Immediately after graduation I moved to Indianapolis in hopes of changing the world. Similar to my many like minded peers I was boiling over with an idealistic perspective undoubtedly gained from one too many communication courses. I was young, informed and absolutely positive that employers would beg to have me on their team. My naivity was a catch 22 in which it was so strong that even I was clueless to my own “clueless ness.”

Could I have shown prospective employers that although my relevant experience failed to transcend past college extracurricular activities and internships, that I was a fast learner and a hard worker with extreme eagerness, I may have had more luck finding a job in a timely manner. But as shop talk goes, I was a green candidate, fresh out college and although I succeeded in college I was among everything else-a risk.

“The interview was great, but we decided to fill the position with someone with a little more experience,” previous interviewers said in veiled benevolence.

I would have preferred a flat no seeing as the “more experience” card lessens the pain of rejection about as well as the “its not you, its me” line used in more than a few of my past relationships.

I went into my first interview with DittoePR with confidence and poise in hopes to mask my insecurities gained from a month of rejections, hoping to prove my abilities in lieu of my lack of experience on paper.

I had researched the company prior to my interview and everything I learned led me to the consensus that I wanted to join their team.

I was more than impressed with their dedication to their clients and saw that their clients were just as dedicated to them through their testimonials.

When I landed a second interview I was ecstatic!

I respected their vision, mission, and their overall package. There was no doubt in my mind that DittoePR was a top-notch firm and that I would be lucky to work there.

I continued to follow-up in the following weeks and prayed to God they’d give me a chance.

“I am going to give you a chance,” was written at the top of the email, “can you start Monday?”

I stared at the screen for a long minute and breathed a sigh of relief. I had made it.

I realized at that moment that finding the right job is not a random act of faith in which we are forced to relinquish our pride and our convictions to make it into the realm of the employed. Finding a job does not entail losing yourself; finding a job is about finding a place where you can be yourself, can find yourself, and can improve yourself.

At the time I thought that I was pushing and groveling and running through hoops simply to find employment, and I know now that it was my first lesson in effective Public Relations.

The ends do not always justify the means, it takes work. My gratitude runs over for the interviewers who turned me down because it would have just been some job, not the right job.

 It takes the will of a fighter and the grace of someone who is not afraid to fail. It takes knowing your audience and how your story is a good fit with their own, knowing your limitations and your strengths, and realizing that if done right, working your tail off behind the scenes can put you center stage, smack dab in the middle of the best place you could possibly be.

I landed the interview, I laid it all out there when I knew that it could easily be thrown back in my face, and I found a company that takes risks.

DittoePR took a chance on me and because they were willing to see what I could offer I was compelled to give it my all.

The most effective public relations specialists encompass the attitude my own bosses had when they hired me, they see what is written on paper and instead of taking it at face value, they envision where it can be with the right effort and right approach.

I am forever grateful for this opportunity because not only am I able to work at a PR firm that remains true to its values, mission, and convictions; it has taught me to stay true to my own.