March 3, 2010
or something.: This is to make myself do something.

ohheygreat:

I interviewed for a job Friday the 12th of February. All signs were that I did very well; I met with my would-be supervisor for over an hour, and he seemed impressed. Better, even: we got along, we had similar ideas and views, and he very much wanted someone with my specific strengths and…

I don’t know if this is what you want, but I’m going to put it out there anyway.

When I was 15, I used to give my older brother - five and a half years my senior - dating advice. I laugh now because I didn’t have what anyone at all would call “dating” experience at that age. I had other types of experience, but I sure wasn’t talking about that with my brother, and anyway that’s not what this is about.

One time my brother came to me because he wanted very much to ask a particular girl on a date. But like anyone, he was afraid of rejection, and he wanted a little pep talk, a little atta boy-ing. I will never forget our conversation:

“Let’s say you ask her out. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

“She could say no.”

“No. That’s not the worst thing that could happen. The worst thing that could happen is that she could laugh in your face. In front of other people.”

“Oh. Yeah.”

“But chances are, she’s a decent enough person. Chances are, she won’t laugh in your face. Chances are she’ll say either yes or no. No is rejection, and rejection sucks. But it’s not the worst thing you can think of. The worst thing you can think of is rejection in the form of someone laughing in your face - whether alone or in front of other people - and I pretty much guarantee that won’t happen.”

He asked her out.

******************

In case you’re wondering, someone once laughed in my face. It was a long time ago, and you’d think it wouldn’t matter, but when you’re in 6th grade and have just the year before been forcefully rejected by all the girls in your class, it matters. It matters when an 8th grader laughs in your face in front of all the other 8th graders at the junior high dance when you walk up to him and ask, “Will you be my boyfriend?”

I don’t take rejection well. My skin is paper thin and I am sensitive, oh god so sensitive. I too am afraid of those conversations that can turn from calm into crying at the drop of a hat. Rejection is awful. But here are the two biggest things I know about rejection:

1. It’s better to know. To gather up all your courage, your cojones, your pride, and put it out there. Hey, you may not end up getting rejected! But what’s the difference between getting rejected silently or getting rejected directly? At least one way you don’t always sit and wonder, and you can pick up the pieces and move on.

2. It’s highly, highly, highly unlikely they’re going to laugh in your face. Especially not in this situation.

You and I go back a ways on twitter, so besides your love of kittens I do know a few things: You are smart and funny and ballsy in your own very awesome way. I’m sorry about the unemployment situation. It takes a toll on self-worth in a horrible way. But take that smart, funny, ballsy self and find out about that job that should be yours.

Good luck.

I first interviewed for a job at my current place of employment in late September or early October. My first day was January 3. It’s a large healthcare system and the hiring process at the time was interminably slow.

If you feel you did great, you probably did great, but a phone call wouldn’t hurt at all.  I would recommend steering the conversation more towards “checking on the progress” of the whole hiring process because you are “very interested” and want to make sure things are going ok. Also, if they needed any additional materials from you or have any more questions, you’re be happy to provide them.

I would avoid going with the “Why haven’t you hired me?” *sob* approach. It just ends up being awkward for everyone involved.

3:53pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZlJibyPK7Ho
(Notes: 37)
  
  1. aedison said: I have the same problem with phones, and can understand totally. That said — call ‘em! The worst that can happen is nothing will change. Also nuclear war, I guess, but that wouldn’t be as a consequence of your call.
  2. steampoweredmedia reblogged this from ohheygreat and added:
    I first interviewed for a job at my current place of employment in late September or early October. My first day was...
  3. clapifyoulikeme said: We love you and if you come to Albany I will make you cupcakes.
  4. tj said: Thinking good thoughts. Phone calls like that suck, but I hope it goes well.
  5. ohheygreat reblogged this from misseffieb and added:
    don’t know if this is what you want, but I’m going to put it out there anyway. When I was 15, I used to give my older...
  6. eoporto said: Hey! You are awesome and those people would be crazy to hire you. Don’t worry! Everything will be ok. xoxoxo xoxoxox
  7. beigeinside said: Ride the confidence and feeling good about the interview all the way to the phone call. Psych your self up by re-reading that 1st graph (cause you know you rock) adn give them a call.You might even get that writing assignment thing out of it.
  8. timoni said: Being unemployed is so, so stressful, and you’ve been dealing with this for SO LONG. I am really sorry. All I can say is, definitely call! Bug them! It took 3 weeks of solid nagging for me to find out I got my current job.
  9. cssboy reblogged this from misseffieb and added:
    can not emphasize this enough: Calling is good. Good...the job hunt, pretty
  10. stacey727 reblogged this from misseffieb and added:
    If calling is completely not...option, write a letter...mail...
  11. misseffieb posted this