Incredibly,
the hire-hunt goes on!
While His Holiness waits patiently in the wings – I've
not at all forgotten my commitment to correct an inexcusable misapprehension
out there – I've been continuing my work and focus on signing up with my next
employer.
For no
clearly understandable – yet nonetheless very intriguing – reason, I've found
before me a good number of open positions at colleges/universities. This began
with an awesome prospect at Mt. St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The
prospect itself fell through, and this was a serious disappointment, since that
particular administrative position (while not spectacularly remunerative) had
as its benefits <deep breath> free tuition at a Catholic
university, with onsite seminary.
That
university itself remains on my short list of schools I hope to apply to as
well for completing my degree, ditto their seminary (Deus volent).
Other
earlier employment prospects, too, have dropped away, but my determination is
rock-solid on 1) reemployment, 2) education completion, and plunging deeper
into 3) professed-religious life. I have to prioritize first on that pesky
matter of employment first, since it makes the second item (and thence the
third) possible.
These past
couple weeks have seen me testing and interviewing for a couple different
positions with a county government not especially far from The Mount. I should
hear on both these prospects early next week; stay tuned, and join me at matins
in the meantime.
Today I
turned in a pair of résumés to a highly accredited secular university, close
both to that county seat, and to Mt. St. Mary's. The level of work for which
I'm looking, and am – pardon any tinge of ego here; it's really not intentional
– qualified, had one of the vice-presidents of that university herself promptly
acknowledge (albeit in a single-word email) receipt of my application. Here's
how I know I'm not being egotistical about aiming high relentlessly: it gives
me the shakes.
The epitome
of these shakes (only before and afterward, dem Gott sei dankbar) came early
this week with my interview at yet another (private) educational institution.
This one, too, I won't name while I'm under consideration. Its location is
rather more removed from The Mount, yet no less wonderfully scenic (except
hilly, where the Emmitsburg terrain is up against the Maryland mountains).
The position
involves direct administrative support of the college provost (who fits
squarely under the college's president on the org chart) and his academics-staff.
Thus the interview was not with him alone, or his executive assistant (which
is, essentially, the position he's looking to fill), or both, but with <further
deep breath> his entire six-person selection committee.
After a
terribly embarrassing delay in arriving (due to a bobble in the directions, and
a bobble in my following them correctly), I was ushered by one of the
administrative/academic people into a boardroom, shown to the head of the
table… and six more people filed in. To break the ice and lower my
pulse, I admitted dizzily to the provost, "I feel like I'm going for
my PhD!" He half-smiled in a very deanlike way and said, "We can't
grant you one of those, but we'll give you two academic credits when you're
done."
About ten
years ago I was interviewed by two people at once – first and only time for me,
for such a tie-tugging honor. Later, after hiring me (almost immediately
following the interview) the two of them told me that it had seemed to them I'd
responded very well, demonstrating a keen skill at thinking fast on my feet. I
appreciated the compliment, especially since I'd actually been seated at the
time.
Being
interviewed by six people at once – seated, standing, or under heavy sedation –
was not three times harder; it was at least nine times harder (three-squared):
half of these people had PhDs. Me, I don't even have my Associate's. Yet.
And you
know, I didn't stammer, I didn't stumble, and I sweated only where they
couldn't see it. I looked them each mostly in the eye, and answered their
questions – many quite standard for an executive-level administrative position.
I laid out for them why I was interested in their institution (I'd researched
it some before leaving for the interview: sine qua non!), what my work habits
were, how I would go about working with them should they hire me, and so on.
I'd already furnished them with my résumé and references – a single page each,
even though this is no longer de rigueur.
(I wish my
dad were still around; he lived and breathed University for forty-some years –
he'd have been impressed, supportive, and loaded me with tons of advice.)
I met with
the provost afterward, in his office; I recognized two of his posters as being
Roman works… and then misidentified them as of Pompeian-Roman, rather than
Egyptian-Roman. He discussed the position further with me, and I discussed his
interviewee further with him. But he was overdue for another meeting, and we
had to cut this short. Being weak on my Greek, I did quote a line from Caesar
on the way out, and earned another half-smile.
Following
this, I took time to view the college (set on the grounds of a former
Protestant (?!) seminary) with one of my non-doctoral interviewers (she's been
my liaison with the selection committee, and with the provost). We get/got
along well, a relationship I did not mar – I think – when I nearly choked to
death on my water while we stood there looking over the quadrangle.
We'll see
how this one turns out, and I'll let you folks know. The distance is a bit of a
stretch (though the drive as beautiful as one can find in the
Pennsylvania/Maryland area in the autumn), and the salary would be a third less
than at least one other just-interviewed spot. Nonetheless, I remain quite
interested, and have not ruled it out.
Interviewees:
do it by the book. When you've interviewed (and recovered… and don't take long
about it!), be sure to send a thank-you letter. Sure, you can do it by email
today. But don't. For me, I felt the provost and his team deserved the added
courtesy/consideration because of the demand it must have been on them to
coordinate their schedules around the interview, and to bend further around my <coff> arriving
late.
So the next
day – Wednesday – I spent more time sweating over my thank-you letter to the
provost than I had spent sweating in his boardroom. But this was for the same
reason: I wanted this to turn out well. Following is the text
(within reason) of my thank-you letter. Yeah; I can do this.
[name, address, cell-phone number, email
address]
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
[provost's name, title, office address]
Dear Dr. [provost]:
I would like to thank you for the time you and members of
the [name] College [committee name] staff took to meet with me regarding the [formal title] position with [his
institution]. In particular, I deeply appreciate your time and
consideration, and that of your staff, in readily accommodating my delayed
arrival to interview for this position.
Having spoken with you and your colleagues, and presented
you with responses I hope to have been reasonably sufficient and illuminative
toward your filling the position, I remain firm in my assessment that I am an
excellent candidate – even absent prior academic experience.
Beyond my technical and professional strengths, and the
breadth of experience I would bring to this position, I know that my positive
manner and personal commitment to providing exceptional support – and to
individual growth and development – are keen assurance that I would be able to
step in facilely.
Thus I am most interested in working for you and the [department] Division. I look forward to hearing from [my liaison] once the decision has been made regarding this
position. Do please feel free to contact me at any time if further
information might be needed. My cell phone number is [etc.].
Thank you again for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[AgingChild]
The next day
– yesterday – I wrote, printed, signed, and mailed thank-you letters to each of
the other five interviewers, basing them somewhat on the above. My
liaison/interviewer had given me the full names and titles of the other interviewers,
and I double-checked online as well for middle initials, PhD status, and so on,
to make sure I'd address their letters and envelopes completely and correctly…
making darned sure I didn't put the right letter in the wrong envelope,
either.
Again, this
is good manners, professional courtesy, and a further opportunity to show that
I can write in business/academic English, and print out
professionally-prepared (by me) envelopes for mailout when
needed/requested. You try it.
Worst-case
scenario is that these folks do not hire me. I can accept that, because I've
now had it confirmed for me, again, that if they would take the time and
interest to give me a good second look for a good position, then other
potential hirers will do the same.
Added
tremendous bonus: this has been great practice, regardless… and I've even
developed for myself a great thank-you letter template.
And so,
what's next, while I wait for word on all of the above positions? Well, there
happens to be yet another educational institution that can use what I
have to offer.
Within a
couple hours or so of Baltimore and Washington, DC, are at least two very good
schools for the deaf. And this one is looking for an Executive Assistant. In
their posting for this open position (with a salary substantially higher than
anything else I've applied for), I have all the skills and requirements listed.
I am also an easy study in languages… and this particular institution requires
as well that their new hire be willing to learn (American) Sign Language.
Dealbreaker?
Not on your life. I learned the ASL alphabet almost thirty years ago, I can spell
out without difficulty, read a wee little bit of signing… and would not
hesitate to learn more. I have a (non-deaf) friend who teaches it, too. You
kidding??
Time to fill
out another application; this is going to be fun, and another great challenge.
