Sunday Open Thread

[lannamichaels]

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Sunday Open Thread! This is a weekly place for open discussion about how things are going right now.

And if you don't have anything going on right now you'd care to talk about, our alternate discussion topic is: What's your biggest frustration with the job hunting process?

Have any suggestions for future open threads or ways to make this comm better? Leave them in comments! :)

And in other 'job hunting resources around here' news: copperbadge hosted a Job Fair in his LJ yesterday and it's still going on. Check it out if that's relevant to your interests!

Comments

[lannamichaels]

Nothing's going on and I feel so frustrated.

Because you have *no control*. Over anything. And it's not like you get detailed feedback, so you're left with no idea why you weren't contacted. Is it because they had a better candidate all along? Or is it because you suck and everything you do is wrong and bad? Is it because you didn't use the right keywords, or is it because you just weren't good enough, or whatever? I feel like this entire process expects me to read minds and I'm sorry, Dave, but I can't do that.

[rymenhild]

I send sympathy and chocolate.

[rymenhild]

I am in academia. I have a job that I am content with. Unfortunately, it's a one-year position and I've just been notified that for funding reasons it probably won't be renewed. Meanwhile, tenure-track job I was shortlisted for continues not to call me, three weeks after the final candidate showed up. I continue to look for other positions that aren't adjuncting at ~$2000/course. (That's below minimum wage.)

So... well. There are a lot of frustrations inherent in this situation. Hello, job hunters. I am one of you.

[amalnahurriyeh]

*fellow academic pours you large alcoholic beverage of your choice*

My post-doc funding runs out this week; I'm in the limbo between the campus visit and the decision for two t-t jobs; my wife is making throat-clearing noises about our financial situation. Yes. Everything you're saying, yes.

[rymenhild]

Oy, I'm sorry. I am also side-eying your postdoc funding for finishing in the middle of the semester. I mean, don't they understand that academic jobs don't start in March?

*passes the chocolate and the last of the Girl Scout cookies*

[atelierlune]

I feel a little bit like

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I feel a little bit like <user="lannamichaels">. I'm trying to get back into it again and I feel like I just can't win. All of the jobs that I receive non-canned responses about are either part time or contract in nature, and I need full-time work. Those are the only kinds of jobs that I've ever had/ever been able to get, and I feel like I'm never going to break the cycle - I'm either looking for anything that I can get, or trying and failing to finally make a wage that will allow me to live independently and self-sufficiently.