Weekend Warrior = Work
Thursday, January 7th, 2010 Tags: creating contacts, networking, tips
Category: Job Hunt, Networking No Comments 
You can’t drink at work. But you can drink to get work!
While trying to break into the entertainment industry, my first job in Los Angeles was working at a restaurant as a giant shrimp. You read that oxymoron correctly. Giant shrimp. Wore the pink body, hat, everything down to the anatomically incorrect feet. After months of dancing around and posing for pictures with customers, I was losing hope that I would ever get a job in the industry.
Finally one night, I got drunk. I went out for a friend’s birthday and my genius roommate decided we should host an afterparty at our place. After everyone else had passed out, I relayed the stories of my shrimping days to the last man standing. He could not believe I worked as a giant shrimp and promised me I would never work there again. Monday he had my resume, Tuesday I had a job working for a prominent reality show.
After working for several months, I had enough money to go watch the Miami Dolphins at Hooters (don’t judge). While I drank at the bar and yelled at my stupid team, the man next to me chatted me up about football. The conversation shifted from football, to the economy, to my job status. Turned out the guy was a production manager and needed extra hands. Hey, another job offer. Cheers!
Tonight’s lesson? Next time you’re at a party, talk to a stranger. It could lead to a job offer. Though if they offer you candy or want you to get in their car, you probably don’t want to work for them.
