Application Strike-Out, Still Job-Hunting

Hello Friends. Yesterday I found out about that awesome, amazing, perfect-for-me job that I applied for. Yeah, didn't get it.

Such is life. I'm actually more disappointed about the prospect of having to really do my dissertation now, than the fact that I didn't get an offer. Oh the lengths we go to, to avoid writing...

I found out from the rejection letter that there were 110 applications for 4 positions! Yoozers. People are hungry.

A friend of mine who has played this game in the academic world said that if you don't hear from the job people by the noted deadline (in this case, May 1st-ish) then you are likely not their top pick. However, until they lock in their candidate(s) they want to make sure they have everyone else still available, in case any "A-listers" back out. Since I hadn't heard anything by May 10th, I figured I was part of the "B-list." This is good to know for future job applications and also softens the blow of the rejection (i.e. by last week, I kinda figured I wasn't an A-lister).

After receiving the news via email (I don't think anyone sends hard copy letters these days) I sent update/thank you emails to my references (to let them know to not expect any emails from the job people) and emails to friends who have been cheerleading me the entire time and who had read my letters and given suggestions. I also sent a separate email to the Retired Colleague (RC) who had given me the inside scoop. In responding to my thank you email, she was very gracious and suggested I still look up Application Screener once I move to City. It sounds like I can use her name when I contact him.

Now, a word on the thank yous. I totally disregarded my own advice, and every job book's advice, and did not immediately send a thank you card to RC after she and I spoke back in April. I did send her an email that day, but not a real card. I finally sent her a hard copy note by post Monday night, May 10th. In my note I said I still hadn't heard from the screener, but I wanted to thank her anyway for so generously sharing her time and for giving me such great advice. Since the note will take a day or two to get to her, RC actually received my email before she received my thank you card. I dated the card, so whatever. It's the thought that counts.

On the whole, I'm not very disappointed. Really. I am pretty psyched still about asking that policy center for an internship or coffee making and photocopying duties. Plus, this means I might be able to really stick to my plan of finishing my degree in the fall (uh, although I'm really going to have to make up for lost time).

So have no fears friends, Leadfoot is still job-hunting and still blogging. I'm almost done writing my "hi remember me? can I work for you?" email to the policy center. I'll share that text here once I'm done. I also am nearly finished reading "What Color Is Your Parachute" which I strongly recommend. I'll be reviewing it in the next few days. Stay tuned for more.