FINALLY Got an Offer!!!

Months of job hunting, networking, attending meetings and interviews has finally paid off! I FINALLY got offered a job today! The position I got offered is with a new company called SendSavings. I would be their Communications Coordinator. The company is really intriguing! It is a win-win situation for advertisers, consumers AND charities/non profits!

Here's how it would work (you can check out the Web site, too, with the link above): Advertisers participate in the program by creating text messages to send to supporters/consumers. Charities sign up to participate in the program by gaining supporters to receive these text messages (2-10 per day ... supporter decides). Every time a supporter receives a text message (standard text messaging rates apply so if you have unlimited text messages it's so easy) the charity of the supporter's choice receives a nickel. So when you have thousands of supporters receiving about five texts per week, it'll really add up! There are no fees to join and it supports a good cause. And the text messages that the supporters receive are coupons for the business that is advertising. So say I want to support the local zoo here. I'd sign up at SendSavings' Web site and choose what kind of advertisments I want to receive (lets say restaurants are one) and how often I want to receive them per week (lets say five times a week). I will get max five text-coupons from local restaurants that may offere a free appetizer, percentage off and discount. In return, the zoo benefits by receiving a nickel for every text message I receive and don't necessarily have to use. This process has been difficult to explain!

My job would be to recruit charities for the program, explain the program to them, help them launch their supporters campaign through their own fundraising events, meetings, social media, newsletters, Web site banners, etc. This company has a goal to raise $1 million for Tampa area charities within a year. They are brand new and hope to launch nationally if all goes well.

The "Send-Saver In-Chief" said he loved everything I had to offer and believes it to be a great opportunity for me. He said I interviewed well and asked great questions. The interview lasted about two hours. I listened in on some current employees make recruiting and signing up calls, which I thought was great for them to do for me. I met all the five people that were working there today. The hours are typical 8-5 but that's not set in stone ... just gotta get my work done. There's a good vacay package, 401k, but no health benefits ... which is a concern for me. The pay can be AMAZING though and what's even worth more than that is that I would get actual, solid work experience and learn so much. The office is in downtown Safety Harbor, which is a nice area and really close to one of my sisters, but a 45 minute drive from where I currently live. I'm not going to run and get my own apartment right away by any means.

How did I find this job? Well, lets just say networking REALLY pays off. When I first moved here I tried to reach out to all the local public relations specialists inquiring about jobs and opportunities. Julie Heidelberg of Heidelberg PR got back to me and graciously offered me an informational interview. I continued to keep in touch with her, attend Association of Fundraising Professionals and PRSA Tampa Bay events with her. Well, she does SendSavings' public relations! And she forwarded them my resume. How great is that?!

Funny how this came right after I decided to venture out and find a second part-time job, which I actually got at LA Fitness as a front desk position! I would obviously like to stay at Coach ... not just for the discounts ... I love it there! We'll see.

Now I just have to research some more and talk it over with the family and we shall see! I may be a working girl soon enough! Hello "Adulthood!"

July 26th was a great day :-)