The highs... the lows - but always the reality of "The Job Search," this is your chance to commiserate with a real Job Seeker. Certainly there are statistics about how many are unemployed, underemployed, or have given up looking for a job - but you are about to explore one person's reality.
I missed the deadline.
By 3 hours.
A few years ago, before I had a college degree, I took a job as a secretary. It is now called an "office support specialist." I decided a couple of weeks ago, since I had been without a job for a month, that I would apply for that reconfigured secretarial job.
I passed the test! And a few days later I received a letter letting me know I was in the top three who could interview for the open position.
But when I called HR to let them know I would be glad to interview for that job, they let me know I was three hours late! I got the date right, but hadn't noticed the noon deadline to let them know.
My bad.
But should someone with a college degree apply for jobs that only require a high school diploma? Or does that matter?
On the other hand, two people I worked with in the past told me of a position that was open last week. Actually one of those was a former supervisor. The date "review of applications" began was past, but they both told me they had received emails asking for recommendations of additional names. Is it any wonder that I included them in the "three names of professional references" I was to include with my résumé and cover letter?
This time I missed the date. However, I assume there were not a sufficient number of applications when they began their review.
The second job will be much more challenging, requiring a college degree and taking advantage of my expertise in e-learning. Oh yes, and did I mention the second pays about the same as the first, for half the time?
Wesley Wasmundt graduated from Edinburg High School, earned a B.A. in Liberal Studies, an M.A. through the Individual Option (Interpersonal Communication), and will soon complete a second M.A. in Communication, all from UIS. He has served as a radio broadcaster, retail store manager, bank teller, pastor, writer, secretary, special projects coordinator, and college faculty. You may contact him directly at wesley@mail2www.com.
