No JOB

[allisonswonderland]

Well I just found out i did not get the job I interviewed for...at Disability Support Services - Out of 51 applicants I was one of 3 names submitted to the Board of Trustees after the interviews and they selected someone else. One of my fiance's groomsmen has a dad who is on the board so we will hopefully get some details - the other person who got the job worked at the college as a GED Counselor or something - the problem with the school is they do not alway hire the most qualified people. Last year one of the women I interned under in DSS applied for another coordinator position she had a Masters degree and coordinator exp and they hired a secretary with a bacehlors degree. I will be really upset if she only has a bachelors, because I will feel like why in the heck did I bust my butt in school all of this time?

 

[JennyandMike03]

Sorry to hear that you didn't get the job. Hopefully, you'll get some answers from your friend's dad...

 

[JDMasso]

I am so sorry that you did not get that job. I'm actually looking for employment right now as well, so I can relate. But, I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. Maybe there's a better job in store for you I

 

[cheeks605]

Sorry to hear you did not get the job. I know you were getting pretty pumped for the interview! I'm sure the perfect job just hasn't found you yet!

 

[jojoandhb]

It's not all about the degree. Sometimes the right person for the job has better people skills, their personality is a better fit, or they have something in their background or experience that makes them a better choice than the more educated person. If you go into an interview thinking you have it in the bag because of your degree (or who you know on the board), that comes across in the interview. Companies take everything into consideration, even attitude. It's not just about your answers to their questions, either.
I do not think it is a waste to get your degree. I went back to get another degree. This is my third. It will pay off. I'm sure there are other jobs out there that are great. This just wasn't meant to be.

 

[allisonswonderland]

Thanks for those of you who had nice things to say! I was really hoping to get this - Because I really enjoyed working with the students and I felt like I was doing something good!

Jojo - just so you know - i never would go into an interview acting like I had it in the bag because of anything there were 51 applicants and 30 had masters degress I was just happy to have an interview - I did a year long internship in that office last year along with an academic advisement internship at the same college. I do have the experience and I did connect very well with the students and the people on the interviewing committee knew that because 2 of them worked as my supervisors (in addition to that I was a note taker for a student with cerebal palasy for 18 hrs of course work in my masters program). That does not count the 9 college level courses tha I taught as a graduate asst (I was the instuctor of record) and the 10 years I have spent as a swim coach I am not going to quote my resume- It is just that this school is notorious for hiring people who are not the most qualified and they pass people over all of the time and it is extremely political. I am greatly offended that it would be implied that I would ever walk into an interview thinking I had it in the bag because that is just not me - because I did not even think that my name would be submitted as one of the 3 because there was a question that I was not sure I answered well. I am really disappointed about this and I have been having some hard times at home with some family things - I am really beginning to hate these boards because I just do not know why people have to say things like this - ok so maybe it was not meant to be for me to get this job but couldn't you just say that in a more supportive way? =(

 

[kimnkel]

Alisons, hey, it will be okay. I know how tough it is to swallow that feeling of disappointment and yeah, even that "rejection" feeling that is just about the WORST. It's hard, I won't say it isn't. I am sorry. I just really want to say that I have been where you are, and I can tell you in all honesty that something better comes along. It's like that line from The Sound of Music, where Maria says, "God never closes a door without opening a window."

We always want to go out the door, forgetting that maybe the window will open up on new and better things.

Could the other applicant have been more qualified? Well, sure. And then again, maybe the people that conducted the interview are just morons. Or maybe the winning applicant "knew" someone. (We all know about the "it's not what you know, it's who you know" thing, and we've all been bitten by it) Or maybe....so see? There are so many variables beyond our control.

Promise us you won't beat yourself up, and keep your chin up, girl. There are better days ahead.

PS: I got engaged on 4/26. On 4/30 my DF lost his job; and it wasn't just the normal lay-off thing that happens, oh no, this was the most astounding display of idiocy and backstabbing nincompism I have seen since I attended "Macbeth" at the local college. His ego was severely bruised, even though he knew, intellectually, that he didn't deserve to be fired. (His record was spotless, his work above reproach--but petty politics will trump good sense all too often.) But his ego still was stung. Hey, we are all human.

So, we had some tough relationship moments, but weworked through it, and you know what? He got a job in the same field that pays more, the people that hired him were thrilled he was available and are still amazed the other people let him go, and circumstances evolved that meant I really ended up needing my fiance's help for my move during this time--so it turned out to be for the best.

 

[jojoandhb]

I didn't mean it in a negative way. This is why writing things is so tricky. It sounds one way in my head and another way when someone reads it. I've been in business for a few years. I am also working on my third degree. I have seen people with no degree get hired over someone with a degree. I was just trying to say, badly apprently, that it's not personal. You may be qualified, you may love the job, you may feel like you are the best person for the job, but the HR managers have all different kinds of criteria they use for hiring. It doesn't always seem fair. There are other jobs out there. This one just wasn't meant to be.
From your post, you seemed to have an attitude like the more educated person is the better person. This is simply not true. Those were the only two points I was trying to make.

 

[heatherlynn444]

i'm sorry you didn't get the job. I too am currently looking for employment, and it is a tough place to be! like everyone else is saying, something better will come along andyou will say "man, I'm so glad I didn't get that other job, b/c then I wouldn't have this one!" have faith!

 

[ItGirl753]

Allison,
Just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear that. I am considering changing jobs (or at least location, but not field) and I am so scared to start going through it all again! In my area of the country and my field, it is SOOOOO much WHO you know! That is why I teach in the inner city and not in a better location. :-( One of my "excuses" to stay here is that I know what I can get away with -- taking days off for planning a wedding! It's much easier to do when I already know my principal!!!

I hope something better comes along, for you and me both!

 

[allisonswonderland]

JoJo- no the person that I was refering to who I interned under had experience in the position and a masters degree - and it happened there last year too many times to count and it is based on politics. My post was frustration - saying I hope that she really was more qualified overall and that I did not get bitten by any kind of bug out there. They do not have a HR mgr it is a hiring committee and basicly they interview and submit 3 names to the board and the board votes for whatever reason....to hire the person. WE shall see what happens. Maybe I will just stay away from these boards for a while.

 

[jojoandhb]

Allisonswonderland,
I can see that I am going to misinterpretted no matter what. I know your feelings are hurt, and I have been passed over for jobs. One time the CEO told me to my face he was going to give me a promotion and then promoted a part time receptionist with no education instead! That was not fun, and she was not even remotely qualified. Another time, when I was in college. I had no experience, and had been taking classes for two years. I went on a job interview thinking that I had no chance. To my surprise, I got hired. After I had worked there a while, the owner told me that he had hired me because I lived the closest, had my own car, and didn't have any kids! It had nothing to do with my ability or qualifications. So, I'm just trying to tell you that this is not personal or the end of the world. You could go out there and get an awesome job tomorrow that you would have missed out on had you been hired here. Things happen the way they are supposed to. The reasons you didn't get this job may not be clear now, but in the future, hopefully you will look back on this and see it was for the best.
I do wish you the best. I KNOW something else will come along.

 

[allisonswonderland]

Thanks for trying to clear things up - the problem is that I live in a small area and there are not a whole lot of jobs those kinds of jobs and they do not come open very often. While it is not meant to be , my only other option at this point is working at the mall doing retail at this point...Yuck!we really can not move because my fiance has a job is a partner there and actually where I am moving to live with him - the only retail to work there is Wal-Mart and Lowes - that is the problem. His parents keep harrassing me about working and opening a bridal shop which is too much stress for me withe crazy moms and dresses not coming in on time and I do not want to have to be in there every working weekend it is just added stress! I am sure you are right and something will come along but I am usually not that lucky and honestly this was really my best shot to get a job there...and in an area that I really enjoyed, so that is the reason I am so disappointed!

 

[ItGirl753]

Allison,
Just out of curiosity, what are your degrees in? You may have mentioned it back when you first talked about the job interview...Again, I'm sorry to hear about the job.

 

[allisonswonderland]

I have a BA in psychology and then I spent 43 hours in a marriage and family counseling Masters program before I switched to Social Psychology of Sport (which I loved)so I had almost 2 masters degrees but not 2 completed ones if that makes sense - I hated marriage and family counseling and was upsetting and I had a lot more to go that program was going to be 72 hours because I was planning to get my drug and alcohol certification as well, which those 12 hours are included into the 43 I had taken (the actual major was Educational psychology with the specialization in marriage and family/drug/alcohol)- so I have about well over 70 something masters hours - geez when I say that I spent A LOT of time in school----

 

[Laurafoster]

Im sorry you didnt get the job allison! I know how it feels about there not being any jobs in the area, i was made redundant in May of this year and because i live in the area that had the Buncefield Oil disaster last year we currentlyhave about 3000 people unemployed as a result, so of course 1 job opens up and there are hundreds of applicants! I eventually found a job, and now im really enjoying it.

Fingers crossed that a better opportunity will come your way soon!

 

[kimnkel]

AW: Social psychology of Sport? You mean like you would help athletes gain a better understanding of how to perform at higher levels? Just wondering--I am a "jock" and have had sit downs with "jock shrinks" <lol> before.

Can you find a way into that field full time, since you enjoyed it so much?

I can imagine not liking the marriage counseling thing, but I bet some of the techniques and experiences of that have helped you in your own relationship. Or else scared you to death...ha ha.

Everyone: I am reading "Lies at the Altar--The Secrets to Great Marriages" and really find it worthwhile. Written by a marriage counselor that decided she wanted to try to help people avoid her office...

 

[allisonswonderland]

Yes kind of like a jock shrink - but I am not a psychologist because the program was not in psych is was actually more sociology based - I did have several psych classes and that was my primary focus - but no you really can not find a full time job with that - unless it would be in coaching and while I love coaching my little swimmers in the summer - I can't do that forever! My research interests were looking at mental traing skills and decreasing anxiety in athletes (during perfromance). That is the reason I am looking in academic advisement and was looking at Disability Support Services--- oh well. It will be ok!

 

[kimnkel]

Hey AW! I coached a kiddie swim team also! I love, love, love the little ones! They are so adorable...sigh...but now, the parents...hmm....not always so cute. Putting pressure on the kids to WIN. The kids are 7/8 years old, for pete sakes. Babies! How about if they just learn to swim, and learn to love the water, and enjoy movement? I was all about having fun learning the basics, and some of the parents already saw themselves bragging to their friends about junior's gold medal. I used to feel like going on some of them, sometimes. I guess the parents just wanted to make sure their kids ended up on a shrink's couch, discussing their performance anxiety--IF they stayed in the sport. Sigh.

Oh, definitely you'll be okay. You'll find something. When is the big day? I'm sure you said, but I missed it.

 

[allisonswonderland]

Yes - the parents most of the time are ok , but some of them are terrible. Our team has been very successful we have been undefeated the last 3 seasons - I have been head coach for about the last 7 years and coached that team for 10- we have kids 4-18 - I love it, Iit was also the team that I swam on for 10 yeasr as well so it makes it even more special to be able to give back to a team that was so important to me- the wedding date is November 10.