Tag: adventureswithMelissa

My apologies if we’re friends on Facebook…because then you’ve already seen this. However, it’s too good not to share here as well.

So this just happened…I went to the grocery store this afternoon and was greeted by Santa Claus! He gave me a candy cane, said he wondered when I would be coming to see him, and told me I had to sit on his lap if I wanted a photo!

#AdventuresWithMelissa

That is my hashtag to cover a multitude of adventuring in my life. A whirlwind trip to Buffalo, New York in 24 hours? That’s an adventure. A 9 hour long job interview for a TV News Producer Job? Totally an adventure. Two job interviews in 26 hours for two very different positions where I’m told I’m a finalist for both jobs? Yep, nailed it. Just another adventure!

So, you wanna know how my trip went to Buffalo? Here are the highlights:

  • I sent that snapchat to a friend to show his friend who was sassing me when I landed in Buffalo. I had been up since 3:45 am, but my hair was a champ and I was a ball of nervous energy.
  • After cabbing it to the TV Station, I had lunch with the News Director, who then handed me off to the Assistant News Director. I met some producers, anchors, and reporters and got a tour of the station.
  • I proceeded to have mini-interviews with the Assignment Editor, the Operations Director, The General Manager, and the aforementioned News Director and Assistant News Director. It was a lot of me talking about myself, my experience and why I got out of news and might want to get back into it.
  • I sat with a couple of producers and watched a newscast or two. But the biggest thing I came away with? I don’t want to get back into the business. 
  • Somewhere along the interview I realized I’m over it. I’m done with TV News. It’s a nice thing to be able to realize.
  • The News Director took me out for Wings, (because Buffalo!) and asked me, bottom line, what would it take to get me to Buffalo. That second picture is near my hotel, the Buffalo Theatre district.
  • I told him that I know my worth, I know what my experience is worth, and I know that I’m not just a producer, I’m management. I also told him that I know what the cost of living difference is between Nebraska and Buffalo. (Hint: it’s a decent amount!)
  • So I named a number that was totally fair, and he said that the job paid $15k less, but that they could go to corporate and see what they could do, because I was worth it. He told me I was a finalist for the job, and I told him that I had another offer on the table. We discussed things and he said they would be in touch in the middle of the month.
  • So there’s that.
  • I sent that Snapchat to the same friend, because I was showing him my King Size Bed, ALL TO MYSELF! Bliss.
  • Tuesday I flew back and got in to Lincoln around 10:30am. I had an interview at the University of Nebraska-Omaha at 2:30pm for a job as the Membership Director for the University’s Classical Radio Station. I was exhausted and cursing myself for setting up the interview.
  • AND THEN I WENT TO THE INTERVIEW and it was AWESOME!!!
  • The Station manager LOVED me. HE said so, he remarked how I was such a great interview, how I was so personable, how conversational I was, etc. I ate that up! 😉 (oh, you want to compliment me? YES PLEASE!)
  • I asked him to describe his perfect person for this position and he said, “Well, you. Someone who is vivacious, outgoing, can talk to people, has a great personality, can make connections, can make the big ‘asks’ for money, someone who is funny, and smart, just like you.”
  • <<INSERT HEART EYE EMOJI HERE>>
  • You don’t know how hard it was for me not to toss my hair, and grin like a fool. Well, maybe, I DID grin like a fool!! He told me that I was a finalist for the job, one of the 3, and that he would let me know in two weeks.
  • So I sent that final photo to my friend after the interview because with everything that has gone in the past 2 months, to be told by two interviews in two different fields that I’m a finalist for the job? I feel like a million bucks!!
  • Today, I start the job at the Marketing Company. I should hear from the State Job this week, and from UNO next week, and from Buffalo the week after. I’m not taking the Buffalo job. I’m burnt out of news. But is nice to be wanted. I thought that last photo was a pretty perfect way to look at this chapter of my life, As always, I’ll keep you posted about my latest Adventures!! 😉