One way to possibly land your dream job

**I was prompted to do this blog after someone asked me today how I got such a great job right out of college.. It's a funny story that I don't always think about, but when I do, I really like that did it.


When I was 20, I did something that I didn't think was wrong, yet everyone told me that it was. The more that people told me not to do it, the more ambitious I was TO do it. Of course.
I was the assistant editor of my college newspaper and in addition to my editing work, I also handled the entertainment section of the paper where I contributed anything I could that related to the arts in and around my school, which was, luckily, just outside of Manhattan, so there was never a shortage of happenings to report. Besides my regular college work and my work for the paper, I was mad focused on an intership- not just any internship- I was going to intern at Rolling Stone Magazine. When I was young, getting the new issues of Rolling Stone and Vogue every month was an event. I would literally make sure I had a couple of hours of solitude in front of me, a nice cup of tea and a cozy spot to relax before I turned that first glossy page. I poured over every article, every story and envied those that were the 'by' person of each story. "Bob Dylan-unmasked" by David Harfrome 'At Home in Italy with Yves StLaurent" by Rachel Davis. I had grand visions- "On Tour with The Rolling Stones" byTrenny Lowey "A Chat in Chelsea with Calvin Klein" by Trenny Lowey
Luckily for me, these dreams seemed semi touchable, now that I had left Illinois and was studying Journalism a stone's throw away from the city that housed the offices of both of these publications. But there was a problem. Upon inquiring about interns at both Vogue and Rolling Stone, I was told that there were only 5 and 3, respectfully, intern positions availble each semster and not only did hundreds of students apply, they were applying from ALL OVER THE WORLD, and that the chance of landing a spot were slim to none.
Fuck. That news sucked. But I suppose I really wasn't surprised.
Back at the apartment I told my roomate Karen and she gave me the old "apply anyway, you never know" speech, but I didn't think like that. I was more 'realistic' than 'idealistic'. Having my application thrown into a pile with thousands of other hopefuls would not do. So this is what I did. I was never afraid to do things like this and I don't know why.
I dressed up, put my best game face on and went to the Rolling Stone offices directly. No, I didn't bring a resume, I didn't ask to speak with someone in HR and hopefullly sit in the waiting room. I went to the front desk and when I was asked 'how I could be helped', I said -and I quote- "Hi, my name is Trenny Lowey and I am from the Purchase Press and I have a 2:30 appt with Jann Wenner"
(Jann Wenner was/is the editor of Rolling Stone- I know, I know, idiot right?) My heart was beating, my face was red and I was prepared for both rejection and arrest when they found out I was a fraud. He proceeds to pick up the phone, dials a number and says, "Yes, I have a Trenny Lowey from Suny's Purchase Press here who says she has a 2:30 appt with Mr. Wenner. Ah huh, yes , no? Uh, okay, okay thanks."
I knew what had happened. He, the 22 year old desk person- looked at me and said "I'm sorry it's not on his calendar. But here is his assistant's assistant's direct line if you want to call and discuss." I took the card and turned and felt like an asshole. Then I had a thought, I had come this far, why not try it. I turned around and asked the guy at the front desk if he wouldn't mind trying that line for me since I was there and maybe his assistant's assistant (shit the third rung down) might have time. He complied and once called had a brief exchange and handed the phone to me. I made up some sob story that I thought my editor had scheduled it and I had come all the way to the city, skipped my afternoon classes and just wanted to get a story on the innner workings of a magazine that was a campus favorite. Maybe she had some time? SHE DID-- and up the elevator I went.
My luck didn't stop there. She had started her job as an intern and this made the conversation easily flow into my desire to posses an intern position there. Long story short, she personally walked me down to HR and introduced me to half of the HR staff, I filled out an application right there, had an hour discussion with 2 great hr people, Keith and Jana (I'll never forget them), used a little charisma mixed with subtle pleading and 6 weeks later found out I had gotten a Fall internship.
Moral of this story is- never be afraid to approach a situation that you think is unreachable- because every person you admire, no matter how huge, was you, is you. Life is too short not to make your desires known and try, the worst you can hear is no.
Though I did not stay at Rolling Stone, I did get an AMAZING first job out of college with one of the world's biggest selling artsits because of my connections there. Nothing is unreasonable if handled with passion, gratitude, grace- and let's face a good set of balls!