Hopes Not Should Being Too High
Yeah, I know the title to this entry is grammatically-incorrect. I'm almost-a-doctor, though, so I am still smart. Anyone else who tries to use poor grammar may not be able to say the same thing. Rock on for me! :)
So, a few weeks ago I got a call from Ithaca College, asking if I would be interested in a phone interview two days later. YES, yes I would, but slight problem....clients cannot exactly just stop being depressed for my interview time, and there was no time to really reschedule them. Fortunately, Ithaca's counseling center seems to understand and appreciate people who are responsive to clients' needs. Yeah, go figure, right?
Anyhow, I had the interview on March 31st (I remember this date because we went back and forth trying to find a time that worked for everyone on their selection committee). A half hour of answering questions from disembodied voices using a speakerphone. For those of you who have never had this experience, let me tell you that it is different from both sides of the line. I have interviewed prospective interns for my current site, and I know from personal experience there that interviewers (b/c I and my co-workers did it) can either be enthralled by what the person is saying, or they can be rolling their eyes and stifling laughter when an answer is absurd or the person will just not stop elaborating (this is especially the case when they are elaborating on something that is wrong to begin with!). As an interviewee, I not only had these images in my head, but also could not tell from their body language when they were satisfied with my answers.
And, of course, I thought of much better answers to their questions as soon as I hung up the phone.
I did not think the interview went very well. Not that it went badly, but I did not feel it was anything stellarly-impressively-"hey-let's-try-to-hire-this-guy-for-a-job"-illy great. Apparently, the interviewers disagreed, because they called me last week to invite me to come for an in-person interview at Ithaca College.
And did I mention that they liked me enough to pay for everything, including meals, flight, and hotel for two nights? Flight and hotel alone are about $800. They might also get me a rental car if they cannot pick me up and drop me off at the airport/hotel. This means that they really, REALLY must have liked me!
My itinerary will be that they fly me in and take me out to dinner with some of the college's big-wigs on the first day, then have me interview from 7:30am until 5:30pm the next day before flying out on the third day. Yes, 9 hours of interviewing on the second day. I worry that I do not have 9 hours of impressive-brilliance in me! Granted, some of it will be relaxing and eating, and I do have to do one hour of case presentation....but still!
This interview is not only about whether I am a good psychologist, but also about my personality and whether they would want me to work in their office for the next 15 years. People seem to like me, and I do know how to answer questions about myself and my professional work/interests, so I imagine I will be fine. Plus, meeting with different people throughout the day means that there will probably be a lot of repetition in what I say.
As for the fancy meal the night before, I am realizing that it will be like I am a single woman on a first date - I will have to make sure I don't order anything too expensive, too messy, or too plentiful that I cannot speak b/c my mouth is full. I also probably should not order that jug of wine or bet the waiter than I can't eat three lobsters.....
So, as the title to this entry might imply (smartly written poorly as it is), I am trying not to get my hopes up too high about this interview. Yes, I really REALLY want the job, but I don't want to look into the area or cost of living too much and make it so important to me that I risk being very let down if I don't get it. Also, getting too invested in the possibility of this job could cause me to make mistakes during the interview if I am too nervous or else too confident. I am trying to be more blase' about it all, while still maintaining enthusiasm.
But the job at Ithaca College is not just fantastic in its own right, but it is also WAY better than working at Shop-Rite! :)
So, a few weeks ago I got a call from Ithaca College, asking if I would be interested in a phone interview two days later. YES, yes I would, but slight problem....clients cannot exactly just stop being depressed for my interview time, and there was no time to really reschedule them. Fortunately, Ithaca's counseling center seems to understand and appreciate people who are responsive to clients' needs. Yeah, go figure, right?
Anyhow, I had the interview on March 31st (I remember this date because we went back and forth trying to find a time that worked for everyone on their selection committee). A half hour of answering questions from disembodied voices using a speakerphone. For those of you who have never had this experience, let me tell you that it is different from both sides of the line. I have interviewed prospective interns for my current site, and I know from personal experience there that interviewers (b/c I and my co-workers did it) can either be enthralled by what the person is saying, or they can be rolling their eyes and stifling laughter when an answer is absurd or the person will just not stop elaborating (this is especially the case when they are elaborating on something that is wrong to begin with!). As an interviewee, I not only had these images in my head, but also could not tell from their body language when they were satisfied with my answers.
And, of course, I thought of much better answers to their questions as soon as I hung up the phone.
I did not think the interview went very well. Not that it went badly, but I did not feel it was anything stellarly-impressively-"hey-let's-try-to-hire-this-guy-for-a-job"-illy great. Apparently, the interviewers disagreed, because they called me last week to invite me to come for an in-person interview at Ithaca College.
And did I mention that they liked me enough to pay for everything, including meals, flight, and hotel for two nights? Flight and hotel alone are about $800. They might also get me a rental car if they cannot pick me up and drop me off at the airport/hotel. This means that they really, REALLY must have liked me!
My itinerary will be that they fly me in and take me out to dinner with some of the college's big-wigs on the first day, then have me interview from 7:30am until 5:30pm the next day before flying out on the third day. Yes, 9 hours of interviewing on the second day. I worry that I do not have 9 hours of impressive-brilliance in me! Granted, some of it will be relaxing and eating, and I do have to do one hour of case presentation....but still!
This interview is not only about whether I am a good psychologist, but also about my personality and whether they would want me to work in their office for the next 15 years. People seem to like me, and I do know how to answer questions about myself and my professional work/interests, so I imagine I will be fine. Plus, meeting with different people throughout the day means that there will probably be a lot of repetition in what I say.
As for the fancy meal the night before, I am realizing that it will be like I am a single woman on a first date - I will have to make sure I don't order anything too expensive, too messy, or too plentiful that I cannot speak b/c my mouth is full. I also probably should not order that jug of wine or bet the waiter than I can't eat three lobsters.....
So, as the title to this entry might imply (smartly written poorly as it is), I am trying not to get my hopes up too high about this interview. Yes, I really REALLY want the job, but I don't want to look into the area or cost of living too much and make it so important to me that I risk being very let down if I don't get it. Also, getting too invested in the possibility of this job could cause me to make mistakes during the interview if I am too nervous or else too confident. I am trying to be more blase' about it all, while still maintaining enthusiasm.
But the job at Ithaca College is not just fantastic in its own right, but it is also WAY better than working at Shop-Rite! :)
posted by CMA @ 6:50 PM
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