How do you find "The One?" Just ask Wendy Straker, author of "Sexy Jobs in the City: How to Find your Dream Job Using the Rules of Dating." The informative guide, which hit shelves in January, takes a close look at the hotbed of eligible career paths and lays down the steps for a girl to get The One she's after. Whether you're interested in fashion or film, music or magazines, the book details what specific positions entail, the industry lingo and inside interview tips.
Yet, what brought Straker to compare job hunting to playing the field? After working a year in advertising, Straker "broke it off," realizing that her job choice was not the right match. Though new singlehood may cause some women to grab a pint of Ben and Jerry's and build an intense relationship with "Melrose Place" reruns, Straker slipped on her pumps and was back on the employment prowl. While her days were packed with interviews, Straker hit the town at night with blind dates. It was then she realized that other than the lack of a white tablecloth and a bottle of wine, interviews and blind dates are remarkably similar.
Wendy Straker explains that "looking for your dream job is like looking for your dream guy or girl, and it deserves the same attention, preparation and thought process."
Here are some of Straker's rules to help you in your search for The One:
"Remember that looks aren't everything. Look deeper than the company image to find out if this is the right match for you.
"Remember not to play hard to get! Don't wait three days to tell them how you feel. Send that thank your note out right away."
"Also avoid looking desperate. Though you shouldn't play too hard to get, you also shouldn't seem needy and eager."
Straker, who majored in creative writing and English at the University of Wisconsin, soon decided to follow her dream of becoming a writer. To properly play the job field, she emphasizes that you must discover your passion. "Whenever you lose track of time, you're so involved in what you are doing," that's when you've found your passion, Straker said. She further suggests informative interviews. "Go into the companies; get to see how you personally react to the environment, the vibe, the dress," she said.
Straker has talked to some powerful women who have followed their passion and truly found their niche. "Sexy Jobs in the City" features interviews with the likes of story editor Amy Harris of "Sex in the City," designer Cynthia Rowley and TV anchor Julie Chen of the CBS "Early Show." Straker was especially impressed by Chen's articulateness, poise, down-to-earth nature and, of course, her amazing wardrobe.
Yet when starting, even successful women face grunt work, whether it be fetching lattés and sushi or dressing up in baby-blue unitards complete with footsies. Yes, Straker recalls clearly her third day as an intern at MTV, when she had to don such an outfit on stage for a pilot of the game show "Idiot Savants." Not only did she resemble a morph of Vanna White and Smurfette, but she also had to woo the audience with theme songs from "Grease" and "Annie." Furthermore, the studio was a bit nippy, and with such a tight leotard, let's just say Straker moved up the ranks to become the most well-known intern in the editing room. "I learned to wear a padded bra," she laughed about her first lesson on the job.
But Straker has come a long way from her MTV internship. Over the years, she's been involved in a gamete of industries, including television production, advertising, book publishing and magazines.
"In New York City, you can reinvent yourself," she says. "It has an incredible buzz and energy that keeps you going. And anything's possible. I met Cynthia Rowley at a party, pitched my book idea, and she sent the proposal to her agent who became my agent."
Currently a full-time writer, Straker is working on her next book -- a what-to-expect guide for girls who are dating guys in different professions.
Straker admits that New York City's fast-paced lifestyle can be a bit disheartening. "Pounding the pavement is exhausting," she says. "You have to take a step back, take advantage of the theater and culture." And of course, it's imperative to find some grass.
And what's Straker's advice for the University's graduating fourth years, who are daunted about trading the Blue Ridge Mountains for a city skyline? "Know that you absolutely will get a job," she says.
So don't be one of those girls who sits by the phone, overanalyzing the job situation. Check out www.sexyjobsinthecity.com, and email Wendy Straker if you have any questions. Everyone can find The One -- the perfect job. And if it happens to be sexy, all the better.
Wendy Straker will be visiting the University next fall.
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