It's your job, not your mom's job!

I do enjoy when students past and present call me about job and graduate school opportunities. It's an excellent high to hear persons excited about new opportunities, new locations, "dream jobs", etc. However, when disappointment hits, it hits hard...right in the gut.

A former student called the other day to say they had a great job interview and I was elated. Unfortunately after about 5 minutes of "hearing from a student bliss", they dropped the bomb on me:

"I really liked this place, but mom and dad weren't too impressed with the place and the people who interviewed me."....(long, dramatic pause on my end of the phone).

While parents are a critical part of the "touring undergraduate facilities" ritual, taking them to a job interview is about as big of a no-no as you can get...and taking them to tour a graduate program you might be interested in is even worse...trust me, just ask for a bib and someone to permanently hold-your-hand while you study there.

The brutal truth is that you've now reached that crucial point where you can consult with your parents, mentors, and friends, but you do not drag them (or accept an offer from them to come along) to job and/or graduate school interviews/tours. It's extremely unprofessional and makes you look needy and immature. Trust me. People notice and write those types of things down for discussions later.

Be smart, be confident, and be professional. If you think you can handle a career or graduate school (and I know all of you can), you can do it by going alone and showing how capable you are to people. Take someone with you, and they don't see the professional you are...unless that is the type of professional you want to be...(long dramatic pause)....I hope not.

Long Live The Rebellion.