All applications for the position you applied for have now been reviewed. I regret to inform you that your application has not been successful on this occasion.Asked whether I'm going to ask why (it's called asking for "feedback"), I replied:
Nevertheless, your time and effort in preparing your application is appreciated by the University. Thank you for your interest in the position and best wishes with your future career prospects.
Well, I could ask.The system sucks. The rules are that if there is a vacancy it must be advertised. Fine. But if you have someone doing the job who is satisfactory surely it must be made OK to fill the position with the "incumbent"? This doesn't affect me so much in my position, but it would be great NOT to have to spend hours on a job application, not to mention stressing about it, and then get nowhere.
But I’m sure the answer will be some derivative of:
“Many eligible applicants, the standard was high...”
Which makes me think “horseshit”.
I’m torn between not giving a shit and crying.
I think psychologically I’m better off not giving a shit.
My Human Remains mate told me the app was good. He’ll be SHOCKED that I didn’t get a new interview, and I have made quite clear to him that I think that the Uni system sucks. Feedback is bullshit, they say anything, and there’s no redress if you feel that there’s been any unfair treatment.
Besides, if you stir the pot they’ll hate you.
Someone I know applied for a secondment. She got the job, a new position which had been created to ease the workload for a school manager. The job was placed at a level 4. The person on the secondment said that her job carried much more responsibility than a level 4 position, so it should be reassessed and increased to a level 5. The position was reassessed with the help of the person on the secondment and graded as a level 5. Now, had the job stayed at a level 4, after the position was confirmed as permanent and all the other changes in the school had been made and adjusted, she would have just been made permanent/continuing in that job. But because it was upgraded it was no longer the job that she applied for so she had to apply again for the job she was doing. She was unsuccessful. Her being 'unimpressed' with this eventualty would be an understatement.
As I said, it's no use kicking up a stink. It just brands you as a trouble maker. God forbid that the uni be accused of bias or giving someone unfavourable treatment, and v-v, so of course you can be sure that noone ever gets favourable (or unfavourable) treatment. Everyone is equal.
At Telecom there was redress. If you felt that you were qualified for the job which was given to someone else, you could challenge it. Sometimes it was found that the challenger was hard done by and they got the job, the person who was displaced would be unattached and they had to be found a job. It didn't happen often because everyone employing someone knew that their paperwork had to be perfect and hold water if it was questioned for favouritism or bias. But I'm sure there were ways around that equity measure, too.
*sigh*
The Human Resources bloke said at the beginning of this adventure "You are definitely employable, you have fantastic experience... " And he had no concerns at all. Well, not until yesterday.
11 comments:
I'm sorry to hear that dude, i truly am.
Don't know what else to say really, except keep smiling or have a couple of drinks.
Sorry to hear about your disappointment. Persevere and all will be good.
Hi Kae,
I have a personal philosophy and amongst my trinkets are beliefs that include: "All change is for the better" "Everything and everyone prospers me now."
I have many more but at times like these I have always found that there will come a day when I can look back and see that everything indeed was for my own good. And in my consulting business over the years I have celebrated when I was unsuccessful in 'winning' a project because I knew that if I had 'won' it, it would not have been worth the 'trouble'.
So cheers to you. Have a drink if it pleases, or watch a movie or whatever relaxes.
All the best.
Hi Kae,
All of the above from me too.
I have never planned my life and have been constantly amazed at how well things turned out, just by going with the flow.
It so often happened that what seemed at first to be a missed opportunity, turned out to be a bullet that I had dodged.
My advice for a good life is to seek long periods of chronic contentment rather than brief moments of acute ecstasy.
Well maybe some advice from an old guy.........
When you see a job advertised ring up the contact person and ask about the job. Tell them your name, but nothing else about you.
Ask what type of person they are looking for. The answer will give you an insight into how to go about your application.
Straight forward answers will also tell you a lot about the job and the organisation, and whether you want to work with them.
If the answers are wishy washy it tells you the contact doesn't know what they are talking about so maybe you may not want to work for them anyway.
Also ask how the position is being filled at the moment.
And if you are unsure ask if it is a genuine vacancy. Tell them you don't want to waste your time if it is not a genuine vacancy. How they respond will tell you more than the actual words they use.
If you feel that the process is all sorted and they already have someone who will get the job and that the process is there to legitimise the current occupant, ask to see if you can visit the workplace to have a bit of a look.
The resultant coughing and spluttering will bring a smile to your face.
Plus it EMPOWERS YOU!
Now, the application.
Go through the ad and write down the essential and desirable qualifications for the job - use these as headings and write what you believe to be your claims for the position on each of these qualifications.
Pay particular attention to terms like "an ability to" as distinct from "demonstrated ability". The first requires an attitude if you like whereas the second requires runs on the board in this area.
Any things on EEO or OH&S must also be addressed.
Make sure you place a covering letter with the application. It doesn't need to be very long except to say that you are applying for the position of "XYZ" and you attach your claim to the position by demonstrating how you meet the essential and desirable qualifications of the job. End the letter with something like "I look forward to discussing my claim for the position at an interview", or something like that.
You need to do it this way to ensure you don't get culled.
Just putting in a resume is OK if that is what they request; but without putting in a claim for the position by showing how you meet the essential and desirable qualifications will often result in a cull.
This process is more important than the interview, in my view. I believe the interview process is all about them looking at you to see how well you will fit in with their team.
You need to practice. Put in for jobs to get experience at writing your application and attending interviews. It gets easier as you do more and when that job comes around that you really want - you are ready!!
Best of luck.
Cav
http://cav.bigblog.com.au/index.do
Thanks for all the good words and advice. I realised a long time ago that it achieves nothing to worry or to get upset about not getting the job you want (any job), because really, someone as low down in the scheme of things as I am really doesn't have any influence, and as I said to the Human Remains person, would I want to work for a team/organisation which doesn't want me?
Cav, you don't know me, but I've been applying for University jobs since 1994, I think I have it down pat. In that situation you look at the duties, see what you've done and assess whether you're suitable for the job. Then you must provide a letter, a CV and a statement addressing the selection critera. It's no picnic, it's time consuming and it's a task that noone likes. And the HR person I'm referring to is supposed to be helping me to get a job in the University as I am a redeployee.
He's getting concerned.
Hey, Cav, have you thought of moving over to Blogger? There's a huge limit... I haven't touched the sides with this blog yet... and it's FREEEEEEEEEE!
(I see your pix and you've had to take some down.)
Kae, Carpe stopped by & mentioned your situation to me. I'd love to pat your hand and say 'there there' but hey, it's gonna hurt for awhile and it will mostly pass.
Other than that, anything I could say was said VERY VERY WELL by SKEETER!
Cousins just got here, must run, love you ALL!!!
I took your advice Kae and set up a new blog here..
http://bloggercav.blogspot.com/
Cav
Ah, great! I'll be right over for a sticky...
You can set it for anyone to post, or just those logged in, or members of your special friends, which is limited to 100.
I frickin' hate it how Universities do that! They often already know exactly who is going to fill the position internally, but are compelled to advertise to go throught the charade of a fair hiring policy. It sucks for those of us who get our hopes up thinking there is a legitimate job going. Not to mention the hours of our life we ain't never getting back putting together an application. (Sorry, thats a double negative, ain't it?).
Keep on trucking! Amongst those Uni jobs that they have already tacitly filled are the ones they really don't have anyone for!
(I recommend stalking for best results. But that might be why I've been compelled to do a third degree to attain employability. Hmmm... On second thoughts. Don't listen to me. :) )
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