Last week I blogged about the relief I felt after hearing back from the dean of the sciences division at a local technical college. I filled out the job application form that he had attached for me over the weekend and sent that on its way back to him on Monday.
Ironically, in his e-mail back to me he said something to the effect that he assumed that I was looking only for part-time work. That's a perfectly logical assumption given that when I had originally e-mailed him I absolutely did not mention that I'm about to be job-less. Many postdocs continue their research while getting some teaching experience on the side. However, that's not quite the case with me. And so when I e-mailed him back on Monday I devoted a couple of sentences to explaining my current situation and that while yes, I was searching for part-time work, I would have a completely open schedule and would be happy to discuss full-time work either now or in the future should the need arise. He hasn't e-mailed me back yet, but this isn't horrible. It took him 2 weeks the last time and I really don't expect that the dean of an entire college division has the time to drop everything he's doing to return my e-mails.
I receive alert e-mails from Higher Ed Jobs whenever something new is posted in my area. Imagine my surprise and delight this morning when into my e-mail popped an alert for an advertisement for a full-time life sciences instructor at the particular technical college where I'm trying to get a job. I didn't know what to do. I had an entire dialogue with myself that went something like:
"Oh crap, I just told him I wanted part-time work. But I also mentioned full time, so that's probably ok. Why hasn't he e-mailed me to mention this job? Should I e-mail him about it? But then I'm relying on my personal connection - I should just apply for the job. But if I don't get the full time position, I'd still like to be considered for part-time work. And I should e-mail him, that's what networking is all about. But I don't want to be a pest, I just e-mailed him my application back 2 days ago. They want a cover letter, application, CV and transcripts. He's already got half of that - would I just need to send what he doesn't have?"
Finally I settled on asking our tech and my husband what they thought and we all came to the same conclusion: do both. So I immediately sent an e-mail to my contact mentioning that I had seen this advertisement and wondered if this was something he thought I should apply for. This way I'm utilizing my contact and the networking I've done so that I won't be just another name in the pile and at the same time I was able to demonstrate that I'm not just sitting at my computer waiting for him to get back to me - I'm actively seeking out this opportunities.
And now I'm working on finishing up the official application. My CV and the application are ready to go - I just need to print the application once more to re-sign and date it (how psychic of me to have filled out and signed an application before the job was even advertised). I'll be faxing yet another set of transcript requests this afternoon. The only thing I really need to deal with is the cover letter. Of course I have one from a previous application that I can just re-work to my current need, however, they specifically say in the description that I should gear my cover letter to address how I fit into what they list for qualifications. This is nice in a way, because they mention that 2 years teaching experience is preferred but they only require a Masters. I plan to use my cover letter to explain that my Ph.D. and 1 year of postdoc experience should be considered as extra experience. This is an application that can be e-mailed and so I should have it out this afternoon - tomorrow morning at the latest.
Hopefully, by the time he writes back to me (I'm guessing encouraging me to try for this position) I'll be able to say that I took the chance he'd like me to apply and have already done it. The applications are due on the 24th of this month - so I have to deal with 20 days of potential competition being able to submit their paperwork as well. I feel like this would be a really great first full-time teaching position for me and I'm really optimistic (probably too optimistic - my husband had to tell me to calm down) about my chances, but at the same time I'm having the same doubts that I always have........I don't have enough teaching experience, someone else is going to look a lot better on paper than me. Of course I can't let those feelings stop me. And so off goes this newest application with new optimism. Now, if I can just wait patiently until after the 24th without making my husband and co-workers want to lock my outside........
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