Ah, just when the title makes one think that I went to visit North Carolina, all I have to say of my sight-seeing experience was the inside of the Embassy Suites hotel in Durhan/Raleigh. Makes me laugh to think about it really.
I flew out of San Luis Obispo at 9:45am PST on a warm Tuesday morning. Flew through San Francisco and Chicago. Landed in Raleigh/Durham and checked into the hotel at 11:00pm EST. That was a long day. I met another Cal Poly student headed to the event from SFO on to O'Hare and to Raleigh. And then I also noticed a student at O'Hare who became friends with me on the shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Not to mention another student who goes to Stanford and knows two of my friends at Cal Poly from working at Agilent this past summer. What a small world. :)
Gorgeous hotel. (Not so gorgeous weather...25 degrees and below isn't ideal for flip flops I've decided). Back to the hotel though...essentially a forest smack in the middle. And the suites were really nice. Living room, bar/fridge area, bathroom, and bedroom. Two beds! Tough decision...which one should I sleep in haha. I got my stuff all laid out for the next day and pulled together some homework and then some studying for the interview. I was asleep by what...3:00am EST. The interview event started at 7:00am EST...ie 4:00am PST. Which essentially meant waking up at 5:30am EST...2:30am PST to start the day. Believe me I was in a haze all morning. As I'm sure all the west coasters were lol.
In the end, I have to say that it was kind of silly to come all the way out for two 30-minute interviews, but at the same time, the friends and connections I made mingling on the side were invaluable. I had bought the text that they were testing us on, and within two days have gone from knowing nothing to something about networks. *pats self on back* This is just such an exciting experience (minus the flying). I had fun and that tells me a lot. The people I met were awesome...really bright, down to earth, friendly, and real. And I hope to see them again soon. :)
Left North Carolina at 5:15pm EST to Pheonix, AZ with its 74 degree weather. Then split off from my new found friends to San Luis Obispo (they were all headed up to San Jose). Of course go figure there'd be something wrong with the plane so we were de-planed into an airport that had shut down all its food courts. Anything going to San Luis Obispo is bound to have problems or delays haha. Though I pretty much had it coming with all my good fly luck thus far (flights were even arriving early!). Twitter pretty much kept me occupied as my iPod had died on me. Got in at 10:45pm PST on Wednesday night. Slept really well that night. Now just anticipating results. And catching up with school like no other.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sales Engineering
So here's a random story.
I applied for a position about two years ago with a company's sales engineering program because I was interested in it. Of course they said well you're not graduating yet, so that was a no go. Then I tried again the next year and they turned me down based on minimum requirements. This year I was a bit discouraged from the previous years and with my experience I wasn't too worried about a job anyways (I wouldn't even be too worried graduating without one either...mostly because life is going to move forward no matter what...and something will happen I'm sure). My turn to sound arrogant: I am invaluable and if a company doesn't recognize that it is their loss. At the same time, I say that only because I know that I will do well at something I love. I'm so ready to take on this world and make my impact. I'm not really arrogant (though a certain individual might snicker at that haha).
Anyways, though I did not get a chance to visit them at the career fair, I got a call from one of the recruiters who had my resume from (who knows when), asking to talk later that week. I was thinking well, if they are willing to call me, then sure. I thought it was for development, so I didn't take it too seriously. Anyways, the day comes and I had just gotten back from on-site interviews in San Jose (there and back in one day), and slept right through the early morning interview. Of course, the guy had called me over a half-hour late due to meetings, so we were both on pretty even ground lol. Rescheduling, we talk later and I find out it is not for development, but instead the sales engineering position that I'd had my eye on for years. Okay I am all ears now!
I make it past the first round interview. The second interview came way late because there is someone else with my name applying and they had accidently contacted her instead of me. Don't think it was til I emailed them that they realized their mistake. Unfortunately for me then was a rushed scheduling right after my return from Baltimore, MD (SWE Conference). I was nervous! But I made it through. Some explanations, questions, experiences. Passed on to the final round: On-site. Next week. East coast. And just like that, a position I applied for bout two years ago determined where I might be a year from now. Amazing. I don't know if I got it yet, but it's what I want to do and I hope that it shows.
I refuse to get a motorcycle for myself until I accept a job offer.
I applied for a position about two years ago with a company's sales engineering program because I was interested in it. Of course they said well you're not graduating yet, so that was a no go. Then I tried again the next year and they turned me down based on minimum requirements. This year I was a bit discouraged from the previous years and with my experience I wasn't too worried about a job anyways (I wouldn't even be too worried graduating without one either...mostly because life is going to move forward no matter what...and something will happen I'm sure). My turn to sound arrogant: I am invaluable and if a company doesn't recognize that it is their loss. At the same time, I say that only because I know that I will do well at something I love. I'm so ready to take on this world and make my impact. I'm not really arrogant (though a certain individual might snicker at that haha).
Anyways, though I did not get a chance to visit them at the career fair, I got a call from one of the recruiters who had my resume from (who knows when), asking to talk later that week. I was thinking well, if they are willing to call me, then sure. I thought it was for development, so I didn't take it too seriously. Anyways, the day comes and I had just gotten back from on-site interviews in San Jose (there and back in one day), and slept right through the early morning interview. Of course, the guy had called me over a half-hour late due to meetings, so we were both on pretty even ground lol. Rescheduling, we talk later and I find out it is not for development, but instead the sales engineering position that I'd had my eye on for years. Okay I am all ears now!
I make it past the first round interview. The second interview came way late because there is someone else with my name applying and they had accidently contacted her instead of me. Don't think it was til I emailed them that they realized their mistake. Unfortunately for me then was a rushed scheduling right after my return from Baltimore, MD (SWE Conference). I was nervous! But I made it through. Some explanations, questions, experiences. Passed on to the final round: On-site. Next week. East coast. And just like that, a position I applied for bout two years ago determined where I might be a year from now. Amazing. I don't know if I got it yet, but it's what I want to do and I hope that it shows.
I refuse to get a motorcycle for myself until I accept a job offer.
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