No dogs allowed -- You're not our crowd

[austin_dern]

I know these days I should expect letters of rejection like this absolutely true example:
We would like to thank you for your application for the position of assistant professor of Mathematics at the College of ---. We regret to inform you that an other candidate has been selected. Your credentials were impressive, and I am confident that you will succeed in your job search. I wish you the best of luck in Math and all other endeavours. On behalf of the search committee, sincerely,

I just would feel more comfortable about it if it weren't addressed ``Dear ${Fullname}''.

There was also the community college which, on top of the CV and American Mathematical Society cover sheet, and the statements of teaching philosophy and research interests that are good for all the big grown-up universities I've encountered, wants me to fill out their own little custom online application including questions like ``Why do you want to teach at the community college level, and why have you chosen apply specifically to --- Community College?'' and ``What skills do you believe are essential for success as a community college instructor?'' Oh, and all the documents already submitted (electronically) will not be considered; I have to re-submit them all (electronically) again. I honestly don't want to sound like a snob coming off a university-position high horse, and I value that education is important and everyone is deserving of as much as they want to try, but come on. This is a nine-month non-tenure-track instructor position at a community college. My motivation to go there would be that it's better than watching Dad sighing at Dr Phil and I'm specifically qualified because I'm a warm body that knows which end of the quadratic formula is loaded.

I had one other job application I'd sent out come back with the note that they're really looking for more pedagogy background than I actually have. That's an easier rejection to take, since I had to admit going in that I wasn't really qualified for that particular job, but it's better making them say it.

Trivia: The word ``workaholic'' was coined by Wayne Oates in 1968, and was popularized in Confessions of a Workaholic which he published in 1971. Source: Webster's Dictionary of Word Origins, Merriam-Webster.

Currently Reading: Asimov's Science Fiction, February 2007, Sheila Williams, Editor.

Comments

[xolo.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't want to sound like a snob coming off a university-position high horse, and I value that education is important and everyone is deserving of as much as they want to try, but come on. This is a nine-month non-tenure-track instructor position at a community college. My motivation to go there would be that it's better than watching Dad sighing at Dr Phil and I'm specifically qualified because I'm a warm body that knows which end of the quadratic formula is loaded.

You might try that for an answer. I've had to hire people before (chemists and lab assistants) and it's refreshing to have someone who'll give you an honest answer. Most of what's put on applications and said in interviews is high-sounding BS.

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

I might just; the community colleges are just being so obnoxious about their applications. In this case the community is also one so far away from my home and other schools I'm looking seriously at that even if some grim, humorless soul decides I'm an arrogant twit I'm not likely to encounter him or her ever again. (On the other hand, that person would certainly remember my name.)

[bunny-hugger.livejournal.com]

That looks exactly like all the rejection letters I get, when I get them. 75% of schools don't respond at all. Even the schools that I did conference interviews with didn't bother sending a rejection to let me know I was out of the running.

I hate applying to community colleges precisely because they always have long application forms, often including irrelevant stuff. They can't just let you send your dossier like you do with all the other schools -- as though doing a job search weren't already time-consuming enough. Ooh, it drives me crazy.

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

Well, I did get another rejection today, so at least that's hearing something. Not what I want, but, something.

I'm strangely relieved to learn that community colleges are such prima donnas for other departments, too. It must be something about the lack of prestige in the position that makes the community college search committees set up all these extra hoops to compensate. There was one community college that wanted me to put into their awful web form all the courses I had taken in my undergraduate and graduate career, an then, if they deigned to interview me, would accept an informal transcript. Sheesh.

Let's trade places!

[reptilemammal.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear your job hunt has been as hard as mine. Did you ever finish out the forms here for SMCC. It would be nice to have you, nonetheless I am not sure if we can really help you in anyway.

Nonetheless you're on the move and getting started, remember there might be other opportunities out there beside Math professor if you get too much grief. You might be able to find a corporate job using your skills, statistics and others if you want to risk it.

Yeah but I despise rejection letters that say garbage, why waste the paper I think I'd rather receive a call that says I am afraid you didn't make it. Thank you, come again.

Any best wishes to your continual search!

Re: Let's trade places!

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

I want to avoid naming specific employers since, you know, there is the wild chance someone might recognize themselves (it's why I'm also trying to make a hash of my actual name too). But, yes, I did finish the forms for the school you named, and I haven't heard anything from them since.

It's entirely possible I may find a corporate job, temporarily or permanently, but what I really want is to be paid for playing Victoria and writing my Livejournal.