Time was winnowing down. Graduation was just a few months away and of the dozens of job and internship applications I sent out, the offers were nonexistent. Frantic, I re-strategized.
A mentor I spoke to throughout the application process had given me a piece of advice that I decided to try: “Don’t be afraid to try something different and show who you really are. That way if you don’t get the job, it means you weren’t meant to work on the company anyway.â€
She was right.
Instead of sending out mass resumes and cover letters — merely switching the name of the employer on the cover letter, I decided to tailor each cover letter to the company.
But there was one company in particular I had my eyes set on — Black Enterprise. For me, Black Enterprise would be the perfect opportunity to merge my passion for economics, finance, government, and journalism.
The idea came to me like a 3
a.m. lightbulb moment. I remembered that each month the magazine’s Backt Talk section featured public figures discussing an issue or cause dear to them. I decided to recreate the section to feature me, discussing my passion for business journalism and financial literacy. I spent hours in the computer lab flipping through months of issues trying to model my recreation down to the exact font and burgundy red hue.Months had passed. It was March — less than two months until graduation –Â and I was still jobless and without an internship, on my parents couch during spring break. Then I received a call from Black Enterprise asking to come in for an interview.
The next day, I headed to New York City, ideas and questions in tow. After an insightful interview I found out the company was looking to boost its online presence. Eureka! After proposing a few online ideas I had, and running through my list of questions, the interview -which felt more like a great conversation- went well.
I was offered the internship on the spot. After a great summer and a lot of hard work, I landed a job on the Interactive staff.
Have you ever stepped outside the box when applying for a position? If so, how? What is the best job search advice you’ve received?
Also, check out my article on “Clever Ways to Land the Interview.â€
Renita Burns is the editorial assistant at BlackEnterprise.com.