At first, I was afraid to apply for such an amazing intensive program like program X. I had seen their faculty listed as presenters many times at TESOL conferences. The location of X program is pretty much heaven on Earth. It is in the US, but not very close to our families. Why am I being so secretive about program X? I don't want to have to prepare a rejection speech for each person (from friend to complete random co-workers) who asks weeks from now, "Hey, did you get that job with program X?"
The process has been long. I've been watching the job advertisement websites since January, about the time I handed in my resignation. Actually, I'm always looking at job advertisments just to see what else is out there and which programs are expanding and therefore need more instructors.
After a few months of looking, I started to notice things. For example, program A hires each semester. 'Why?' I wondered. Are they really expanding as the job advertisement states? Going home is not a move like going abroad. This job I'm looking for needs to sustain our future family. It needs to support our future home mortgage. And if I find the program is not expanding, but rather running off good instructors for whatever reason, then I have just moved home for a dead-end job. That's what's so tricky about this. We're both looking for a good fit: the program hiring and me.
You also become learly of university Human Resource website information that looks a little different than the job advertisement website. How did I become learly? I embarrassingly managed to apply to a job that was not even available anymore. In my own defense I need to clarify that the job on the HR site did have dates that had already expired, and the job advertisement on the TESOL organization website did not state exactly when the job would start. Furthermore, many large programs simply copy and paste old job openings and from what I can gather - simply do not edit them for future start dates. I had long admired program X from afar, but never thought they would consider me. There are so many other applicants with so much more experience. I've got a good amount of international experience, but when it comes to working in the US I've got just a bit. In fact, I have had just two years of teaching at an academic intensive program while in graduate school, and then just two semesters between Korea and Qatar as US academic intensive program experience. Therefore, I was not too incredibly surprised when program X finally rejected my full-time instructor application. There was no invitation to interivew and no reason given. After speaking with some colleagues I decided to email and ask what I could do to make my CV more competitive. Boy, am I glad that I did! One administrator took the the time to relay that the other applicants simply had 1. more professional development experience in presenting at conferences (I've only done one at TESOL in 2010), and that 2. others had a developing area of professional expertise (I'm all over the board - technology, writing, etc.). The best part about her reply was this: "we strongly encourage you to apply for a full-time adjunct position"
While I was happy to get solid feedback for the rejection, I wasn't sure about applying for adjunct. I didn't know what that meant, "adjunct". And I assumed the worse. Did it mean minimum wage, and no benefits? I found out that the adjunct position at program X is one that can lead to a full-time position after some semesters or a few years. I also found out that the adjunct instructors are given full-time hours with benefits. Whew! Not knowing this cruicial information is hard. The second most difficult part about job searching is the waiting. Here's the breakdown of the time I've spent applying for jobs:
- January 11th, 2011 - applied for full-time instructor position at program X
- January 14th, 2011 - applied for full-time instructor position at program Z, on their university HR website (later I discovered the univ. HR department simply removed the job advertisement- that was frustrating)
- January 2011 - I emailed program X's cooridinator to let her know that my school was on mid-academic year break and therefore some of my references might be unavailable
- February 10th, 2011 - rejected for full-time instructor position at program X
- February 17th, 2011 - applied for adjunct instructor position at program X
- March 15th, 2011 - Skype interview for adjunct instructor position (starting June 20th, 2011) at program X
- March 24th, 2011 - Followed up with program X's interviewer and was told program X would be contacting my references, but to follow up again as program X was soon to start their spring term
- March, 2011 - Program Z advertised an opening again, but for the first week of April start date (this was just too early)
- March 29th, 2011 - I emailed program X's reference checker to state that my school was on Spring Break and therefore some of my references might be unavailable
- April 6th, 2011 - I received notice from university academic intensive program Y (near program X, and therefore next to "heaven on Earth") would like me to interview
- April 7th, 2011 - I emailed program X's reference checker the contact information for all my references, hoping to speed up the process (I need to give notice to leave non-teaching days early if I get the summer start date!)
So, after nearly 3 months of stalking this job at program X I sure as heck hope that I get it. If not, there's also program Y. And if neither want me, there's teaching hours at my hometown university's program where I did my MA. Needless to say, this whole process from January to now is teaching me a lot about patience.
Until next time, WW
