bizMe

May 6, 2009
It has been a while since I had the chance to sit down and actually write about my new life in a city clear across the country from my hometown. But here it is, and in it there are lessons for all professional woman.

In December, I got a phone call from a TV station in South Dakota. Now let me note, I have lived in the Great Lake states my entire life, both near Cleveland and Chicago…so most people would say I’m a city girl (and I definitely can agree to that). I had been working hard for four months sending out dozens of resume tapes per week trying to land a job in my field and finally, one morning as I was cleaning the kitchen, I saw what I had been waiting to see on my phone: A number from an area code I never heard of. Yes, it was a News Director from a TV station wanting to interview me for their meteorologist/reporter position.

I will admit, when I first heard it was a job in a city I never heard of, in a state clear across the country, I was nervous. The farthest out west I had been was California for a family wedding that I flew to, so it would be quite a move if I took the job. The next night, I interviewed with the Chief Meteorologist, or the head of the weather department. He had me forecast 7-days for the city and when we went over it, he asked a lot of questions to make sure I knew what I was talking about it. It really got me excited about this job to know that I’d be working with someone with so much knowledge and was very willing to help me improve in my forecasting and at what I do.

I knew in the next couple days I would hear back whether I got the job or not, but it wasn’t as easy waiting as I expected. I had to ponder what the job would offer and entitle and to make things even busier, I heard from another station that was interested in seeing more of my work and had narrowed me down to the top list. I spent many countless hours comparing the two stations and weighing all possibilities just in case one of them would offer me a job. I can’t tell you how hard it was laying in bed at night wondering where my life was going to go next.

Then, on a sunny morning while I was at work, my phone beeped that I had a message. It was the News Director from the South Dakota station informing me that I was the most qualified candidate and that he wanted to offer me the job. I cannot begin to describe how happy I was to hear that message…and being the dork I am, I saved it because I just couldn’t believe that all my work and countless worrying had finally paid off. But another thought crossed my head: I would have to move to a city and state where I knew no one and start over somewhere unfamiliar. This would be the biggest change in my life that I had even seen.

The other station interested in me ending up calling me the next morning and said that they were interested in seeing more of my work and that they’d know who they wanted by the end of the following week…which would be 4 days after I needed to make my decision about the station that had already offered me the job. I was torn…what if the other job offered me a job too?

I spoke with friends, family, and some of my role models trying to figure out what to do. But in the end, it all came down to one thing: I was the ONLY ONE who could make the decision. It was my life path, my career, and my choice with what I wanted to do. I prayed a lot too, asking for the power and strength to make the right decision that I would not look back on. And finally, the night two days before I had to call the South Dakota station back, I knew my decision.

I ended up taking the job in South Dakota and I can tell you, it was the best decision of my life. It was a total risk, and something definitely out of my comfort zone, but it was secure. I love adventure and just creating new experiences that I could look at thirty to forty years from now and say how glad I am that just let life take me down the path that’s meant for me. So I packed up my life in a moving truck and my Camry and made the drive across the country to my new home in Rapid City. I’m so thankful to have a job in this struggling economy and I love waking up in the morning excited to go into work and do what my passion is.

So in conclusion, sometimes in the end waiting for the right job is worth it. They do say the best things in life are worth waiting for after all. And I’m so excited to be at a part in my life that is one new experience and thrill after another. I made probably one of the biggest decisions in my life so far, and I can proudly say it was the right one. And when I leave here someday to move onto my next station to work my way up in the television world, I’m going to able to say that I had the chance to live out west and use all my new experiences in the years to come. So if you’re having a hard time getting into the working world, or you feel like you’ll never find a job, be patient. And have faith that one of these days, you’re going to get that phone call I did…and it’s going to change your life for the better…even more than you ever dreamed of. Be bold, take risks and adventures, so someday you can say, “You’ll never believe what I did…”

Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo

July 10, 2008

Well I’m living my dream that started when I was a little girl: being the weatherwoman on television. I officially started my career as the weekend meteorologist at WHIZ-TV in Zanesville, OH. It was an amazing feeling moving into my own apartment and knowing that this was the start of my professional career. During the week, I am a reporter for the 6 and 11 pm news.

My first week on the job made me realize how much I love it. I learned from my co-workers everything I needed to know from how to put together my own forecast to how to cover a story and write it up online. My advice to anyone starting a new job is make sure you learn everything you can and ask questions . . . when you’re new it makes you look like you really want to know your job inside and out. This past Saturday, I got to do my first on-air forecast on the news. I was terrified . . . but after I got it over with I felt very relieved and confident. It’s okay to be nervous when you’re doing something for the first time. I look back on it and it makes me smile because the next day, after I got my fear out of the way, I felt great and put together a polished and better show that night. You can access my first forecast here online: http://www.youtube.com

I will continue to update you with the knowledge and lessons I gain from my new job. If you have any questions (even weather related!) I’d be happy to answer them for you.

Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo

June 18, 2008

Well I’m all done with school! Graduation was such a wonderful feeling because I closed the college chapter of my life to start a new one . . . the beginning of my career! Yes, I got a job offer TWO WEEKS after graduation and I am extremely excited to start it. I will be on television as the weekend meteorologist at WHIZ-TV in Zanesville, OH. I will do the weather Saturday and Sunday and than report three times during the week. For all you just tuning in, this has been my dream career since I was three years old and I finally get to start it in three weeks. So of course, that means making sure I have everything packed, making phone calls to find some apartments, and then visiting Zanesville to find the perfect apartment within the right budget. Luckily, one of my friends who graduated before me does the morning weather at the station so he has been a tremendous help in getting phone numbers and offering to show me around town. There are so many things involved in relocating, but thankfully my new job is only two hours from my hometown. Not bad for a first job.

So what did I do to clinch my interview? Well let me share some little pointers with you so you can prepare beforehand and present yourself as the best candidate for the job!
~Make sure you dress appropriately for the weather the day of your interview. For me, it was 90+ degrees so I made sure my outfit was comfortable, summer-appropriate, and professional. So ladies, make sure your skirt isn’t too short, you’re not wearing a heavy suit where you will be sweating the entire time, and make sure to include your own hint of fashion so they know you are unique!

~Before the interview, research the company and the city you will be interviewing at. What I did was order a free city guide from city hall so I could familiarize myself with what the city was all about and some of its main attractions. If anything comes up in the interview about something important to the city, you will really look like you did your homework and that earns added points in the interview.

~Prepare all questions beforehand and go over them the night before. Nothing impresses a potential boss more than you knowing what you are talking about and being organized. Those are qualities that I am sure they are looking for in their potential candidate anyway.

~Finally, smile as much as you can and ASK QUESTIONS. Bosses want cheerful people that can smile easily and represent their company in a positive manner. They also don’t like to ask all the questions while you nod your head. Prepare some questions that you want answered about the job or the company. It adds brownie points and it shows how much you want the job!!

Well I hope I was able to give you some good pointers. If you have any questions concerning job interviews or anything else, please post a comment on my page and I will be sure to get back to you. Enjoy summer ladies, and go out and get that job or internship . . . if I can do it so can you!

P.S. And make sure to go shopping and find some fabulous summer deals on clothes. It always adds extra sunshine to any woman’s day!

“Officially” Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo

May 21, 2008

It’s a weird feeling . . . to not have any homework. To not have any tests to study for or projects to turn in. But that, my friends, is the feeling of a senior in college who is one week away from graduating. I’ve waited my whole life for this, the moment when I could finally say, “I’m graduating from college and starting my own career.” A week from today I get to walk across the stage when they say my name and get my diploma. Seventeen years ago I was in kindergarten starting the beginning of my school career. And I’m about to end that chapter of my life in seven days. It’s an exciting feeling, yet very scary at the same time.

I’m excited to take a step into the real world and finally do what I’ve wanted to do my entire life. I’m excited to never have to study for a test again or spend countless hours working on homework. I’m excited to live on my own and explore everything the world has to offer me. Yet I’m really scared too. I don’t know what is in store for me after college. You go from four years of an extremely predictable lifestyle: go to school, spring break, summer break, school, etc. Now, I have no idea what I will be doing or where I will be in August. And I also won’t know where some of my closest friends will be or how long it will be until I will get to see them again.

My biggest fear right now that scares me the most is that I do not have a job. And like I said before, it’s not that I’m doing an awful job. I have had a Chief Meteorologist of one station tell me I have a “very solid tape” and another tell me that my first tape was “better than his first one out of college.” The problem is there are so many college graduates competing against me for a job opening AS WELL AS many others who already are in the field looking for a new station to start at. So if you do the math that leaves too little job openings for such a large and demanding crowd of applicants. So I still sit here and wait . . . wait for someone to call me for an interview. It’s not easy . . . I’m not a patient person to begin with but you have to do it. I have called the Chief Meteorologist at the station’s I have applied to in order to get my name out there and see how their process works as well as get to know more information about the station. I stay up late at night just to check and see what openings come up and fill out numbers of applications and address envelopes so that my package is ready to go out in the morning. It’s not easy being a college graduate going into the TV business . . . because in this day and age, you got to have an “in” or be at the right place at the right time. Let’s hope that one or the other finds me soon.

Keeping my chin up and my confidence high,
Meteorologist Mere

May 3, 2008

Well who would have guessed that a Monday could ever start off so good?? Today was that kind of day for me as I got my first email to let me know my resume tape was sent to the News Director of a station for consideration. I was so excited to finally hear from someone!! Between getting ready for graduation in less than a month, finishing up classes, and enjoying those last moments with friends in between, it was nice to have that one second where everything just seemed to freeze around me and the only thing I could think of was I was being considered for a potential job. It’s an amazing feeling, and even if I don’t get the job, I at least know I made it to the final cut, and that is not a bad start. I’ve learned that you cannot give up no matter how doubtful the situation may seem. You need to believe that if you love something enough, you will wait for it and do whatever it takes to get it, even if that means sitting for months and waiting for that potential employer to call you.

Why give up on your dreams when times get rough when they’re what you want the most? I almost gave up on my major TWICE when the math and physics got hard and I wasn’t doing well in the classes and crying every night stressed about the class. But I remembered the little girl 19 years ago watching the Weather Channel and daydreaming about being the next Jim Cantore in front of a hurricane. I remembered the high school yearbooks entries of “Can’t wait to see you on the Weather Channel” and “You’re the best Meteorologist Mere!!” I remembered the excitement I had every night I spent in the weather studio working at WGN and how I did not want to leave the television environment. And that made me realize that my lifelong passion would be accomplished, no matter the obstacles. I was born to be a star and there is no way I can settle for anything less!

These last couple weeks have been VERY stressing for me. I’ve had projects and tests every other day and at the same time hundreds of things to do for my sorority, job search, and personal things like working out and having fun times with my friends. Being a senior is NOT easy by any means, even when it seems like one thing is going well something else comes up that will stress me out even more. I can tell you though, you cannot just let the stress take over and stay in every night . . . go out and MAKE MEMORIES with your friends. Take an hour away from studies to make that trip out to the bar to play a game of darts and gossip with your girlfriends about life and love. Even if you don’t have a drink, you still can have a marvelous time . . . and even get to watch someone else be hilarious instead of you. Then go back with an open mind and a good mood and watch how motivated you will be. Trust me on this one

Well ladies, it’s time for me to write another cover letter and finish my final project for my journalism class. Until next time, work hard, have fun, and live your life as the leading lady you are! I’ll be in touch . . .

My “Home Opener” Entry, 4-8-08

Hello ladies! And welcome to the world of Meteorologist Mere, as my friends deemed me. Let me introduce myself . . . I was born and raised in Parma, Ohio (which is a south suburb of Cleveland) and I currently attend Valparaiso University in Indiana studying to be the weathergirl. Why so far from home? Well V.U. (as well call it) has one of the top meteorology schools in the nation. Not only will I earn a full B.S. in Meteorology, but I am working with state-of-the-art equipment such as a Doppler Radar, Gempak and McIdas weather software, and attend class in a brand new building. We also have a storm chasing team in which I can go out into the field and yes, as scary as it may seem, chase tornadoes. Haven’t seen one yet, but one of these days I’m sure our paths will cross. Tornados are an interesting form of weather to study and it’s exciting watching the way a tornado forms (or doesn’t in my case). For my TV/Radio minor, I work with WSI weather equipment used by TV stations across the country and make my own resume tapes and forecasts in our weather studio. I also get to have on-air practice at WVUR, the school’s radio station which is run from the same building. Not bad huh?

I’m sure you’re all wondering why I want to be a meteorologist. For me, this has been a lifelong dream since I was three years old. My mother told me the story of when she was in one of the biggest outbreaks of tornadoes in history and for some reason that sparked my interest. After that, you would find me watching the weather channel, getting excited when severe weather struck as I’d run on my porch to watch for it to “tornado,” and of course, I had a Fischer-Price tape recorder that I would make my own weather forecasts on. I was quite the little weather nerd!

For the past four years, I have been studying this hard profession, but now, I’m here as a senior and just a month away from having that degree I’ve always dreamed of. I’ll share more stories later with you about the stress and struggles it took to get me where I am today. But it paid off . . . last semester I had the chance to intern for one of the greatest meteorologists in the country . . . WGN’s Tom Skilling. Working in Chicago was one of the best opportunities of my entire college career, especially under someone so well respected. So sad its over, but now I do the weather five times a week for Northwest Indiana on WJOB 1230AM at 7:30 in the morning. The early mornings aren’t fun . . . definitely gets me home a little early the night before but again, it’s all about the experience so you have to do what’s necessary.

Well now you know a little bit about me, there’s much more I’ll share with you, but for now, it’s time to hit the books a little and get to bed early . . . being a senior isn’t all that easy. Until next time . . .

Meteorologist Mere