Oct 25 2009
Thanks, But No Thanks
Not only am I a semi-invalid with housemaid’s knee* (or housework’s revenge), I’m semi-invalid as a person, too.
I didn’t get that job. They called me early on Friday morning, when my sibs and brother-in-law had gone to return the truck. it took a convoy again because my heroic brother was going to work, so he drove the truck, Megan drove his car (so he could get home from work later) and Rob drove Megan’s car (so they could get home).
So I was alone when the call came. I was so taken aback that I didn’t ask why, which is what everyone else asked me first when I told them about it. I asked them to keep me in mind if anything else came up, and that was it. I just sat there stunned.
It doesn’t really matter why they didn’t hire me. The fact is they didn’t. I could (and have) imagined countless reasons: thought I was over qualified; didn’t like me; concerned about my current job; hired their cousin, etc. Even if they had told me why, it might not have been the real reason anyway.
It does annoy me that I risked life and limb to interview with them and then they rejected me. I thought I had done well, and clearly I hadn’t. It all comes of interviewing once every twenty years. I can’t say that this experience has really improved my self-confidence, and it definitely won’t help if/when I get another interview.
It’s also humiliating because I told all of you about it, and they called all of my references and spoke with them exhaustively and exhaustingly. Two of the references are current colleagues, which makes it even worse.
I have to wonder how how open and honest I should be when I blog, especially when you hear about people being fired for what they say on their blogs, or prospective employers demanding access to Facebook profiles, etc. I think one’s blog should be a personal place to write thoughts and feelings, and blogs and Facebook are none of your employer’s, or prospective employer’s, business.
But it’s hard for me to know that you all know I’m a failure. I guess that’s the flip side of the love and support you always give me. Although I’m a Gemini, sometimes I wish things were one sided: the good side.
*I wonder how real housemaids managed when afflicted with the Knee. I can’t imagine Victorian employers allowing their maids to stay in bed for days. Maybe they just fired them and got new ones back then.
7 Responses to “Thanks, But No Thanks”
Don’t be so daft!! You are a good catch for any business. You cannot always get a job on your first interview.. They most probably were concerned about you trying to hold down 2 jobs. Our youngest waited for nearly a year, it seems to me. Also, a potential boss has no business to ask for such private information re: Facebook or Blogs and neither should you to give such information. This is Private Information….. You will now know for future reference.
So, lift up that chin and look forward to your next interview..you have a lot to offer any establishment.
jx
I tried for quite some time and it was a real blow to my self-confidence! I was trying to “climb down the corporate ladder” and was over-qualified for everything I went for. Luckily my current employers decided to give me a chance.
The fact that you did not get the job certainly does not make one a failure and should not stop you from going to other interviews. There may be 100’s of reasons why you were not chosen and not being qualified or over qualified may have nothing to do with you not getting the job, I always say things are there for you if the time is right at this time in your life, the time may be right the next time around. You should be proud for example of the risk and effort you took to go to the interview and should make you more anxious for the next time, something to look forward to now that you have moved.
First off, don’t worry about the interview outcome (although, I understand how difficult that is). As a wise man once told me, everything happens for a reason. Clichéd yes, but true nonetheless.
As for what you say publicly, I hear you, sister. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve curbed my response or deleted a post after writing it, knowing certain people would read it. That’s the cost of being public, I guess. Funnily enough, there’s a half-finished entry in my TypePad Draft box which is about you and this whole notion of living publicly. It’s been there for the last four days; I guess I should get around and finish it.
Thanks, guys.
Mike, it will be interesting to read that. I have to admit that I am more careful about what I post now than I was in the past, having learned that lesson the hard way!
I was thinking about that the other day – how much more I censor myself on my blog these days compared to when I started! (Part of the reason I don’t post as much.) Sucks.
Interviews are weird… I’ve had great ones where I didn’t get the job and terrible ones (really terrible) where I did. I can’t make any sense of it. I’m not much of one for fate and whatnot, but I will say that every job I didn’t get, it turned out to be for the best in the end – something more interesting always came along.
It’s a huge blow to the ego, I completely understand as I have interviewed and been rejected over and over and over again. I actually kept a binder of PFO letters once upon a time, until I decided that was morbid and was not doing anything for my psyche. *hugs* I DO understand how you feel.
Honestly, every job I held, I didn’t have an interview, I was hired because I had a contact…
That said, I am a big believer that things happen for a reason. I guess I like to see the glass half full.
I censor my blog like CRAZY. But my facebook page? No way my employer gets to see that. I won’t even friend colleagues, and the few I did friend in the beginning are now on limited access – they don’t even get to see the status updates. Facebook, in my opinion, is a SOCIAL networking tool. My professional networking tool is LINKED-IN or whatever it’s called…