I don't know how I missed it, but job hunting is hard work! I have been very fortunate in the past. Jobs just sort of fell in my lap at the right time. And now that I have found what I want to spend the rest of my life doing (music therapy), finished my class work, completed my internship (got glowing evaluations and loved every minute!), I am a little surprised by the fact that I am still unemployed. I have sent out countless resumes (hard copy and electronic), applied for so many jobs I have lost count, and had three interviews and three rejections. The last job I interviewed for I really wanted. So not getting that one was a big disappointment. Of course, my mom needed me at home with her the past couple of months as she recovered from two hip surgeries. But she is much better, and I am ready to go to work! I keep asking myself what I am doing wrong in this job search thing. I have learned a few things in this process. If you have a job interview in Atlanta, it is very easy to get lost, especially if you get off at the wrong exit on the wrong expressway. This might just make you late to your interview! This will fluster and frazzle you, causing you to do embarassing things like trip over your own purse and drop all your stuff, among other gaffs. I have also learned a little about the interviewing and hiring process, and what I would do if I ever have the responsibility of interviewing and hiring potential employees.
The first thing I would do sounds like a no-brainer: do what I say I am going to do. If I tell an applicant that I will take the weekend to review all the applicants, look over their resumes, and check out their references, then I will. I resolve to weigh the experience and interview of each applicant, talk to people who know them intimately, and those they have worked with. I promise not to make up my mind until I have interviewed all the applicants. I will seriously consider each candidate. Even if there is one who stands out, I will consider just as seriously every qualified person I interview. In other words, I won't go through the motions and write someone off simply because I have already made up my mind.
If I ever ask an independent panel to interview all applicants and select two or three for a second interview, then I will interview all of those applicants. I promise I will never completely throw out the suggestions of the panel to hire my friend's kid. I will not change my mind and deny those selected for call backs their second interview because I interviewed the first one, and out of laziness or whatever, go with number one because he isn't a convicted felon, and I just don't feel like interviewing numbers two and three. And lastly, if I receive a resume from an applicant after telling that person I will look over that resume and call them back, I will do it, even if I decide this isn't the person I want to hire.
Actually, I hope that I never have to do hiring and firing. I went into music therapy because I feel God called me to use my musical gifts to help others. And since I believe he is faithful and will grant me the desires of my heart, that I will be doing just that in the near future.
Yours, Fannie Ryan