MORE STORIES! And then I found 5 dollars.

Two weeks ago, I saw on the Turner website that Campbell Brown at CNN in New York was looking to hire entry-level production assistants. Now, I don’t know why I even bother to apply to anything online, because I have never had anything materialize from it. In fact, I don’t know anyone who applied for a job at one of these big places online and ever got a sound positive response. But they make it hard to find out about the job openings anywhere but their career sites, so I guess it’s what you have to do. So, I submitted my cover letter, resume, and information online for a Production Assistant position at Campbell Brown at CNN New York.
But I decided that wasn’t enough. I wanted to make personal contact with someone working there so they would know to keep an eye out for my application. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone who works for CNN in New York. I know someone at CNN Atlanta, but I didn’t want to bother him quite yet.
I spent 20 minutes on my computer, and I finally found an address and phone number for CNN in New York City. I called the number, which connected to me to main switchboard. Quickly I made something up.
“Hi, I am calling for Suzanne at the Campbell Brown show,” I said with force.
“Hold on please,’ he said as he transferred me.
Now, while the hold music played in my ear, I’ll explain to you why I chose Suzanne. Do I know a Suzanne who works at CNN? No. But I figure it is a common enough name, or a potentially mispronounced version of so many others (Susan, Suzy, Suzette, Susannah, Ann, Roseanne), that there is bound to be someone I could potentially be transferred to.
“Campbell Brown- this is Tina,” someone answered.
Again I mustered up a voice of confidence. “Hi, this is ____ _____ calling for Suzanne.”
"Sure," she answered, "Hold on please."
More hold music. More waiting.
I’m thinking, 'What do I do when Suzanne answers?' Why have I not thought this completely through? Truthfully, I didn’t actually think I would get past all of the secretaries and operators and actually get to speak to someone. If I had thought that my silly plan might work, I would’ve prepared more. I figured I would just explain to her that I had applied online for the Production Assistant position, and I wanted to follow up on the status of my application, as well as offer to come in and meet with them in person so that they might consider me further.
What I didn’t prepare- was a back story.
A voice suddenly appeared on the line.
“I’m sorry,” she said. It was Tina again. “But who may is say is calling?”
I got flustered and hung up.

Ok yes, it is a terrible story. Because I didn't even follow through with it the whole way.
But, I have since talked to my contact at CNN in Atlanta and talked to a few more people who have given me a few more names. First thing tomorrow- I will be calling them back, this time determined to see it all the way through.

Email Frenzy (Have I mentioned I'm a Gmail Ninja Master?)

Holy Shit!
Gmail Ninja

And to prove it, addition to linking my posts with hilarity and explanations, I am going to illustrate this one with the use of gmail emoticons. Oh please, hold your applause!

After the HBO mailing, I decided to blindly email where no one might have emailed before . And so, I searched the email addresses for every channel: from NBC to BET, from FX to The Food Network, from Showtime to the CW, from A&E to CNN.

Then I went on and searched every network, production company, news station, talent agency, marketing firm, advertising video department, tv station, casting agency in the New York area for email addresses.

I changed my cover letterto be as particular as possible for each one, and I sent out my resume.
Sent it it like it's hot .

I then went to a seminar on getting a job in this economy. Like it would help me. Or suddenly provide me with the answer. Perhaps a beacon of light would fall over the one email address I really needed to send to, or the answer would be sung to me by ghosts in my sleep (oooooooooooooo marrrryriiich oooooooooooooooo). Needless to say, it did none of the above and I still don't have a job. But they did open my eyes to another outlet. They said, anyone can email in a resume. It comes in as an attachment and unless you really grab their eyes, they are not going to open it. But when was the last time you were in an office? How often does the fax machine ring? Almost never. Who still sends faxes? Find the fax numbers in the office. Fax them your cover letter and resume. And when someone in the office hears the fax ring, theyll think: that's weird, whats this? And when they pick it up , they will be forced to read it to figure out what it is. Then you already have their attention.
You can guess what I did next.
I found the fax numbers. I sent out my cover letter and resume . I faxed like it was hot . (And when the paper spews out the other side, sometimes it is hot .)