Wednesday 1 September 2010

A Compliment Letter

An e-mail popped into my inbox yesterday morning.

I had been expecting it, so my first post-interview rejection letter wasn't really a surprise. Skills and ambitions aside, I had secretly and not-so-secretly been hoping that the interviewers across the coffee table last Wednesday would choose another candidate. Let's be honest, not the ideal response to have when going for a job. Although my enthusiasm had peaked in the moments before and during the interview, a day, even hours later, it was on the wane.

I didn't want to work for free for three months. I didn't want to be not earning money up until Christmas. I didn't want to embark on yet another period of unpaid work, when no position was to become available at the end. I didn't want to work for a company - no matter how prestigious - that hires interns because it can't afford to take on paid staff. What's more, I didn't want to put the work in, only for someone else to come along 3 months later and pick up where I left off.

But for twenty minutes, I pretended I did.

On Saturday, I'll be 26 years old. This makes me see rejection and the words we were really impressed with your passion and knowledge in the area, particularly in travel writing and I'm sure you will find a paid job in no time, as a compliment rather than a statement of failure.

Why look at the dark side? Parakeets are the new pidgeons. Clouds are the new summer. So by that logic, rejection is the new compliment.

Fact.

7 comments:

Robbie said...

I hate going for interviews thinking "I really hope I don't get this job."

Good luck on the rejection.

Anonymous said...

There are a lot of parakeets living in the woodlands around this office.

Not seen any pigeons in a while.

Hope something better - and paid! - comes along soon x

Please Don't Eat With Your Mouth Open said...

Robbie - Same. Being turned down for a job is easier than turning down a job in some ways. Well, if the job's unpaid, anyway. Ha!

Soup- Our garden is full of parakeets at the moment. Quite like the little scamps. And thanks, I'm sure it will. And my parents hope it will too.

The Unbearable Banishment said...

26?! Is that all?! Braggart.

nuttycow said...

Fact.

Onwards and upwards :)

Please Don't Eat With Your Mouth Open said...

Unbearable - Old woman status according to the (even younger) Boy.

Nutty - Up up and awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

London Lass Blog said...

Aww .. commiserations Jo (or should that be congratulations as you were also hoping not to get it .. I am confused). Anyhow, I think it's nice they dropped you a personal note back following your interview (even if to say they cant take you on). And I'd take their comment as a compliment too.

PS : I love pigeons. Especially pigeon pie.

 

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