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Speaking in public

I have a little touch of laryngitis, too, which doesn't help.

Today we have our Critical Design Review, in which we present (with PowerPoint, because they are gluttons for punishment and asked us to) our professors with the current status of our senior design project. They are then critical. We actually came through okay with that, although Dr. Smith had lots of suggestions that had to be fielded graciously. Screaming "No! Not more suggestions!" not being an option. Not right now, anyway, but give me a few more weeks…

Once that's over and my brain is partially fried, I run downstairs to drop off my resume with the recruiters from Division of Large Chemical Company who are hanging out in the lobby today. As I am expecting that they will glance at the resume and direct me to the company website, I am caught off guard when they are sociable and want to talk with me. My poor brain lurches around, fixates on how this Division of Large Chemical Company is a joint venture with a Japanese company (and I should have done a little background research on them so I wouldn't sound like a total idiot, but we were preparing for the CDR), and compels me to brightly mention, "Hey! I speak Japanese and I have over ten years of experience translating patents for the exact kinds of stuff you manufacture, among other things!"

I am even more caught off guard when these people are actually interested. Thus far recruiters, even from companies that have design and manufacturing facilities in Japan, have appeared to view my skill set as a variant of smallpox inasmuch as they smile nervously and edge away.

So I chat and am sociable. I end up talking with the whole crowd and am proffered business cards. I try not to cough on them.

310 words | March 10, 2005 10:05 PM | Ivory tower