This week has been a very encouraging one in my job search. On Monday, the athletic department here at GW partnered with an incredible company, Career Athletes, to put together a job fair full of companies that actively look to hire former athletes. The night started with a panel of employers. The panel told us of all the qualities that athletes have (time management, dedication, hard work, etc.) that make them want to hire us. It was extremely useful to hear everything I have learned as an athlete laid out in a way that would be useful to employers. Following the panel we participated in a sort of "Employer Speed Dating" during which employers would rotate to a different table every 5 minutes and tell us a little about what their company does. Finally, we were released to get up and mingle among the employer booths and talk to those that interested us.
Now, I normally hate these types of things, but once I put my nerves aside I had a great time talking to companies that I may never have considered otherwise. I ended up getting business cards from three different companies. On Wednesday, I contacted the representative of the company that had really caught my attention. And by Friday I was having a phone call with the Charlotte area representative about the opportunities available down there. The phone call went very well and I'm very excited for what lies ahead.
So, moral of the story I guess is to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to you. Even if you don't feel like going in the moment, give it your best effort because every interaction is a potential job interview. It is also important to utilize any assistance offered by your various student organizations or interest groups.
Now, I normally hate these types of things, but once I put my nerves aside I had a great time talking to companies that I may never have considered otherwise. I ended up getting business cards from three different companies. On Wednesday, I contacted the representative of the company that had really caught my attention. And by Friday I was having a phone call with the Charlotte area representative about the opportunities available down there. The phone call went very well and I'm very excited for what lies ahead.
So, moral of the story I guess is to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to you. Even if you don't feel like going in the moment, give it your best effort because every interaction is a potential job interview. It is also important to utilize any assistance offered by your various student organizations or interest groups.