We at NY Creative Interns are excited to share our first panelist profile for our second interview workshop, Interview Ninja #2: The Impromptu Interview, on Tuesday, August 9, 2011, 6:30 PM at Creative Solutions Services 37 West 28th Street 5th Floor, New York, NY.
This event is open to college students and recent grads looking for internships or entry level jobs who are looking to get personal feedback from a professional on their interview skills. Register here!
Whitney Parker has nearly 10 years of experience in policy and advocacy organizations as a web designer, online outreach and communications professional. She is currently leading the marketing team at Brazen Careerist, a start-up company based in Washington, D.C. that offers real-time tools and online events for people to create and expand their professional network.
What is your current position?
I have many:
Vice President of User Experience at Brazen Careerist,Inc; Director of Social Media for Young Professionals in Foreign Policy; and Media Coordinator for the Institute of National Security and Counterterrorism at Syracuse University. I’m also an independent webdesign consultant.
Was there ever a time you were being interviewed but didn’t realize it at the time?
Yes. When I was 22 I had a job waiting tables for a pizza restaurant. During the lunch rush one of the guests sitting at my table started asking me questions about what I was studying in school and what I wanted to do in a few years. Before she left, she offered me a job working at her doctor’s office making twice my income waiting tables!
How can you make impromptu interviews happen?
If you want to be interviewed by someone but they aren’t hiring or wouldn’t be open to a direct interview, the best way to do it is through informational interviews or by asking for some mentorship / advice.
Where are prospective interns most likely to find their future bosses?
You never know who is going to be a future boss, so it’s really important to treat everyone with respect. When I had my first position as an intern coordinator in Washington, DC, I ended up as a supervisor for several former classmates. Someone who is your peer today may end up being your boss tomorrow — so don’t treat anyone like they’re beneath you or not important to your career.
What was most exciting to you about the chance to participate in our panel, The Impromptu Interview?
I absolutely love helping other people ace the interview and present themselves better to employers. I’ve conducted and been a part of so many interviews that I’ve seen easy mistakes we can all avoid with a little preparation!
Have any questions for Whitney? Write them below in the comments and we’ll ask her during the panel!
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