Up In The Air - February 8, 2008

I had no idea why I was going back to the career fair. I thought everything was planned out for this summer. At worst, I am going to end up at a highly respected District Attorney's office in California. Not a bad choice. I was not interviewing today; I was merely planning on discussing opportunities with employers at their table during the sessions the fair aptly named "Table Talks".

These impromptu interactions are pseudo-interviews disguised as a laid-back discussion. My goal was to make the best possible impression in the shortest time possible.

Let's back up a moment, though.

I woke up at the awful hour of "way-too-darn-early" and had the roommate drive me to the train station. Do not feel bad for her, not only is she already up that early, but she owes me. Big time.

The plan was to meet Michelle and Megan before the fair to chat-it-up a little. I instantly became the magnet for the Law School, and began attracting all kinds of people who are in my classes. After a nice group chat, we went to go discuss potential opportunities with those organizations we had previously circled in our fair packets. The group split-up to find the room that housed the organization's table we most highly targeted.

One of the most popular tables was Legal Aid - a highly sought after non-profit organization that is especially sought after by those wanting to enter into public interest law. I made a point of going to their table first because I had seen long lines of law students waiting to own the attention of the recruiter for a very brief stint the day before. I hastily strutted towards the table with the Legal Aid label atop its stand. I was the very first person to greet the recruiter - in fact, there were two recruiters and one attorney who sat at the table. The three-on-one atmosphere was overwhelming, but very manageable. After I exchanged pleasantries, dodged questions and posed a few of my own, I went back towards the open area of the room where I was greeted by Michelle.

She had spoken with another employer while I was with Legal Aid. We then discussed what we were going to do next. Michelle was debating whether she was going to talk to another organization; I helped her along and persuaded her to action. I had to barter my accompaniment to get her to approach the representatives. We both walked to the table and proceeded to double-team the duo of recruiters at the organization's table. It must have looked like a well rehearsed Ballet. I picked up where she left off; she finished my sentences when I was at a loss for words. Quite frankly, it was a thing of beauty. A performance that was too good to be planned.

Michelle and Megan left before lunch. I met Christina and we went to a fantastic lunch a few blocks from the Law School. We had the kind of deep conversation that I have not been able to undertake in some time now. It was a fantastic two hours of discussion that perfectly complimented the sushi we were consuming. Yeah, it was that good.

After lunch - which I had not planned on having - Christina and I went back for the next session of "Table Talks". Again, this was not planned, as I was quite content on my worse-case-scenario for this summer. There was one organization that I did want to talk to, more out of curiosity than anything else.

I sat down and proceeded to trade barbs with the recruiter who happens to have graduated from my cross-town rival university. I was able to discuss such subjects that are interview questions that an interviewee is, as a general rule, forbidden to breech. These topics include salary and benefits. She told me that she wanted to interview me by phone when she arrived back in California, and asked for my resume. These are always great signs.

Just when I had everything perfectly planned, these organizations had to show their opportunities. Options mess everything up, but are a great addition to my life. What a horribly great conundrum.

This summer is now up in the air, right where it started.