1 day ago
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Congratulations, jerk
I never knew or particularly cared who else applied for the job I currently have. It may have been interesting to know at the time I was interviewing to see who I was up against, but after I got the offer there wasn't much reason to care who hadn't gotten the job. However, just because those who were interviewed remain anonymous to me, any one of them could look and see who ended up with the position. Over this summer I have twice seen a reaction to my affiliation that made it pretty clear (along with the individual's research) that the person I was talking to had at least applied, if not interviewed for, my job. I guess that's bound to happen and I'm not sure how I would react in the same situation, but the hollow congratulations through gritted teeth still take me off guard.
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So you never checked the department's seminar series to see who the invited speakers were at the time of your interview? Nowadays all seminars get posted on line so you really need to NOT want to know not to find out...
ReplyDeleteCome on. Of corse I did. They didn't put it on the web. I may have had a few of the seminar advertisements sent to me by sources. But I've long since forgotten that information.
ReplyDeleteFuck those losers. AHAHAHAHAH!
ReplyDeleteSee, I'm lucky because I was an additional hire, they didn't hire me for the position to which I applied but created another position for me because I was just that awesome even though I didn't fit the advertisement. LOL.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, it means nobody looks at me and the advertisement and thinks "So that's the person who tooks mah jerb."
Ha! My job (grant wrangler) attracted LOTS of applications from local postdocs who wanted a way out of the lab and/or to stay in Vancouver. My two years of industry experience after my postdoc helped me stand out, and I got the job. I've since met, oh, about 8 people who've told me outright "I applied for that job", and 1 who said "wow, you're that person? My friend sent me the ad, but I would never have applied for that job".
ReplyDeleteAlways awkward.
I have gotten this a few times, it was really awkward. Basically, people just can't figure out why I got the job over them. Vaguely insulting, but fuck em, I am here and I will succeed.
ReplyDeleteMy postdoc mentor went and gave a talk somewhere where a 'non-job getter' was a post-doc. The PI's there told him that they were pissed their person didn't get the job. double awkward.
I had the awakwardness of being the first interviewee, flying back on Friday, being offered the job on Monday, telling my office mates the happy news and then discovering that a guy down the hall was supposed to fly out on Wednesday to interview for the same job. Oops.
ReplyDeleteFuck 'em, you won the competition for the faculty position by ostensibly bringing more to the table than they did. That's the American way. This is science, it ain't no damn ice cream social!
ReplyDeleteWow to both Anons. That's some awkward shit. I don't particularly care if the other candidates are upset, because I didn't make the decision. I think it would be more awkward to meet up with a former candidate if you had been on the search committee.
ReplyDeleteWell, Prof-like, it must have been a desirable job and kudos to you for getting it!
ReplyDeleteBut any type of hollow congratulations do suck.
Interesting mate. I'm in the "fuck 'em" camp, but these are still people with whom you might collaborate in future years, especially if your sub-field is a limited as you make out.
ReplyDeleteGotta be tough. My ex-mentor applied for his Pi position back in 03/04 when times were tough. he said for tywo years there was a group of postdocs who knew each other who were flying all over the country interviweing for the same dwindling pool of positions. Month after month you'd see your tier-options dwindling...
How about meeting someone from a nearby institution DURING YOUR INTERVIEW who applied for the same position, didn't merit an interview, but got put on the schedule to meet the candidates?
ReplyDeleteI've met plenty of people who beat me out and I never thought it was a big deal. But maybe that's because I did manage to get one offer.
Being in the position of trying to get a jorb is difficult from all sides -- you didn't make the first cut, you did but then no interview, you got the interview now you gotta kick ass, you kicked ass now you wait, you get the job and now you negotiate, you accept and now you hear the back-handed compliments about it not being a great position and/or the seethe of peeps trying to figure out why you are so hot....there ain't no easy way to get through it. You get a job? Rock on, you have an income and are now in a position to help others attain gainful employment. I'm glad as all hell to be off the market for now.
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