Two-A-Days

Tomorrow's schedule contains two job interviews, neither of which have anything to do with my currently defined career path.

The morning interview is with a political campaign. I received a phone call from the manager who received my resume from a charity I applied to several weeks ago. I didn't get that job, but this campaign is in need of a field organizer for canvassers. I've coordinated volunteers before, but I have NEVER worked in politics. I agreed to the interview, and immediately called one of my best friends who used to be a campaign organizer and is currently a union organizer. She helped me figure out what questions to ask and how my experience relates to the position. I love having friends in so many career fields!

The out-of-the-blue phone call was very welcome since I have yet to find a job, but I'm nervous. I think the interview will go fine, but if I'm offered the position, I hope I can handle it. I've never even considered working in public policy. However, it's only temporary, 6 weeks exactly, and the board of directors is a well-connected bunch. If I can pull this off, it would be a huge opportunity for me.

In the evening, I will be "testing out" the idea of serving at a cute sandwich and pizza place three blocks from our apartment. I happened to come across an ad on Craigslist for servers and bartenders, and I recognized the name from driving past it all the time. I figured it would be a good way to bring in a paycheck while I keep the career search going. My last experience serving was not great, but it was a management issue and not lack of effort on my part. I stopped in last week with my resume and the owner asked me to come back and shadow for an evening.

So still no calls from non-profits, PR firms, or university admin offices, but public policy and food service are interested in me. Go figure.

Working Title

I've been making a lot of changes lately to Redhead Records, and it occurs to me that the name of the blog may sound a little disconnected from the theme. When the blog was called Married to Music, and I wrote almost exclusively about concerts, the theme and title made perfect sense, but I now feel I railroaded the transition to a career and real-time memoir without much explanation.

@RedheadRecords started out as my Twitter handle. I thought it was a cute play on words since I was "recording" my thoughts and I was a huge music fan and I love nothing more than well-placed alliteration. I also had one obvious identifier: my hair.

I started tweeting in 2009, and by that time I had been a redhead for nine years. I started coloring my hair red when I was 13, and it was immediately my most recognizable feature. My hair color has been a huge a part of my identity for my entire adult life, and I fully embrace it. People remember me as "the Redhead." I've had many nicknames based on it, tons of compliments, and only a few crude questions from guys in bars. Obviously, once you get to know me, I'm more than my hair color, but I don't mind being initially identified by something I'm proud of. It makes me feel unique and memorable. (Also, it doesn't hurt that it makes me stand out in job interviews and at networking events.)

I chose to use Redhead Records as the name for my blog for the same reasons I chose it for Twitter. Being a redhead is who I am, just like being a music enthusiast, a career nerd, and a wife are also a part of who I am.

Redhead Style by laurenbcunningham on Polyvore

(Watch for my upcoming Redhead Beauty series on JustinasGems.com)

How it went

My non-interview interview was not exactly what I was expecting, but I am choosing to remain optimistic. As it turns out, the "part-time job" turned out to be a volunteer opportunity. I learned that the organization does not have the funding to pay the salary of an office manager, and they are in great need of help.

With an extremely dedicated artistic director and a small but enthusiastic board of directors, the ensemble stays afloat, but they need help with recruitment and fundraising. Color me crazy, but my response was "I'm in."

No one knows as well as I do that I need a bill-paying job, but this group touched my heart, and the part of my brain that knows the value of getting in on the ground floor. This could be an amazing opportunity for me if I can help them raise their numbers and their account balance. From the performance I saw last night, I saw endless potential for growth; the organization just needs another pair of hands to get some necessary projects off the ground.

I expect to meet with the artistic director sometime this week. My goal now is to keep searching for a job with a regular schedule and benefits that will allow me to work part-time for this organization while still keeping food on the table. Should be a cinch, right?

Preparing for a non-interview interview

Tomorrow I will meet the executive director of a local music ensemble that is in need of an office manager. I attended my first SAI Austin Alumnae meeting last Sunday and one of the members is on the board of this ensemble. When she heard I was looking for work, she asked me to come to a concert this Saturday to meet the ED. The position is part-time, but I am willing to do anything to get a foot in the door of this music scene.

So now I am preparing to attend this concert with my most professional foot forward. It is important to take any meetings like this as seriously as any formal interview. I must prepare to look professional, ask good questions, talk about myself in a professional way, and have my resume at the ready.

Step One: Ensemble.

Not only is the a professional engagement for me, but the concert is going to be held in a church, so appropriateness is doubly important. It's still in the upper 90s in Austin, so I think a pretty shift dress with a modest neckline would be perfect.

This one is from Old Navy, my favorite store for inexpensive, age-appropriate garments. Perfect for the young professional on a budget. This dress covers me, it's comfortable, and it's perfectly business-casual. If this were a real interview, I would just add a structured jacket for a put-together look.

I have a pet peeve regarding shoes in professional situations: NO OPEN TOE! I try to stick with flats for interviews unless is with a really formal company. Again I'm going with Old Navy for my shoes. The straw-like material is a fun alternative to a leather or fabric flat.

I haven't worn them yet, so I'm breaking them in tonight. Happy early Halloween! :)

As for accessories, I'm going with a watch--an interview must-have--and a pretty bag that's big enough to hold an envelope with my resume.

Step Two: Conversation Prep

I can't really do regular interview prep because this is not really an interview, but I must be prepared to ask questions and talk about myself. Examples of good questions in this situation would be:

-What do you feel is the most important task of the office manager?
-Are you looking for just an office manager or do you need help with marketing, social media, development, education, etc?
-What are your goals for the ensemble this season?

These questions have specific answers that can lead to a meaningful conversation about the position and about my qualifications and previous experience. Also, I will not leave the conversation before getting an email address.

Step Three: Resume and Letter

I've printed out a fresh resume and written a short letter to go with it. The letter is slightly shorter than my normal cover letter, and includes a message of "nice to meet you, looking forward to seeing you again soon, etc."

It think with all this preparation, I am ready for my non-interview interview tomorrow. I promise I'll tell you how it goes!