Liz's Field Notes
Hi there~
Since the place where I normally chat about things (the beloved feed) is gone, I suppose a thread will have to do. You can reply here if you want to unless I specify not to on a particular post. ^^
Post #1 -- Tell Me What You Really Mean!
So the other day I spent a lot of time at the library finishing up a job application (writing a cover letter and checking over my resume) for a job posting that I felt fairly well qualified for. It was a natural history biologist assistant where both current students and recent graduates were encouraged to apply. So I send in the materials. A couple days later I get an email back from the recruiter saying that the job required "a bit more management experience" and in-depth knowledge of particular species. The knowledge of species part I get, but what really irritated me was the fact that the job description/qualification didn't even call for [wildlife] management experience! Nowhere in the description was that word mentioned. And yet here I am getting an email basically saying that they won't even consider me.
I just wish that job recruiters wouldn't do this. If they need an applicant to have particular skills, they need to list them clearly! I would not have even applied to that job if I knew I needed more wildlife management experience, so I basically just wasted my time preparing my materials. Not sure if I should even bother applying to their other positions if they're not going to have the decency to clearly outline what they're really needing in an applicant.
Could I be overreacting a tad? Perhaps, but dammit I'm still annoyed!
@mimameid That kind of thing has happened to me too. I later realized that the recruiter's performance is partly measured by the number of applications received. So if they can trick more people into applying for positions they are completely unsuited for, they do.
Managers trying to recruit specialists also find it frustrating. They prepare an accurate job description and send it off to the recruiter, and then they discover that the recruiter deleted the specific and important parts. This attracts a swarm of unsuitable candidates, while the specialists out there see nothing of interest and don't apply. The recruiter wins again when the position has to be re-advertised.
Charlie
@RarelyCharlie
Ah, I didn't know that can happen with recruiters. That's really sneaky of them.
I guess all I can really do is try my best and see where it gets me ;)
Post #2: Reconnecting
So there is this guy that I recently reconnected with who I haven't spoken to in about two years. He worked at the same place that I worked at, and he did actually ask me out at one point while I was there. I ended up rejecting him because I was interested in someone else at the time.
Reconnecting has been nice. We have just begun texting, but since I'm so awkward and actually have a hard time expressing myself through text messages, I've been overthinking how much I should actually text him, you know? I know it's just friendly texting...but the last two times I've texted him it's been ME who's initiating the conversation. He doesn't seem bothered so far when I've reached out and our conversations have gone for quite a long while, but I'm going to be slow at this because I don't want him thinking that I'm expecting anything other than friendship (I'm not even though it would be nice). It's been four days since we last texted each other. He did say he's had a lot going on, so I need to consider that too.
I guess I'm just mostly afraid that he would get bored of me and not want to talk to me anymore. I really want to get to know him more on a friendship level...but I don't want to be overly enthusiastic you know? What I really would like is if we meet in person. I've always been better at talking to people face to face because looking at the other person's immediate responses gives me better confidence, especially if it's between peers.
Also, he hasn't brought up my rejection of him yet. Perhaps he doesn't remember it or perhaps he's deliberately not bringing it up. Either way, I've liked the conversations we have been having.
I guess the point of this whole rant has been to let go of my doubt and excess thoughts. Maybe I'll send him a text after a week has gone by, to see how he's doing again.
Post #3: Reducing expectations and other random things
So I think I made the mistake of placing too high of expectations on the person in my previous post. I was incredibly disappointed for a few days after I tried texting him again and then our conversation quickly fizzled out, but I've decided it's not worth dwelling over. Friendship is a two-way street after all, and I don't want to be the only person making an effort.
Besides, he really doesn't have any obligation to talk to me anyway.
--
At least at work I've been getting a bit more hours and at home have been working on taking better care of myself. I just ordered my new glasses today and am excited to be getting rid of the ones I have on (that have been sitting slightly crooked on my face for over a year).
I've also been trying to work more on my sitting posture. I've been getting some tension headaches due to excessive slouching that puts a lot of pressure on my neck. It's a challenge changing it since I'm so used to sitting in a particular way, but baby steps!
I'm not exactly sure where this stream of consciousness came from, but here it is lol
--
Post #4: Just A Glass of Water
I think I'm beginning to believe I have more of a realist personality. Seeing things as they are and not being easily skewed towards the positive or negative sides of a situation (or life in general) just seems more natural to me. It's healthy to acknowledge both the good and the bad sides of things. Or, it's also important to acknowledge that not everything that life throws at you really has a "side" at all. It's simply a fact. And one needs to be able to adjust to each situation as it is, rather than how it appears to them or how it could be interpreted (if that makes sense?).
I've never been comfortable identifying as an optimist or a pessimist because I believe that thinking about situations in a purely positive or negative light can be troubling sometimes. If you're always thinking about the positive of things, you're more likely to overlook problems in a situation or yourself that actually need fixing (aka sugar-coating things) If you're always thinking about the negative of things, you're going to have a harder time finding a solution to a problem, and that doesn't get you anywhere.
Post #5 :: Dates and Uncertainty
So a lot has happened since the last time I wrote something. Not only did I get another internship that will be starting soon, but I also went on a date with someone yesterday. It took a little while for it to happen since I was very unsure about the guy in general and if it will even be worth it since my job is in another state and we'll have to do long distance. However, the date was a success and we're going to try and see how this turns out. I'm still a little nervous and unsure about him in general, but he's been very kind and patient so far, which is nice since I still get really bad relationship anxiety. I'm glad that he's not a super heavy texter, since I'm not one either.
I've been really struggling with the idea of dating/family starting and career. I hate the fact that women still have to choose between having a career and having a family, whereas it's so much easier for men to have both. I'm very much a person that doesn't like feeling trapped, that wants to get out and do so many more things. I've felt trapped pretty much my whole life due to overbearing parents and grandparents, and I don't want to feel that way as an adult. I'd like a relationship that doesn't make me feel that way.