List Update (1)
At least one of the Houghton Mifflin jobs has been filled, so I'm giving up on both. No email or contact of any kind. I only found out about the status of the position because I logged on to the company's careers site. Screw Houghton Mifflin.
While we're on the subject of bitterness, I've been wanting to mention my experience applying for a job at The New Republic. Early last spring, I applied to their year-long reporter/researcher internship program. A lot went into the application: I had to prepare several writing samples, tailor a cover letter and resume, and complete a lengthy written analysis of one of their recent issues. Three months went by with no word at all (not even an acknowledgement of receipt), and then I get a mass-mailing form letter informing me that the position had been filled by someone who was better qualified. Flash forward to earlier this week. One of the stops on my daily scouring of the internet was The New Republic. Just for kicks, I went to their masthead to see if I happened to recognize the name of the person they'd hired for the reporter/researcher role. Lo and behold! It's a fellow graduate of an elite east coast school! Among her extracurricular achievements: membership in the elitest of the elite secret societies, Skull and Bones! The revelation certainly wasn't surprising, but it did serve as a bit of a reality check. There is a truth that becomes increasingly apparent with each passing day of my job search: for the first time in my life my ambitions far exceed my accomplishments and qualifications. For a long time, I lived under the illusion that going to college where I went to college would be enough to set me up for life. But now it seems like my lack of either academic or extracurricular distinction constitutes a serious road block to the grand career designs that have been percolating in my head since graduation. I find myself floundering, and I haven't quite figured out how to right myself.
While we're on the subject of bitterness, I've been wanting to mention my experience applying for a job at The New Republic. Early last spring, I applied to their year-long reporter/researcher internship program. A lot went into the application: I had to prepare several writing samples, tailor a cover letter and resume, and complete a lengthy written analysis of one of their recent issues. Three months went by with no word at all (not even an acknowledgement of receipt), and then I get a mass-mailing form letter informing me that the position had been filled by someone who was better qualified. Flash forward to earlier this week. One of the stops on my daily scouring of the internet was The New Republic. Just for kicks, I went to their masthead to see if I happened to recognize the name of the person they'd hired for the reporter/researcher role. Lo and behold! It's a fellow graduate of an elite east coast school! Among her extracurricular achievements: membership in the elitest of the elite secret societies, Skull and Bones! The revelation certainly wasn't surprising, but it did serve as a bit of a reality check. There is a truth that becomes increasingly apparent with each passing day of my job search: for the first time in my life my ambitions far exceed my accomplishments and qualifications. For a long time, I lived under the illusion that going to college where I went to college would be enough to set me up for life. But now it seems like my lack of either academic or extracurricular distinction constitutes a serious road block to the grand career designs that have been percolating in my head since graduation. I find myself floundering, and I haven't quite figured out how to right myself.
posted by temporarily unemployed at 09:58
1 Comments:
i agree with kate. i won't list the jobs i applied for because a. there's so many i can't remember all the fruitless ventures, and b. it would be phenomenally boring. i was brutally rejected for several international opportunities that i had my hopes EMBARASSINGLY high about (as you probably remember) and then interviewed for one other job before settling in where i am (mneh).
Beyond that sad statement: I'd give you a pep talk but I don't think it's what you want to hear. I do think that comments on your lifejournal are probably exciting, as is the procrastinatory relief that your (excellent) posts afford. So I'll just say: I love you. Happily there is the word "temporarily" in the title of this blog, parentheses be dammned. I do hope you keep this up long after you are gainfully employed. Also, I'd like to retain your services as my own personal editor 4life.
Heart.
~C
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