Interview

So I decided to actually go in for the interview, even though it wasn't the internship that I wanted. I figured that I could at least ask questions about how to get it in the future. To be honest, walking into the interview I wasn't really all that nervous because the pressure of it being for my "dream internship" had gone.

I walked to the entrance of the executive offices, got buzzed in and began walking down the stairs. It wasn't until I entered the lobby painted in Islander blue and saw all of the blown up pictures of great Islander moments throughout the years that I got a little nervous. I still hadn't decided if I was even going to do this Fan Photo thing. Compared to the Media internship where the interns work with press conferences and press releases, (Public Relations written all over it) walking around Nassau Coliseum taking pictures of the fans seemed like nothing. Once I sat in the lobby waiting to be interviewed, I instantly decided that I would do it.
'It would have to have a benefit. It's something else to put on a resume. And when I reapply for the Media one, they'd notice I've interned for them before. My mom did say that they...what was it, "take care of their own" in the NHL. If it'll get me back in the future, I'll do it.'

My plan was seriously disrupted once I actually got into the interview. The woman I met with was very nice, don't get me wrong. I liked her. Everyone I met within the organization was nice, and they all worked closely together. It was just that when we were talking about the Media internship, the way she was talking made it sound like I had next to no chance of ever getting it, and that doing this one would have no influence over the decision. I walked away absolutely crushed, feeling like I could never get the opportunity that I wanted so badly. I was not looking forward to the woman in charge of the Fan Photo interns to call me the next day.

When she finally did call, it was like a second interview. She couldn't make it the day before and wanted a chance to talk to me. We talked about the Fan Photo internship, as well as the Media one. She actually made me feel a lot better and thought that it would definitely help me in the future. I didn't want to admit it the day before because I was disappointed, but I was going to take this internship even if it wasn't going to help me get where I wanted to go. This just made me feel even better about it.

So now all that's left to do is wait until the next home game on Saturday when I start. We'll all see how this goes.

Connections and Disappointment

How many times have I heard, "it's not what you know; it's who you know" in the past couple of years? I'll tell you- more than I could possibly keep track of. In most cases, I have ignored it and continued to think that I would be able to be selected without having someone else being the reason I'm there. Well, I was wrong.

I submitted my application for one of the Islanders' Spring Internships along with a countless number of other people hoping to be selected. After my mom heard about it, she decided that it would be a good idea to get someone to put a good word in on my behalf. Apparently, my mom's coworker's mother works with the New Jersey Devils. She personally called the Islanders' owner and got a copy of my resume sent into HR.

What do I know, the next day I get a call from someone with the Islanders asking me to come into an interview. Of course, my excitement at this point was off the charts, and I agreed to come in. Shortly after the conversation, I received an e-mail with the details regarding where to go for the interview. It was then that I noticed the subject for the interview said "Fan Photo Internship" and my heart sunk- this was not the perfect internship that I signed up for.