The Sharks Are Circling...

Last Thursday night I went to a job fair. It was the kind of job fair where they have 10-12 companies come in to do a brief (2 min.) overview of who they are and what they're all about and then they go back to their booth and everyone makes the mad dash to talk to/interview with, throw their resumes at, the companies they are interested in. The particular field this fair was for was Sales & Marketing...but I'm currently waxing unsuccessful in my own job search...so I thought I'd give this fair a look-see...besides they invited finance, communications and other managerial specializations to the party...so I figured it was o.k.

Wow.

Sales People. Be all that you can be. I was a sparky, happy, sunfish in a sea of sharks! LOL

It was an interesting and eye-opening experience. I haven't been in a room that looked so slick in my entire life. Picture this...you know a slick salesman/woman when you see one...they have a certain je ne sais quois about them...I don't know how else to describe other than "slick" ... that's part of their job...black suits, sports coats...very business formal...no business casual...I was very glad I had dressed up all the way...better safe than sorry...and people gunning for every position available. Don't try to chat anyone up while you're in line that's for sure! LOL

I told myself I needed to visit every booth and try to get my resume out there and I met my goal. I don't really anticipate getting any phone calls whatsoever, but it was good for me to get out there mixing around with the other molecules, promoting myself and seeing what is out there. It makes sense to me now why sales people are the way they are and how they make the money they make (or don't make it as the case may be as well). You have to think that you are truly the best whether you are or not. I can take some lessons away that's for sure.

As an additional note: There were a couple of insurance companies there as well...desperate as I may be...in the end, I just couldn't bring myself to get jazzed up about working for them. I talked to them, gave them resumes and went from there...but it just is not for me. One of the guys I talked to specializes in insurance for the elderly. From the get-go he asked if I had grandparents that were still living, I replied that they were, and he gave his spiel and went on to say that I could immediately sell to them, and it wouldn't be just one but two sales...one for each of them, of which I would make $300 a pop...so $600...immediately I could gain from my grandparents. Soooo sleazy...like I said...not for me.