Presented at Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management, this presentation detailed my oddball resume, how I came to business school, and how to go to any career you want.

1. Getting the Weird Job
Mack Elder
October 17, 2013

2. A Little Bit About Me
• Internship in Marketing & Social Outreach at Myriad Restaurant
Group, New York City
• University of Southern California Graduate
– Cinema/Television—Critical Studies, 2006
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Founder, Clipped Records & Films
Partner in OrbSpeed video conferencing software
Sales & Liaison work with AAFES & NEXCOM
Label member at American Association of Independent Music
Former reality show editor
Erstwhile film critic and fiction writer
And one time I was featured in Penthouse (absolutely one
hundred percent true).

3. The Owen Dilemma
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Pressure at info sessions
Rush to the offer
Do I want to do these?
What do I want to do?
Do I have to go the same route as my peers?

4. NOPE.

5. New Rules
• You can do whatever you want.
• Especially what you’re good at.
• But you have to work like hell for it.
• So start today.

6. Building the New You
• What does your résumé look like now?
– Does it exist for the job you want or for the
“standard” job?
• Who do you know?
– What are the connections that are most
important to where you want to end up?
• What is your ideal job?
– Can you express quickly and succinctly the exact
thing you want to do with your life?

7. You Won’t Know What You Want
• “You Can’t Get What You Want (‘Til You Know
What You Want)”
– Geography
• What place am I in love with?
– Function
• How do I best solve problems?
– Industry
• Is there something I never want to shut up about?

8. Spock Lives.
• Know your ending.
– If you could do anything, end up anywhere, what
would you do with your life?
• Then work backwards.
• You know where you’re starting.
– So what does the road look like from Owen to
your happily ever after?

9. The Personal is Professional
• Don’t put a wall between the two
– You never know where the next great idea will
appear
• You have to be at your job a lot
– So you should be interested in it
– And not hate it.
• What would you do if you could do anything?

10. Info Sessions: Only the Beginning
• If you wait for your job to come to you, then
you will never get a job.
• Owen has amazing resources.
– Use ALL OF THEM.
• Talk to the CMC.
• Plumb the depths of GPS.
• Reach out to the alumni network.
– But that’s not the end of it.
• Now the work really starts.

11. NETWORKING (is a ten-letter word)
• The rules of business are not that different
from the rest of the world
– People can spot a phony anywhere
– So don’t be one.
• Be honest, be patient, be kind.
• And most of all…

12. Bring Something to the Table
• “What Have You Done For BG Today?”
– There is always someone else!
• What are you doing right now to show that
you’ve earned the job?
• You have to be forever building your
achievements.
– Be Good.
– Do Good.
– Offer Help.

13. Understand What You Have
• What’s on your résumé?
• What are the big points?
– Companies want to see that you’ve done
something
– Competencies, peculiarities, specialties
• What do they want?

14. What Myriad Saw
• The big points on my résumé
– Internship at Miramax
• Shared connections, experience in marketing
– Concentrations, specializations, and clubs
• Companies really do want to see your club work!
– My Star Trek credentials
• Every company asked about this
– Nothing is too small or too esoteric.

15. So Remember…
• Networking is just talking.
• So be engaging, kind, honest, and sincere
• Every job wants something different.
• So tailor your résumé!
• And do your research!
• “Nice makes nice.”
• Keep making things.
• Always be ready to lend a hand.
• Because people will remember.
• There is always someone else.
• Stay at the forefront of their minds.
• But don’t be obnoxious.
• Demonstrate why they need you.
• Be confident!
• After all…it’s just a job.

16. Getting in touch
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Email: michael.elder@owen.vanderbilt.edu
Twitter: @jimmyrabbitte
Schedule a meeting
Or ask a question right now!
• So…questions?