The MBA has gotten HIRED!!!

After job searching since October, I've applied to over 500 job positions all across the nation. I took networking to a literal level and did every little thing that I could do to reach out to my networks.

This was a long scary process and I think the key successes were:

• Staying in contact with everyone and anyone.
• Letting people know that I'm looking and could use help.
• Being specific on what type of job or industry that I'm looking for.
• Follow up Follow up Follow up!
• Attend conferences, attend events, and ask for business cards.
• Send my resume to people to forward along.
• Ask for opening at companies that are new - to beat the massive competition.
• Accept part time jobs to keep busy and money coming in.
• STAY POSITIVE and not get caught up in the frustration, it's much easier to stay positive then negative.
• Try different jobs that you wouldn't normally entertain. You might surprise yourself.

So the secret to my most recent job offer. A friend from my former beverage industry got me interviews at her company in February. Didn't work out but she kept me in mind for when she heard of an opening at her friend's company. So Jenn referred me to Sarah who is also a member of a common association (DELTA SIGMA PI). She forwarded along my resume for the position. 1 week later I received notice that my resume was referred by Sarah an internal employee. The next day I received a request to set up a phone interview. The phone interview went well. It turned out that one of my very dear friend's cousin works for the company and had prepped me and filled me in on the company. So props to Monica as well. I owe you tons of babysitting.

Then there was a phone interview with the hiring manager, the marketing manager later that week. Since that went well, I was excited for the next step. Much much later I had the all the interview. 9 people within 6 hours, plus a computer test. I rocked it!

A week and a half afterward a background check and reference check was completed and verbal offer was made over the phone.

Some things that helped me during the interview:

• Sample of recent and relevant writing - brought in an abstract of Health Information Technology - Remote Monitoring Devices
  
• Not only had my resume, but a comprehensive resume that elaborated on my classwork projects and all my part time jobs. So if it came up, I could offer the comprehensive resume with the details
• I had a list of good questions to ask the interviewers like:

1. What makes an unique employee
2. What brought you to the company and why do you stay?
3. What are the challenges of the position?
4. What training and mentoring is available?
5. In 5-10 years from now what is your legacy that you will leave behind here?
   

• I sent thank you cards to the women and some of the more senior men and thank you emails to the other men
• I also spoke of a 30-60-90 day plan that I would create once I got started. This is to demonstrate that I can plug and play and don't need my hand held.
  

So thank you for reading my trials and tribulations and best of luck to you!