cocky guy tried to hit on me, and lots of blondes in high power heels (Rollins typical).
BUT then I met the girl that would kick start my D.C experience. It was a good thing I entertained the guy who was hitting on me (TALK TO EVERYONE), because she was his friend. She was the last person I talked to before leaving. I recognized her from campus way back when, but couldn’t put her face to a name,
“So what do you do in D.C”…I enquired.
“I work for the World Bank”….
SPOTTED!
She worked in corporate communications for the Bank. I took down her info once I told her my experience and expressed that was THE PLACE I wanted to work. We stayed in touch throughout my search, aka, I started to build a relationship with her. I found her on linkedin, emailed her almost every week about tips and inside scoops and I emailed her my resume and cover letter on day one.
About the time when I was about to throw up my hands and move because I just could NOT apply for one more job online, I got an e-mail about the position I’m in now. She forwarded my resume to GPE when she switched over to this job from corporate communications, and here I am.
Stay tuned for the interview…