Good job, Indigo. Now, what I think that you should do next is
sign up with the CAAH listserv out of Princeton U. and send the same
message! It is sad to see that the museum world is apparently taking on
some of the characteristics of the studio art and art history worlds.

        Adrienne DeAngelis
        [log in to unmask]


On Tue, 10 Sep 2002, Indigo Nights wrote:

> I'm going to act as the messenger here and pass along
> a request from some of those who are very qualified,
> have interviewed, and have yet to hear one way or
> another if they are the selected candidate.
>
> I'm confident there are countless horror stories about
> "the candidate from hell" who didn't show up as
> scheduled for an interview or made some other faux
> pas.  As a point of fact, I'd be happy to protect the
> writer and convey the message to those who are
> earnestly "studying and searching" for a job if you
> want to pass along things they should know.  Knowing
> where the pitfalls are can truly help them because,
> I'm afraid, they don't teach you a lot of real-world
> skills--like job searching and interviewing--in
> school.
>
> But the collective wisdom of many frustrated job
> seekers is that the applications they send out fall
> off into the miasma, and they frequently do not hear
> if their application has been accepted or acted upon.
>
> More importantly, those who have interviewed are not
> being told they are not the selected candidate--even
> after multiple interview.  We've talked about the
> importance of good manners in the hiring process, how
> it's important to send a "thank you note" if you are
> able to get interviewed.
>
> However, good manners goes both ways.  I realize that,
> in the days of on-line applications, the number of
> candidates may seem overwhelming; nonetheless, they
> are human beings who have expressed an earnest desire
> to become a part of your organization, and they
> deserve to know whether they have a hope and a prayer
> of being hired (at this point).
>
> They tell me they'd like to know if they made mistakes
> in the interviewing process.  What are those things
> that were perceived as weaknesses that they can work
> at to improve themselves?  They know they have to
> knock on many doors (I was going to say "kiss many
> frogs," but that reminds me too much of a corporate
> note I read last week that said, "we're going to eat
> our own dog food"--yuck!) to reach success.
>
> These folks are truly making an effort to prepare
> themselves for the job market.  They would very much
> appreciate it if you would please contact them IN A
> TIMELY FASHION, by phone or by mail (e- or snail),
> when a hiring decision has been made.
>
> They may have left you thinking they had a chance, and
> they really wanted to work for and with you.  They may
> be forgoing other opportunities thinking you might
> have a place for them.
>
> To me, it's simply a case of good manners, common
> courtesy.  But I will tell you that having to write to
> those not chosen is time consuming (I had cause to
> write to over 200 not interviewed/selected in a recent
> assignment, so I know what it takes), and it can be
> expensive if not done right.  Email rejection letters
> are still better than that feeling of not knowing
> anything.  In fact, I believe that email address
> should become a part of any application form you
> offer.
>
> Please don't shoot me.  I welcome your inputs on this
> matter, and I'd be happy to express to the 450 with
> whom I communicate daily what issues you have seen (no
> names please) that have been problematic in the
> interview process, but it's too warm to put on the
> kevlar, so please be cool about it.
>
> Many thanks.
>
> P.S.  By bcc I am conveying to those who expressed
> concern that the issue has been raised, and I'll will
> forward critical issues for later discussion.
>
>
> =====
> Indigo Nights
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Looking for a Job?  Try Got Links?, Your One-Stop Portal
> http://victorian.fortunecity.com/stanmer/414
>
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