I’ve always been that naive girl – which is ironic, since I’m usually the one to voice my opinion – but I am way too trusting with people in all areas. From boys to jobs, I tend to believe what I hear more than I question it. Every time I end up hurt and frustrated, but 9 times out of 10 it’s with myself .
This past month has been no different. Since moving to Nashville, I’ve been struggling to find a job that really felt like me. If you know me, you know that I love social media and connecting with people – it’s an integral part of my life. Connecting with people has proven the easy part. I’ve gone out and made friends with people all over the country already, and I’m obsessed with every single one of them. People are truly intriguing and amazing. I love getting to know their stories.
The social media (or job) part has been a little tougher, though. It’s not that there’s a lack of jobs here – there’s a ton of work for anyone in marketing or communications. I’ve had many different interviews with different companies, all of which have been decently interesting. Nothing had really stood out to me as exactly what I was looking for, though, until I found a position with a small local publicity firm.
It seemed like a dream. A social media manager position who works for an engaging and interestingly personal company as well as for clients who tend to be authors or lifestyle influencers. I was convinced this job was for me. I fell head over heels for it from the moment I saw it and applied instantly. Within a few days, I was video interviewing with the CEO while I was still in Detroit.
As with things that seem too good to be true (especially things like love that blind you from the beginning and make you lose all sense of clarity), I was not really reading the signs. I proceeded with the process: 3 video interviews, 3 personality tests, a suggestion/idea that they were already impressed with and planning to implement, talks through salary expectations, 3 different references for them to contact, and a team lunch. It seemed that things were going smoothly, and I was feeling extremely confident after meeting everybody. The CEO told me the next step was a half hour phone call with her HR consultant, and then that was supposedly the final round. I was told I’d be put in contact with her within the next couple of days. I left that lunch feeling on top of the world.
An hour later, she had emailed me. But, instead of setting me up on a phone call with her HR consultant, she had instead sent me over a project she wanted me to do before scheduling the HR call. Since I’m in a writing field, I know it’s normal to ask to see some sample work prior to extending an offer. Typically they’ll give you a pretend client or situation and ask to see how you would handle it or what type of copy you would come up with. This, though, was different.
She was asking me to create an editorial calendar for the entire month of August – for all of their company social channels as well as their blog. On top of the full month of content ideas, she wanted me to create 5 different pieces of content supporting that month/calendar that would be fully ready to post. She wanted this all turned in within a week (on the following Wednesday) before continuing. Normally, I’m very much okay with doing a writing test – but, something about this just didn’t feel right.
I sat on it for the weekend and reached out to some friends/colleagues to get a feel for if this sat as uneasily with them as it did with me. After talking through the process and project with some of my most trusted friends and family, I realized that this seemed like an extremely odd request. I headed onto LinkedIn as well to look a little bit more into available jobs in the area in case this ended up falling through. I was hoping I was just being a skeptic, but I wanted to be sure I was prepared in case. As I was scanning available jobs, I came across the exact position I was in the final round of interviews for — re-posted 5 days prior.
I finally emailed the CEO back on Monday, after feeling uncomfortable and unsure between the project request and the position being posted again. It was in that moment that I decided I didn’t care if I got the job anymore (and it was honestly pretty clear that I was not getting it), so I sent her an email calling her out. Not only did I want her to know that not only was I uncomfortable with giving a month’s worth of ideas, but I also wanted her to know that I saw the job posted again. I offered her a week’s worth of content as a compromise, but reiterated that I hoped she wasn’t just using the position to gain content ideas from different candidates across the city. I was really hoping she would at least email me back trying to defend her company or to explain my misinterpretation.
She never did.
It’s now Wednesday afternoon, the day of the deadline, and I’ve gotten radio silence. I was really hoping I was wrong – the company seemed incredible. They were focused on women building each other up instead of tearing each other down. They wanted a team player who was willing to to contribute when necessary and yet take the reins when needed. They seemed like the exact kind of company I’d one day want to create myself. So, instead of sulking and wondering why they didn’t like me, or why they wanted to use me, or why they don’t even stand by their own morals, I decided to do something better:
Bri Car PR is officially open for business.
I am beginning to take clients for social media strategy, content creation, blogging, and event planning. I currently have a client located in Metro-Detroit, and would be open to clients in that area (since I’ll be back and forth quite often), but I’m looking to expand to the Nashville area now (to be able to really utilize the event spaces and planning). Instead of letting other companies tell me that I am or am not good enough, I’m going to be great on my own. It’s the exact dream I’ve had for a few years now, and I figure there’s no better time than the present. Might as well create my own dream job in my dream city and let it work itself out. I know I’m good at what I do, and I don’t need to sit through rounds and rounds of interviews and tests to prove it.
That being said, please feel free to refer me to anyone you may know who needs assistance with their social media channels, company blogs, or events! I would be very happy to send over a press kit with some of my highlights and successes as well as my packages/pricing. I have a certification in Social Marketing, over 5 years of experience, and a burning passion to help people grow their social presence along with their business sales. Social media is no longer something you should consider – it’s something you need to have. I can’t wait to tackle this project and start collecting an awesome group of clients to do business with.
Screw the people who try to push you around. You know yourself better than anyone else, so never forget your worth. Keep chasin’ those dreams, y’all.
