The Job Search Begins

I arrived home last night anxiously anticipating the application process; I was ready to hit the computer and start submitting my cover letter and resume to tour companies. After graduation from ITMI, each of us had a half hour to talk to Ted about our performance and to review our cover letter and resume as well as a half hour to talk to Randy about which tour companies might best suit our needs. My priorities -- student travel, Disney,Tauck, Globus: I want to work for the best. However, imagine my surprise when listed under incentive travel was Don Jagoda Associates. A few days prior, I had dinner with a high school friend -- Jeryl Jagoda. She was Gretel in The Sound of Music; I was Frau Schmidt (I never could sing); she was Helen Keller; I was student director, although I never really fulfilled the role. It turns out that her family business is merchandise and incentive travel. I surely will make an application!

I was also surprised when, after only two e-mail cover letters and resumes, I received my first response. Smithsonian Student Travel e-mailed me only a few hours after receiving my resume; they said I looked like I might be a good match, but they were fully staffed for this season and encouraged me to complete their own application late this summer or early fall for Spring 2o11. I was heartened. At least they are encouraging.

In the late 70's and early 80's I was a group leader for student tours, traveling primarily with ACIS. I wrote to the president who originally started the company, and with whom we had traveled -- my good friend Carolyn and me. I played up my connection and just hope his memory runs longer than 25 years! I sent him a picture from 1978 as a reminder. Me -- just a few more wrinkles, but still ready to tour with the students. In fact, I think teenagers can be so forgiving and fun and curious, that I would almost prefer student tours.

My ultimate goal is still Tauck Tours. They are the creme de la creme as Mrs. Brody would say. I have not yet sent Tauck my resume and cover letter. Actually, that is not true. I applied before I even took the ITMI course, probably not a worthwhile attempt. But tomorrow I will give Tauck the time it deserves. One of the many things I like about Tauck is that they require their tour directors to shadow a tour before directing a specific itinerary. Imagine being paid to shadow a tour, learning the in's and out's of the destinations, and then repeating the trip as the director!

Five resumes and cover letters in the mail. Two e-mails. Lots more to go.



As a gift to myself, on a visit to high school friend Randy Warren and his wife, SueEllen, I bought my first really good bottle of wine! This is a wine with a one-year wait list. SueEllen, Randy, and I took a well-planned wine-tasting (thank you, Randy, for the planning, and thank you, SueEllen, for being the designated driver) tour of Napa. Our last visit was to a small family-owned vineyard -- Lewelling. Their Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard is 98 points. Their mailing list is full; there is a wait list to get on their mailing list. We had a fabulous tasting, and Randy was kind enough to sell me one of his bottles. My goal: I will share the bottle when I get my first tour directing job!