Spetember 15th, 2009 was my first official day with Rock Solid Media LLC. Fast-forward a little more than 30 days later, and it looks like God had this planned out for me all along. Do I make as much money as some of my other "comm. peers"? Nope. Do I have a nice big benefit package that allows me to go see a doctor every time my throat itches? Nope. Do I know where my company will be 5 years from now? Absolutely not! And I LOVE IT!
I was lucky enough to land interviews at most of the big PR firms in and around Columbus, but even if something had panned out with one, I am not sure that would have been the right fit for me. I will be the first to admit that I was not ready for "corporate communications" after graduation from Ohio Northern University. That being said, I am not sure what I was ready for coming out of college. I have to piggy-back on Katalyn Yenne's thoughts, that I simply was not as prepared as I should have been to find a job. And once again, that being said, I wouldn't trade where I am right now for anything.
Sure, I was flattered that Red Bull flew me out to Chicago to interview at their Midwest head quarters twice. But that turned out to be a long process of telling me that I didn't have enough managerial experience for the position.
My current title is "Communications Specialist". What that fails to communicate however, is that I also serve as assistant accountant, HR manager and janitor among a long list of other endeavors. Seeing the amount of work it takes to get a young company off the ground has been quite the eye-opening experience. Although I don't know what it is like to have children, I have to imagine that it is similar to trying to start your own company. It takes countless hours, meticulous observation and the ability to adapt with whatever is thrown your way.
No matter where my "career" takes me, when I look back on my first 30 days, they will be fond memories!
Thank you for reading!
-Bryan
Monday, October 26, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Pounding the pavement
I had never heard that expression, "pounding the pavement" until I heard my Dad use it tonight to describe the process of trying to find a job. After giving it some thought, I think it's fair to say that "pounding the pavement" accurately describes how my search for permanent employment has gone over the past month.
I graduated from Ohio Northern University on May 24th 2009. I graduated with a bachelor's degree with dual concentrations in the areas of Public Relations & Organizational Communications, I have two very different internship experiences under my belt, have held jobs that range from lifeguarding, to waiting tables, to organizing media personnel placement for the Columbus Destroyers, and in the past month have already been turned down in one way or another by 3 different potential employers.
First I scored 16 out of 275 on my state highway patrol academy entrance exam, (I needed to score in the top 12), then I was contacted for an interview for a position that didn't exist at an advertising firm in Columbus, (they decided not to fill the position and I had to hear about it from someone else, not the company) and finally, was told by another firm in Columbus that I was "too qualified" for their internship position. (While that is flattering, I would still have liked the opportunity to at least pretend to have a job at this point)
And on top of everything else, I am turning 23 this summer and have the hairline of most men in their mid to late 30's. Now I know times are tough, and the next thing to fall besides the economy will be the sky, but what does a guy have to do to get a shot? I do not want to sound like I am sitting in my computer chair having a pitty party for myself. Rather, I am looking for a little guidance before I decide to put the college education I just received on hold for a few years and go check out what opportunities Uncle Sam and his armed forces have for myself and the thousands of other recent graduates searching for a place to being their career!
Thank you for reading!
BM Vany
I graduated from Ohio Northern University on May 24th 2009. I graduated with a bachelor's degree with dual concentrations in the areas of Public Relations & Organizational Communications, I have two very different internship experiences under my belt, have held jobs that range from lifeguarding, to waiting tables, to organizing media personnel placement for the Columbus Destroyers, and in the past month have already been turned down in one way or another by 3 different potential employers.
First I scored 16 out of 275 on my state highway patrol academy entrance exam, (I needed to score in the top 12), then I was contacted for an interview for a position that didn't exist at an advertising firm in Columbus, (they decided not to fill the position and I had to hear about it from someone else, not the company) and finally, was told by another firm in Columbus that I was "too qualified" for their internship position. (While that is flattering, I would still have liked the opportunity to at least pretend to have a job at this point)
And on top of everything else, I am turning 23 this summer and have the hairline of most men in their mid to late 30's. Now I know times are tough, and the next thing to fall besides the economy will be the sky, but what does a guy have to do to get a shot? I do not want to sound like I am sitting in my computer chair having a pitty party for myself. Rather, I am looking for a little guidance before I decide to put the college education I just received on hold for a few years and go check out what opportunities Uncle Sam and his armed forces have for myself and the thousands of other recent graduates searching for a place to being their career!
Thank you for reading!
BM Vany
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
It Is Out of My Hands
Throughout life people are faced with things that are within their control and things that are out of their control.
While I try and take control of every situation I am capable of, one of my personal characteristics is the ability to see those situations that are not in my control and hope for the best.
Maybe it is just me being naive, but I have not given up on the fact that society is still inherently good natured.
Last week I went spring break aboard the Carnival Inspiration. The trip was amazing and one I will remember for the rest of my life. However, someone out there holds the memories I made on that trip in their hands, literally.
On the last night of our voyage, someone picked up MY bag, and has yet to turn it in. The bag contained my driver's license, video camera and digital camera. Whoever you are, and whatever you have done with my bag, I hope that karma, good of bad, comes back to bite you in the ass.
This is me still keeping my faith in society, I hope I don't get burned, although I feel I already have.
Thanks for reading!
BM Vany
While I try and take control of every situation I am capable of, one of my personal characteristics is the ability to see those situations that are not in my control and hope for the best.
Maybe it is just me being naive, but I have not given up on the fact that society is still inherently good natured.
Last week I went spring break aboard the Carnival Inspiration. The trip was amazing and one I will remember for the rest of my life. However, someone out there holds the memories I made on that trip in their hands, literally.
On the last night of our voyage, someone picked up MY bag, and has yet to turn it in. The bag contained my driver's license, video camera and digital camera. Whoever you are, and whatever you have done with my bag, I hope that karma, good of bad, comes back to bite you in the ass.
This is me still keeping my faith in society, I hope I don't get burned, although I feel I already have.
Thanks for reading!
BM Vany
Sunday, February 8, 2009
25 Personal Thoughts
This post is nothing too complicated, just 25 personal thoughts I was asked to share with the world! Hope you can learn a little something about myself!
1) Life is short.
2) I will NEVER forget where I came from.
3) When people ask me whether I grew up in a "farm town" or a "city" I never know what the hell to answer. For most of you tagged in this note, you know G.C. is no farm town, but you definately would not call it a city. So I basically say I grew up in small town America, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
4) I don't go home enough and hang out with my friends back home enough! Without the influence of "public school kids" and the VGC, I could have been the next 40- yr old virgin.
5) This is the first note I have ever written on Facebook and really have no clue if I am doing it right.
6) Loyalty is the most important quality I look for in a friend.
7) I would not be the person I am today without great influences in my life.
8) I would wear jeans and a t-shirt everyday of my life if I could.
9) My biggest fear is failing.
10) If I could sacrafice my own well being and happiness so that the people closest to me could have all they ever wanted, I would do it.
11) My family is the most important thing in the world to me and I don't tell them enough. I would lay down my life for any of them without hesitation.
12) Beer tastes terrible, if I had to guess, which I will, I would guess that 75% of people who drink beer only drink it because they like the feeling of being drunk.
13) The national drinking age is 21 and should stay there.
14) I live in the most amazing country in the world! But the most amazing person I have met from outside it's borders is Katrin Gebhart! She is one of my dearest friends and I don't get to see her nearly enough.
15) While I may not have grown up with them, the friends I have met in college have helped me grow in ways I will never be able to repay them.
16) There have been two times I have cried in my life out of sheer joy: the first was when our high school soccer team became the first in school history to win the OCC championship. The second is when I was asked to be the best man in the wedding of Jake Rosso and Jac Arnold.
17) I am in love with the woman of my dreams, Courtney Lynne Overstreet and would do anything for her. My second biggest fear is that she will wake up some day and realize she could have any guy she wanted and leave my balding Italian A$$.
18) Coming to Ohio Northern University was the best decision of my life.
19) My dream job would be teaching and coaching soccer at Grove City High School.
20) My biggest teacher has been my mother.
21) My greatest role model has been my father.
22) The Sigrist and Mulvany families are the two greatest families a kid could ask for.
23) I am a Sig Ep man and will be for the rest of my life.
24) I host my own blog called Crash Course Chivalry because I think that women are beautiful and deserve to be treated like princesses at all times. Read it sometime www.bmvany.blogspot.com.
25) Life is short, we never know when our number will be called. If you have been mentioned in this note it is because you are important to me and I want you to know it! Never let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough, never let anyone walk all over you and always keep your eye on the big picture! Life is short, don't sweat the small stuff.
PS. Its all small stuff!
Thanks for reading
BM Vany
1) Life is short.
2) I will NEVER forget where I came from.
3) When people ask me whether I grew up in a "farm town" or a "city" I never know what the hell to answer. For most of you tagged in this note, you know G.C. is no farm town, but you definately would not call it a city. So I basically say I grew up in small town America, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
4) I don't go home enough and hang out with my friends back home enough! Without the influence of "public school kids" and the VGC, I could have been the next 40- yr old virgin.
5) This is the first note I have ever written on Facebook and really have no clue if I am doing it right.
6) Loyalty is the most important quality I look for in a friend.
7) I would not be the person I am today without great influences in my life.
8) I would wear jeans and a t-shirt everyday of my life if I could.
9) My biggest fear is failing.
10) If I could sacrafice my own well being and happiness so that the people closest to me could have all they ever wanted, I would do it.
11) My family is the most important thing in the world to me and I don't tell them enough. I would lay down my life for any of them without hesitation.
12) Beer tastes terrible, if I had to guess, which I will, I would guess that 75% of people who drink beer only drink it because they like the feeling of being drunk.
13) The national drinking age is 21 and should stay there.
14) I live in the most amazing country in the world! But the most amazing person I have met from outside it's borders is Katrin Gebhart! She is one of my dearest friends and I don't get to see her nearly enough.
15) While I may not have grown up with them, the friends I have met in college have helped me grow in ways I will never be able to repay them.
16) There have been two times I have cried in my life out of sheer joy: the first was when our high school soccer team became the first in school history to win the OCC championship. The second is when I was asked to be the best man in the wedding of Jake Rosso and Jac Arnold.
17) I am in love with the woman of my dreams, Courtney Lynne Overstreet and would do anything for her. My second biggest fear is that she will wake up some day and realize she could have any guy she wanted and leave my balding Italian A$$.
18) Coming to Ohio Northern University was the best decision of my life.
19) My dream job would be teaching and coaching soccer at Grove City High School.
20) My biggest teacher has been my mother.
21) My greatest role model has been my father.
22) The Sigrist and Mulvany families are the two greatest families a kid could ask for.
23) I am a Sig Ep man and will be for the rest of my life.
24) I host my own blog called Crash Course Chivalry because I think that women are beautiful and deserve to be treated like princesses at all times. Read it sometime www.bmvany.blogspot.com.
25) Life is short, we never know when our number will be called. If you have been mentioned in this note it is because you are important to me and I want you to know it! Never let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough, never let anyone walk all over you and always keep your eye on the big picture! Life is short, don't sweat the small stuff.
PS. Its all small stuff!
Thanks for reading
BM Vany
Monday, January 26, 2009
31 Days
Winters in northwest Ohio are depressing, period. It is dark at 8:00 am in the morning, and temperatures are so cold that bare skin becomes chapped in a matter of minutes. Going outside and doing anything is out of the question and even going out to eat turns into an icy adventure.
Add to that trying to get everything in line to graduate, being in the middle of the nationwide Bateman competition and trying to find a job, and you have a recipe that can drive students to the brink of insanity.
Thankfully, salvation is coming in only 31 days.
31 days from now no matter how anything else is going up here in Ada, everything will be ok. For 9 days in early March all I will have to do is relax. I won't have to go to any meetings, make any phone calls or send my resume anywhere. All I will have to do is bask in the Caribbean sun.
On February 26th, 27 of my closest friends and I will begin the two-day journey south to Tampa Bay Florida. Two days later on the 28th of February The Carnival Inspiration will embark on a 5 day cruise that will serve a purpose unlike any it has before.
For 5 days out of the year, I will have nothing else to do other than enjoy the company of great friends. For 5 days out of the year, any talk about papers, jobs and resumes will cease. For 5 day out of the year, I will truly be at ease.
As the last bit of fresh air I will be able to grab before my life takes me places only known to higher powers, the cruise I am going on this spring break will be something I will remember for the rest of my life.
These are sure to be the longest 31 of my life!
Those are my plans for SB 09! What are yours?
Thanks for reading
BM Vany
Add to that trying to get everything in line to graduate, being in the middle of the nationwide Bateman competition and trying to find a job, and you have a recipe that can drive students to the brink of insanity.
Thankfully, salvation is coming in only 31 days.
31 days from now no matter how anything else is going up here in Ada, everything will be ok. For 9 days in early March all I will have to do is relax. I won't have to go to any meetings, make any phone calls or send my resume anywhere. All I will have to do is bask in the Caribbean sun.
On February 26th, 27 of my closest friends and I will begin the two-day journey south to Tampa Bay Florida. Two days later on the 28th of February The Carnival Inspiration will embark on a 5 day cruise that will serve a purpose unlike any it has before.
For 5 days out of the year, I will have nothing else to do other than enjoy the company of great friends. For 5 days out of the year, any talk about papers, jobs and resumes will cease. For 5 day out of the year, I will truly be at ease.
As the last bit of fresh air I will be able to grab before my life takes me places only known to higher powers, the cruise I am going on this spring break will be something I will remember for the rest of my life.
These are sure to be the longest 31 of my life!
Those are my plans for SB 09! What are yours?
Thanks for reading
BM Vany
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Starting From Square One
Four years ago I began my college career with the hopes of eventually finding a career that would allow me to live a fulfilling and prosperous life. After countless hours of class, too many meals in the cafeteria to want to think about, and thousands of dollars in loans to pay off, why do I feel like I am back to square one.
After learning how to properly compose papers, press releases, and literature reviews, now I am learning how to perfect my resume, say just the right things at interviews, and stay on the cutting edge of talents and skills companies are looking for in new employees. It's as if I trying to finish college while at the same time beginning night school just to try and find a job.
I am not sure what I would like to see changed in the business environment, but I feel like an outsider looking in after spending four years preparing myself for entrance into the Wallstreet world.
This may just be myself rambling on about something that I know nothing about, but I would like to hear what those of you reading this have to think!
Thanks for reading!
BM Vany
After learning how to properly compose papers, press releases, and literature reviews, now I am learning how to perfect my resume, say just the right things at interviews, and stay on the cutting edge of talents and skills companies are looking for in new employees. It's as if I trying to finish college while at the same time beginning night school just to try and find a job.
I am not sure what I would like to see changed in the business environment, but I feel like an outsider looking in after spending four years preparing myself for entrance into the Wallstreet world.
This may just be myself rambling on about something that I know nothing about, but I would like to hear what those of you reading this have to think!
Thanks for reading!
BM Vany
Monday, January 5, 2009
New Years Resolutions
So here I am in the year 2009 and I am not sure what to expect. While I know very few things for sure, one thing I do know is that I am definitely not getting any younger! I swear that every morning when I look in the mirror I am losing hair by the day... Thanks Grandpa.
But anyways, I would like to share some of my New Years Resolutions with you all.
1) Watch the news (not Sportscenter) for at least 1 hour a day.
-As a PR major, I must admit that I am absolutely atrocious about keeping up with current events.
2) Only eat during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
-I am not in high school anymore, and I need to remember that I can't eat whatever I want, whenever I want
3) Don't eat anything after six o'clock at night.
-Put simply, "after six, it sticks"
4) Get a job
-Yeah, I will keep you posted on that one!
5) Blog at least twice a week
-I know it may be tough to believe, but I actually enjoyed our social media class very much and want to continue to carry the torch.
6) Enjoy my last quarter and a half of college.
-Life is short and I have about 25 years of it to spend working. I hate more than anything watching my peers go through everyday trying to figure out how much work they can get done in the next 24 hours. One of my favorite quotes ever is that, "life is what happens while you are planning your own."
What are some of your New Years Resolutions?
Thanks for reading!
BM Vany
But anyways, I would like to share some of my New Years Resolutions with you all.
1) Watch the news (not Sportscenter) for at least 1 hour a day.
-As a PR major, I must admit that I am absolutely atrocious about keeping up with current events.
2) Only eat during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
-I am not in high school anymore, and I need to remember that I can't eat whatever I want, whenever I want
3) Don't eat anything after six o'clock at night.
-Put simply, "after six, it sticks"
4) Get a job
-Yeah, I will keep you posted on that one!
5) Blog at least twice a week
-I know it may be tough to believe, but I actually enjoyed our social media class very much and want to continue to carry the torch.
6) Enjoy my last quarter and a half of college.
-Life is short and I have about 25 years of it to spend working. I hate more than anything watching my peers go through everyday trying to figure out how much work they can get done in the next 24 hours. One of my favorite quotes ever is that, "life is what happens while you are planning your own."
What are some of your New Years Resolutions?
Thanks for reading!
BM Vany
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