The first time I was offered to eat dinner with a major company

Last semester I was invited to a professional image dinner that I heard about in class that was offered through WVU. I was asked to submit a resume that way recruiters could look online at the resumes and then pick from there. So, I tried it for the experience that way I could not only see if my resume was effective but give me practice for if I had to do this again one day. Northwestern Mutual offered me to eat dinner with their company along with 7 or 8 other class mates.

When I got there I was a little nervous as this was the first time I had ever been invited to eat with a major company, everyone was there except the recruiter and so like normal everyone sat down and then immediately got on there phone but me I was to nervous to do anything. So I just sat and thought about what I would say or how I would conduct myself to make me stand out.

Then he came, and of course out of all the seats he could have sat beside it was mine he choose. Himself, and his recruiting officer sat next to me. I could not mess up, it began.

We went around the table introducing ourselves and saying our majors and why we were here. After we all did that we started eating and while we started eating we just began chatting. He started off by teaching us proper edict and manners at the dinner table. He taught us when you pass stuff around the table what way do you go, and the difference between a salad fork and a normal fork, how to not look like a pig, etc..

Then he let us take control, with who talked when. And it was like something inside of me took over and the recruiter and I just started hitting it off. It was like a normal conversation and everyone just watched. Of course everyone else had conversations with him as well. But it seemed that he was more interested in what I had to say then others.

Then this is where it took everyone for a loop, he said he had to leave and that his recruiters would be taking over. So the recruiters started talking about random stuff and it was like we had to do the same thing we just did with the recruiter with the recruiting officers. I did not understand what was going on until after it was over.

After about 45 minutes of the dinner, it was over. Everyone started shaking hands and saying thank you and good byes, then they called my name and said come with me. Nerves as heck I said ok and followed them back out to the main lobby. Then there I was at the bar with the recruiter, he offered me a drink and then we were on our way to discussing a potential job for me down the road.

He told me that I was in the right field and that he wanted me to give him my contact information and to be waiting on the call as he was impressed at how I conducted myself and how I was able to keep conversations going in a professional manner.

Even though I have not received a phone call yet and honestly do not know if I ever will at this point. But the fact that I got choose out of 7 or 8 marketers that were equally qualified if not more qualified than me is humbling. It was the first time where I thought 100% "this is what I want to do" and for that I am grateful. As I know that will be an experience that I will never forget and will forever take with me through out my professional career.