OK Extravaganza Essay Winner

Opportunity Knocks would like to congratulate
Janet Kotler of Atlanta, GA
on winning the OK Extravaganza Essay Contest.

Janet’s essay was chosen out of more than 100 essay submissions. For winning the essay contest, Janet receives the Opportunity Knocks Job Seeker Toolkit including:

• One OK Career Services Resume Review and Update: Experienced Career Counselors will evaluate your resume and provide feedback for improvement based on effective, successful models that work in today’s marketplace. Value $99.00
  
• 3 Month Resume Upgrade: Brings your resume to the top of employers’ inboxes so you can stand out from the Crowd! Value $24.99
  
• Opportunity Knocks 2008/2009 Wage & Benefits Report: Comparisons of nonprofit job titles from around the country to help determine what your salary range should be. Value $39.95

Here is Janet’s your winning essay!

Some years ago, I applied for a teaching job with the University of Richmond. I was living at the time in Milwaukee, and had asked a friend to drive me to the airport for the scheduled interview.

On the way, it occurred to me I hadn’t done much research about UR (this was pre-widespread-internet) and asked my friend what she knew about the place. “Well,” she said, “John Boy went there.” (a reference to a TV program I’d never seen–Little House on the Paririe or some such.) “Oh fabulous, Mary,” I said. “THAT’ll be a lot of help.”

Arrived in Richmond. Met with Department Chair. No hard questions. Hm… Met with Department faculty. No questions. Hm…. Met with Dean. Same story. Odd. In late afternoon, finally met with Provost. Thought OK, here’s where hard questions will happen. But NO. Provost was at pains to point out that “We aren’t going to fold on you: we have $200 million in the bank.” OK, weird. But OK. Then he said, “You know, John Boy went here.” Oh YES I said. I know.

Got the job.

It was a hard decision for the Opportunity Knocks team to pick the essay winner. We would like to give a big thank you for all who participated in the OK Extravaganza Essay Contest.

Click here to read other staff favorite essay submissions.