I never really knew what kind of job I wanted to have. I was terribly unfocused in school, kinda fell from job to job after graduation, never really had a plan. After Erik and I had been dating for a couple of years, I began to think about what I wanted from my work. I was in a great job at the time with an employment agency; and my boss, to this day, is one of my best friends and mentors. But, I felt like I wanted to do something different. Just didn’t know what or where. And, I didn’t have any specific education to take me to whatever or wherever that place would be.
I talked to Erik about it and he asked,”Well, what do you like?” I answered, “I love documentaries and public television.” He responded, “So, go work for WGBH.” I was like…..”Oh sure, just march in with no TV experience, no education in film making, and say, hi I want a job.” Erik said. “Yep.”
I remember that moment clear as crystal. It was the first time anyone had told me, if that’s what you want, then just make it happen. Again, I was like, “WTF, you don’t just go to the biggest producer of public television programming in America, with NO experience and apply.” All of my instincts told me it was crazy and to just forget it.
But, Erik just kept coming back at me with, “Why not?” And, as I kept shooting down all of his reasons to do it, he kept shooting down all of my reasons not to do it. What the hell was Erik thinking? People just don’t do that. I don’t do that. I had been programmed to avoid risk. And, in an act of “I told you so,” I sent my resume to WGBH.
My cover letter basically said that I was looking for a career change, had no television experience, but strongly believed in public television programming. I got a call two days later. After three interviews, I was hired. Of all the people who were surprised, none was more than me. And none was less than Erik.
I was often asked after that, how did you get that job? The short answer was, I applied. It was a match in the sense that my skills all suited the position, but I had to learn on the job all of the vocabulary and nuances of production. On my first day, I cluelessly asked a PA, “What’s a 3/4?” And with the kindness of a teacher, he explained the different forms of tape to me. No one laughed, no one doubted, I asked some silly questions at times, but I learned a lot.
And the only reason I did it was because Erik simply asked, “why not?” There have been so many occasions in which doubt stopped me in my tracks. If I thought about something enough, I could always find a reason why it wouldn’t make sense. Simply having a voice that says, “why not, give it a try, what’s the worst that can happen?” can make all of the difference.
I am lucky and it really is that simple.
13 Comments
The first step in many things is sticking your neck out and taking a look around. I don’t understand why so many of us are afraid of even a small risk. Most people shouldn’t be adrenaline junkies that risk everything everyday, but all our lives would be better if we were not afraid to say “Hi!” to a stranger, or ask “why not?” to a new idea.
I love this post, love it. It fills me with optimism and makes me believe, if in a fleeting way, that when I get serious about becoming a pro songwriter, I won’t be laughed at into submission. Thank you!
Jeff
A very inspiring and positive story and I am truly happy you were lucky. Being a designer who unfortunately only wants to be a designer and been struggling to get out of the in-house environment and into a studio for 6+ I found the above approach did not pay dividents for me. I applied to many local agencies even offered to work for free and still nothing – and I have bags of design experience, knowledge and qualifications. So I think ultimately luck has a lot to do with your success.
Thank you everyone for your comments! Timea, I do think luck played a part. A position had recently opened up that my skills were suitable for…I had an office management background, and the position was for a unit production manager. Which is kinda the same thing but in a different industry. I’m just glad that I was encouraged to try, because if I hadn’t I never would have known if the answer was yes or no.
Did you have to make any psychological adjustments after actually landing the job? Landing a dream job with ease is exciting, but did you miss the dream?
Lauren, I know what you mean. As they say…Be careful what you wish for – for you are sure to get it. I didn’t have to make any really big adjustments, because I didn’t know what to expect at all. Like any job it had it’s ups and downs, but the experience was amazing.
Kathryn, I can hear Erik saying this in his “well yea, obviously” voice. Isn’t it uplifting to have the people closest to us see our potential more than we ever can? I hesistate to venture out of my coccoon in fear that I am not qualified for anything outside of it but my husband thinks I can run the country!
Ah…if I had a nickel for every time my life partner has said “why not” I’d be, well…carrying around a lot of change in my pocket. Now, thanks to too much reading and personal soul-searching, “why not” has been replaced with “roadblock!”
Wow — what a great story! Why not, indeed?
I can definitely relate to Timea’s comments. One of the things I was taught by an ECD (when I was looking for my first job years ago) that there’s no real rhyme or reason why some people really “make it” in this business and other’s don’t. I didn’t take it as discouragement. I think she meant that you could do everything right and have a great book, but things happen and you shouldn’t take it as an indictment on your skills. That’s why my mindset in job hunting is that I don’t need 10 or even 5 job offers. I just need one.
I’m slowly “getting this” … it’s taken me way too long (5 mos since becoming unemployed) to finally get a feeling and admit what I WANT to do with my life right now…so glad I found the site through Lemonade…I’m still optimistic that something will surface…
Why not? Probably the 2 most powerful words in the English language
I love this post.
Although it definitely has to do with some luck it has a lot to do with articulating how your talents can fit in with that job. Sometimes I think to myself.. well this sounds like a job I can do…what would make the hiring person believe in this as well.
As a designer my 2 cent advice to the other designer who wants to move from in house.
This goes out to ALL designers… It doesn’t matter how much knowledge or years of experience you have if your portfolio doesn’t reflect the type of work the place is looking for. I have worked with MUCH older designers than myself who had a lot more years of experience but I would land the lead designer spot because of my design aesthetic. This is why I’m never deterred to apply for jobs that ask for 10 years of experience when I only have 4.
Create freelance projects that would fit in with what that agency is looking for, and show off those samples.
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