I spotted these shoes before we came back to school in August. Three months later, and I am still dreaming about them. While I understand that they would be a ridiculous purchase, I can’t help but love them. Your probably wondering how a pair of ridiculous sparkly, ridiculously expensive, and ridiculously awesome shoes have to do with career planning? Well, when I saw them I said, “I WANT THESE FOR WORK!” My mom proceeded to tell me that I was insane and to put them down. Since then she and I have debated on whether or not they would be appropriate for my future job. While I think they are appropriate, she argues that they are too flashy for most work settings.

We do agree on one thing, if I get a job in a field like fashion or art, I can probably get away with it. Although I won’t let shoes pick my job, they just might sway my looking. What do you think? Too crazy, or shows my personality?

I often get asked, how did you get that internship? I have been fortunate enough to have a variety of high profile internships that are coveted by many. My most recent was with Kleinfeld Bridal in New York. Many people know it from the TLC show, “Say Yes to the Dress.” Now how did I get an internship at a place like that? There were a few key moves on my part that helped me land the job.

1. I applied early. One night in October I couldn’t sleep and was randomly searching the internet. I came across a posting for summer interns and thought I would just send an inquiry email. It was a good thing I did! At that point they were already looking at resumes for the next summer.
2. I followed up. Not only did I send the first email, but I made sure to respond quickly with my resume, and follow up a week later to check in on the process. It showed that I was very interested and took initiative.
3. I did my research. Before my interview I did everything I could to get information on the company. I read their website, blogs and anything I could get my hands on that would tell me more. Knowing about the company you are about to walk into is a key part of preparation for your interview.
4. I dressed the part. When getting ready for my interview I dressed for the company. Since it is a wedding dress shop, and they wear professional attire, I wanted to mimic both of those things in my look. I made sure to look conservative enough, while still showing I was interested in fashion, and current trends.
5. I asked questions. During an interview it is important to remember you are not the only person being questioned. You want to make sure that you also believe that the internship would be a good fit for you. Asking questions also shows you are truly interested in what they have to offer you.
6. I followed up with a thank you note. It is important to note the time that the person took to interview you. Often it is someone very busy, and their time is very valuable. It also reaffirms that you are interested and just appreciate the consideration.

Although this is not an exact formula, and I can’t guarantee that you will get the internship, it all can only help you!

During the job hunt, a main factor for many people is location. For me, it is not necessarily a deal breaker, but if I have a choice there is definitely a few cities I would love to be in. San Francisco was never really a city I saw myself living in. I don’t particularly love fog, and I am not your typical San Franciscan. I have been there many times visiting friends and family, and never felt that the city was as alluring as other places I had been. However, my brother, and best friend both believe that there would be no better place to live. Since they are two people I love very much, and would love to live near both of them, I decided to give San Francisco another chance.

I was there this past weekend visiting family, and my brother took the opportunity to convince me that it really is the best place to live. I decided to use his eagerness to my advantage, and began to think of my trip like an interview for the city. During an interview, the interviewer is trying to get to know you, your history, your weaknesses, and your strengths. I already had recommendations from many sources, but I needed to form my own opinion. I decided that I should go about interviewing San Francisco in the similar way.

My first question was what is public transportation like, and how would I get from one neighborhood to the next? My brother told me that biking is the way to go, however I am unsteady riding a bike around campus, and the thought of dodging buses and bikes does not seem like an option for me. My other options included buses, zip car, or simply having my own car. To me, it seems like a city that you need a car in. And this is definitely a factor I am going to consider if choosing to live there.

The next question was where would I live, and does it feel like a safe place? A desire I have for my future home is to live somewhere that I feel safe walking around at night by myself. I don’t plan on running around my city alone at all times of the night, but if I need groceries and it is 9:30pm I want to feel like I can simply walk down the street and feel fine about being alone. Ultimately, I decided that in certain neighborhoods I could imagine myself doing this in San Francisco.

I also looked at things like proximity stores I love, restaurants I would enjoy, and many other slightly superficial attributes of the city. Basically I was seeing how the city would fit into the culture of my life. While I ultimately decided that I could in fact live in San Francisco, I did not have the emotional connection that I have with many other cities. It was an interview that went very well, and met all my checkpoints but the city didn’t convince me quite yet. I guess I might have to just move there to fall in love with the city my friends and family love so much. How do you decide where you would and would not call home after graduation?

As the process of finding a job starts to gear up (in my over-anxious plan), I am starting to have flashbacks to four years ago at this time. Four years ago I was filled with anxiety out about where I was going to be living, who my friends would be, what I would be learning, and how soon I would find out this information. Although this wasn’t my search for the perfect career, it was my search for the perfect college. It is starting to feel eerily the same, and the biggest issue for me is still the waiting. I feel prepared and confident that I will get a job (just like I knew I would get into at least one college) but the wait is excruciating. While friends around me are finding out about second rounds of TFA, and fellowships, I sit patiently as employers tell me to “look them up” come spring time. For someone who plans for the future as far in advance as possible this is tough.

I find myself thinking what can I do in the meantime? If you are a senior applying for jobs next year, you are probably having the same thoughts… Here are five tips I have come up with, and I hope it might help.

1. Make a list of dream companies, work towards finding contacts or connection. Think of these as your reach schools, or in my case Scripps!
2. Perfect your resume. I am sure you have stopped by CP&R by now, but making sure that your resume is updated from this summer and is as polished as possible will make it less stressful when you come across your dream job at 2am and think that you MUST apply ASAP before someone steals your future.
3. Start making a list of wants. Where you want to live, where you want to work, what kind of weather you want, whether you want to be close to family. As I see it, now is the time to figure out exactly what you want. If you have to give up a few of those things come time to accept a job, fine, but for now, your possibilities are endless.
4. Do your school work. This might seem obvious, but I find myself looking into jobs and avoiding my work at times. It seems like a productive activity until I realize that I need to be present in my life here, and that includes work!
5. Enjoy my senior year. Between thesis, other classes, the job search, and life in general it is hard to remember that I should also be having some fun. It is our last year here seniors, so make sure to have a little fun!

For all of you seniors out there, you know the life after Scripps questions start way before senior year even starts. I, of course, began to field these questions all summer and in the calmest way possible. However, multiple times I have gotten a suggestion that I find shocking and, quite frankly, offensive. It all started with me discussing where I would like to live after graduation. One of my biggest concerns is being able to live a lifestyle that I am comfortable in, and can afford. I was telling a family friend that I would consider moving to a smaller city for the first few years to save up money. The response I got to what I considered to be a responsible and well thought out plan was, “Why don’t you just marry someone rich and then you won’t have to worry about that.” My jaw literally dropped, and I am pretty sure everyone at the table could see smoke coming out of my ears. As calmly as possible, I responded that I felt that I did not need someone to support me and was confident enough in myself to believe I could make it on my own. Now don’t get me wrong, I would love to be married one day, but I don’t believe that I must do it in order to succeed. Nor do I plan on getting married and then sitting around my house eating bon bons. This isn’t the 1950’s after all.

Now I wish I could tell you that this was the only time I heard this comment. And I wish I could tell you that because this man was of an older generation, that he was set back in his ways. However, I also received a version of this comment from a good friend of mine. I was talking about shoes of all things, and his comment was “You better marry someone rich so you can afford these things.” My response, “Why would I need to marry someone rich to afford these things, cannot I not make money for myself?” I got a mumble of I don’t know and a change of conversation.

Of course these comments have sat with me all summer, and still linger into the fall. What about me screams that I don’t want to get a job, and start what I hope will be a successful career path? Is it the fact that I have chosen to major in Art? Is it that I worked at Kleinfeld Bridal this summer? Is is because I attend an all women’s college? Or is it simply because I am a female?

I am still not really sure the answer to any of these questions. I have struggled with the idea that I could have worked so hard at Scripps, had so many internships, been so involved still to have people expect so little of me. However, these comments have fueled me further in my pursuit of a phenomenal job. Nothing would make me happier than to show the world that yes I am an art major, and yes I have worked at Kleinfeld and yes I went to a women’s college, and yes I am a female, but check me out, and my fantastic job that I worked so hard for.

I would love to know if any of you have had this same thing happen to you. Leave a comment if so, or really if this concept makes you as mad as it did me.