It's Eurovision on Saturday!

And to celebrate an extract from Father Ted.

Dougal: I've got Eurosong fever, Ted.
Ted: Yeah?
Dougal: Oh god, yeah. I love the Eurosong competition. I just can't wait. What time is it now?
Father Ted: Half past one.
Dougal: Half one?! And the competition is on in...
Father Ted: May.

The Edelman Interview

As you may or may not be aware, I was invited by Edelman to participate in the next round of interviews for a place on their graduate scheme.

Now before you worry - and I know you do - that we might descend into unpleasantness again I have received the thumbs up from the people at Edelman. I am allowed to reveal their graduation scheme selection as much as I please – thank you.

In a word, wow.

It is hard not to feel initially uninitiated when sat in a room with a group of undoubtedly talented people. There was Mel, a Masters student at Cambridge, Daniel, who had flown over from Washington DC where he is currently studying the legal system, and Mark who had flown from St Andrews. In total there were eight of us.

But I had to remain positive. Yes I’m sure that most of them have more A levels than you can shake a stick at, but I had made it this far and there must be a reason.

It is always difficult to know how to act at this point, should one sit back and assess the situation and risk being forgotten? Or perhaps one should speak up and risk everyone thinking you are a pompous pillock?

Well, I always reckon that it is important to stand out on these events and so was soon having a conversation with a girl who had come all the way from County Cork to be there, which soon spread and I am happy to say there didn’t seem to be anyone there who wasn’t very friendly.

We also met Stuart Smith and had the opportunity to ask him some questions. At this point I was thankful for Morgan McLintic’s tips!

We had individual presentations, from a choice of seven topics from which I picked five minutes on the last five days top news stories. I felt that this went OK. There were very very tough questions afterwards from a group of people that we hadn’t met before. We had been warned about this and I assume it was to test what we knew, our ability to think on our feet and to assess how we handle pressure.

Later we had group presentations where, with limited facts, we were to put together a pitch in an hour. This was really interesting as we were observed whilst we put our plans together and then questioned as to why we made those decisions, after we presented.

But these are all things that you can prepare for. You can read about what to say, how to prepare and top tips for how to act. So my favourite part of the day was the tests, for which, preparation was limited.

This seems a little masochistic but really I find these things fascinating. We had verbal and non verbal reasoning and spatial awareness. These were really tough and were time controlled. Finally we undertook a personality test which we were told would be able to show how we reacted under pressure and what position we tend to take in a team. There are always a bit difficult for someone like me. I always get bogged down on these things thinking 'well am I more X or Y, and what does this mean and how can it be construed?'

I am on the edge of my seat wanting to know what I got! I will most probably phone them even if I do not make it through to the next round, just to find out. There are just so interesting!

Well I will hear from Edelman's HR department either way some time in the coming weeks. As soon as I know, you will.

Dissertation Update

Ever so nervous. I have just heard through the grapevine that my dissertation is the only one that Karl has properly marked yet. I wonder whether it is better to be the first while things are fresh, or the last?

Although I shouldn't be nervous, at the end of the day I worked bloody hard on that document and I hope that my grade will reflect that.

As ever with these things I am hoping to be able to post it here through Writely after it has been marked.

Rated or Slated?

I have been reprimanded for not posting recently - I apologise profusely. There will be further posts I promise and I shall tell you all about the prep for the interview.

I have also managed to gain a google rating of importance. I really don't want them to take it away and it is very flattering to be rated 5/10, but how do they work it out? For example - on their scale I am more important than the BBC Radio One homepage (4/10), again flattering but misguided I think.

I would also like to say that yes, I heard the rumour that PRWeek have interviewed me about the contraversal post a while back. But no one from the magazine has contacted me in regards the this so I have to say that it does look unlikely. I wonder what their take would be on the whole thing.

Catch-up

Sorry I haven't been particularly good about writing recently, I will endeavour to do better in future. In all honesty there really hasn't been a fantastic amount to report.

I have been working full time at Genius Creative PR now that they have moved to Harrogate. (Check out the website - it's finally up and has been a bit of a labour of love for Paul!)

Currently working on 20/20/02Vision and getting some great pieces for my portfolio - which is the next major stress!

I will be travelling down to London for the bank holiday weekend - hopefully missing the vast amounts of people who take the four day weekend as an excuse to go to the country. This will be where I can really crack on with the portfolio.

The portfolio, I reckon, is possibly the most important thing that you have and so it has to be first rate. In recent years I have not particularly excelled in this area (much to my frustration, because although they were not poor grades I felt I should have got better) and so this year all the stops are being pulled out. I will also have to take it with me to interviews so that makes it all the more important. I just hope that this year I get it right!

You will know more as and when I do.

New Opportunities...

Finally my first ever interview for a graduate scheme - Edelman has replied!

I am to go there on the 27th of this month for a day of tests and tricks to tell whether I am what they require. There shall be intelligence tests, presentations and other skill tests - I'm rather looking forward to it, actually - I haven't done anything like that for ages!

It has really hit home that I shall be graduating in just a few short months. Feels very odd - far too grown up and somehow right, very strange.

Gosh once I get a job I will have to be adult about things and understand insurance and mortgages. I will buy shoes because they won't hurt my feet or disintegrate within one month, rather than because they are red, pointy and shiny, and I shall take up gardening and listening to the archers... such things are expected of sensible people, or so I imagine. Or maybe that's the elderly...

Anyway I ramble, I am really excited about my first interview, and although I am very pleased I hope it won't be my last, that way I stand a better chance that I will land the job that is perfect for me(please) and it won't matter so much if things do not work the way I would like on the 27th (although I really want them to).

That's rather sensible isn't it?

Hurray!

Well the dissertation has been handed in and I have slept solidly for the first time in weeks!

I have checked with my dissertation tutor and once I get the mark back I can pop it in Writely and put a link on here if you are interested?

Now to go and celebrate!