Pick Me-Choose Me-Pick Me #15- Exhaustion
We are tired, we are scared, denying it doesn't change the truth. Sooner or later we have to put aside our denial and face the world. ~Grey's AnatomySo it is almost midnight and I am writing this from my hotel room on the in-room computer which has made my life a LOT easier over the past few days. Just knowing that I am able to check my e-mail if I have to is pretty amazing. I could be doing research for the interviews that I have throughout tomorrow, but I decided that a little bit of reflection was in order after the whirlwind of placement.
If any of my dear readers will be going through the process next year, listen up. These are my words of wisdom for next year.
#1 You will be tired. It will not hit you until you allow yourself to relax, both physically and mentally. I was so used to being "on" that the first day I didn't realize how tired I was until I sat down on my hotel bed and tonight I didn't realize I was tired I was today until I had an extended break and was able to connect with some of the people in my program to compare notes. Be prepared for the "crash" and don't be afraid to tell friends or collegues that you don't want to go out to eat or drink or network. You need your rest!
#2 There is a fine balance between strangers who want to get to know you and strangers who are pumping you for information. During our candidate orientation, the people in charge told us there were going to be 18,000 interviews conducted and 1200 candidates present. You could feel a palpable change in the room once they told us that there were 1500 positions. It was like everyone made a mental shift from "these people are my competition" to "everyone will get a job and let's just get to know people!" With that being said, you still need to be conscious of what you are saying, around whom, and in what environment. I made the mistake of talking about a few Jesuit institutions that I had interviewed with and some woman from across the table jumped down my throat about my assumptions about a Jesuit college that I was privately sharing with a collegue. Make sure you are very aware of your surroundings!
#3 Be prepared for the magnitude and scope of the placement center. There are a TON of people and it can be quite overwhelming, especially when you look at all of the tables lined up in row after row after row in different sections of the placement center. The analogy of herds of cattle being lined up for sale is very appropriate because the employers come out to greet you so you are in a "waiting area" which is more like a holding pen for cattle. The employer comes out, usually with a sign, folder, pennant, dry erase board, foam finger, or mascot from the school and either flail it about or yell you name in conjunction with the flailing. My friend said that she felt like she was the kid in 1st grade who was waiting for their mom to pick them up while the rest of the kids had already left with their parents. I think this is a great analogy because when about 10 people get chosen you immediately re-check your information to make sure you are in the right place, right time, right holding pen, etc. My same friend decided that it would be great if she made a sign or pennant or foam finger with her name on it to show the employers instead!
#4 Placement CAN and WILL BE fun if you allow it to be. You don't realize how many people you know or what great support you really have until you go through Placement. I have gotten so many hugs and words of encouragement, plus some great notes from friends, cohort members, and former collegues in my mail which have made the days a lot easier to handle. Don't forget to laugh and joke to break the tension and get out of the center as well! Schedule in breaks and times for lunch and dinner!
I'm sure I'll have more words of wisdom as the interviewing progresses. So far I have had 13 1st round interviews and have two 2nd round interviews for tomorrow, two 1st round and two 2nd round interviews for Tuesday, plus four invitations for social functions of various institutions. I am pretty happy with where I stand now and I can't wait to see what happens by the time I leave Orlando! More posting sooner rather than later for me!!!
posted by StudentAffairs.com @ 8:32 PM
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