It’s been a while since I posted because I spent most of the month of January prepping for a single job posting. That’s right. Just one!
January proved to be a drought month in regards to leads for jobs in my field. On January 3, I discovered a single posting for a job where I felt I was a perfect fit. The posting needed a teacher, preferably with a Masters degree, to teach social studies at the high school level to an urban population of students and experience with closing the achievement gap. Considering I had all these qualifications neatly bulleted in my résumé and could give personal examples until I was blue in the face, I thought I had it in the bag.
After two informational sessions to gain background information on the job, one full application, three formal interviews, one essay test, a demonstration lesson, and an informal interview with students, I completed the interview process to receive my rejection email on January 28th.
Here are the five steps I took to get over the rejection.
- Prepare for rejection: The job was very competitive, so I knew there was a definite chance of rejection, but the interviews went so well I was still surprised when it happened. I used my optimism to my advantage and made a positive things I learned and suggestions that were made at each step of the interview process. I had my collection of movies that make me laugh on stand-by and some activities planned for the week I would get the acceptance/rejection letter.
- Prepare a “Thank You” letter ahead of time: After the last interview session as I was waiting for the acceptance/rejection I went straight home and wrote “thank you” letter drafts to all the individuals who needed one. It is much easier to write a genuine thank you went you aren’t licking your wounds after the job rejection and feeling sad or upset.
- Take time to relax: I did a massive amount of research and work to pull together the materials for each stage of m interview process. Notebooks and reference guides for teaching were strewn haphazardly around the office. After the rejection, I took the time to go treat myself a little. For me this meant, cleaning the office, taking some time to catch up on my favorite TV shows I had missed during the month of January, and getting some support from friends.
- Plan for next time: After an evening of watching missed TV show episodes, I took the time to go over my notes again and see what my strengths and weaknesses were during the entire interview process. I will be that much more prepared the next time I interview.
- Don’t allow rejection to stifle the job search process: Despite the fact that I hadn’t received a rejection letter at the time, I was looking for new job leads that were starting to pop up for the month of February the day after my last interview. I’d rather have an application that is ready to go in case I receive a rejection. In this way I was able to keep working without allowing rejection to take me down. In doing this I was able to set up two informal interviews for the month of February.
In the end, dealing with job rejection is a matter of preparation and approach. Keeping confident in your own abilities and skills, remembering that job searching is a process, and being prepared will help keep you going in spite of any rejection letters.
Spring Cleaning My Life
You may not have to clean everything out, but what do you have to "Spring Clean" from your life?
I never really understood the phrase, “Spring Cleaning” until I had to move myself across state borders once (in Spring) and now I am cleaning for my life together with The Fiancée once we get married and join two apartments worth of stuff. A lot of physical cleaning has taken place like my recycling 8 garbage bags worth of shredded paper or the closet full of old clothes that I donated. I have also come to realize how much “Spring Cleaning” has had to take place in my life, as well.
Here are some of the things I have done to “Spring Clean” my life and help fulfill the expectations I set up for 2012:
1. Clean out anger, jealousy, self-doubt, and other negative emotions: I’m not saying I don’t allow myself to feel these things, but I am more mindful of my emotions. I find that this mindfulness has helped me to be more happy.
2. Clear away projects as soon as you can: I have been making sure not to procrastinate on the big projects that come my way. Whether it is lesson planning, syllabus creating, or filling out job applications, I have been creating calendars to get everything completed in a timely manner. With an upcoming wedding to finish planning and job interviews this step has proven very important in keeping me sane.
3. Sort through relationship baggage: This can be related to any of your relationships- friends, family, coworkers, etc… Maybe you have people in your life who are not supportive, negative, or generally bring you down. Have you been doing the same to other people? You may or may not like the answers you get when you are honest with yourself. Whatever the case may be, I have been working towards spending time in those relationships that bring me joy, energize me, and that are reciprocal. I may not be able to spend as much time as I would like in some of my relationships due to time, distance, or the crazy dance that is life, but I have made a commitment to have a better quality in my relationships.
Spring cleaning my life has proven to be positive for me so far and has allowed me greater clarity into myself and others. Perhaps, you could use some Spring cleaning in your life?
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Posted in Blog, Lifestyles, Personal, Photography, Psychology
Tagged Blog, Change, Cleaning, Current Events, Health, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyles, Mental Health, Personal, Relationship, Review Commentary, Self Knowledge, Self-Help, Spring cleaning