Welcome to the blog of one enthusiastic, excited, hardworking, soon-to-be unemployed college graduate.

You might be thinking that people like me are a dime a dozen these days, and those of us who have decided to blog about our lives come even cheaper. Luckily, this blog has a purpose other than sharing the details of my life with the ether - it actually qualifies as a job application. While this may or may not ever be read by a series of random strangers, it will also be read by Mindy Kaplan, the Director of Marketing at Lou Malnati's. Perhaps she will detect some charm and value in these words, and choose to hire me, Jenny Friedler, as their new Internet Marketing Specialist.

Of course, the ability to write a blog isn't my only qualification. I do have a great deal of experience that would be immediately applicable to this position. The job description calls for excellent customer service skills; as someone who has not only spent her summers waitressing at a popular Wicker Park restaurant, but helped to open that restaurant, I can assure you that these skills have been well-developed. Jerry’s was a little slow in the opening; two months of back-to-back 14-hour shifts, half of which revolved around crashed POS systems and a confused kitchen led me, a young, inexperienced waitress, to become well-versed in the art of apology. Jerry's prolific menu (hundreds of food choices, and just as many microbrewery beers) also led many customers into absolute panic; one of the best parts of the job was chatting with my customers and helping them make decisions. This task sounds simple enough, but if you look at this menu, you can begin to imagine the madness that ensues. When it comes to dealing with customer complaints and questions, you would be hard-pressed to find someone with more experience.

Through my summers at Jerry’s, I also developed a deep love for the restaurant business. I love the diversity of staff and customers and the constant near-chaos. I love the delicate negotiations that take place between managers, line-cooks, servers and customers just to get food to the table. Maybe this passion is the result of being raised in a good Jewish family whose strongest religious belief is that nothing brings people together like putting good food on the table. This position would be an ideal learning experience that would still allow me to remain within the restaurant business, where I hope to build a career that goes far beyond waitressing.

As someone who grew up in Glencoe, I have witnessed firsthand Lou Malnati’s' deep commitment to the community, often in the form of watching Marc Malnati coach my youngest sister’s softball team. Volunteer work has been a huge part of my life since high school. I spent my four years at New Trier as a member and ultimately Co-President of Social Service Board, which placed hundreds of student volunteers at charitable agencies all over the city. I would be proud to aid in the promotion of a company with such a strong sense of social responsibility, and have a great deal of experience with the diverse charitable opportunities in Chicago.

That being said, I must also acknowledge that I lack certain qualifications for this position: I have no formal training in marketing. I do not have one of the required degrees specified in the job description. I have never worked with Google Ad words.

Now seems, however, like an appropriate time to quote my father: “You hire the best athlete.” My father was once a professional tennis player, so as far as I know, he may mean this literally. Unfortunately, I'm not amazing at sports. If we’re getting metaphorical, however, I can assure you that, though I may not have specific skills under my belt at this point, I am a great athlete. I am an incredibly hard-working, energetic young woman. I finish what I start and I take tremendous pride in doing my work well. I love listening to and working with different types of people. I thrive when I’m busy and when I’m challenged. I am a facile communicator and a thoughtful person. I am a quick and eager learner. Though what I know with regards to the marketing field may not be as substantial as some of your other applicants, I am still the person that you want on your team. With training, I will rapidly acquire whatever skills I lack upon entering the field.

My four years at Colorado College have made me an incredibly fast learner. At CC, we take one class at a time; after three-and-a-half weeks of a single class, we rapidly switch gears and have a four-day break, followed by a new class. So, whether I'm learning about psychology, literary theory, or the science and ethics of genetics, I have less than a month to gain the fluency that most students develop over a full semester. The Block Plan (as this bizarre system is known) also leaves graduates with a love of intellectual intensity. I thrive under pressure and when faced by seemingly impossible challenges, like reading Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom! in three days, or writing a ten-page paper in a single night.

Despite the echoing cries of “What will you do with that degree?” I chose to major in Comparative Literature. But, in response to those cries, I have always answered that I can do anything, because, while my major has not left me with many “marketable skills,” it has taught me how to think. My major has taught me to ask important questions, make connections, and solve problems. Of course, it would be easier if I could give you a list of more concrete, demonstrable skills, since I cannot exactly prove these high claims in a brief blog post. But I know that, despite the risk of hiring someone who claims “knowing how to think” as a primary skill, there are few things more difficult to learn, and more impossible to teach. I can assure you that my well-developed ability to think critically is the most important skill I offer in any professional position.

The development of my writing has also been the top priority of my education, as well as my extra-curricular activities. I have worked as a Writing Center tutor for the past two years and was asked this year to sit on the hiring committee for future tutors. I have also worked for the past two years as an editor, and recently Editor-in-Chief, of the Cipher, an alternative magazine at Colorado College. My internship with Women’s Media Group in Chicago last summer also gave me the chance to expand my written horizons by launching and maintaining a blog, as well as drafting letters for possible donors.

Of course, like most of my generation, I am well-versed in social media. I use Facebook and Twitter regularly, e-mail my best friends daily, and type over 100 words a minute. Really, I do.

I understand that to hire me would require you to make an investment in someone who would require substantial training. But I assure you that, if you invest in me, it will pay off. So, Ms. Kaplan, please consider hiring me as Lou Malnati's' Internet Marketing Specialist. I would be proud to work for your company. And, while you may find individuals with more marketing experience than myself, I am the best athlete. Just so long as there are no real sports involved.