Not everything is better on-line

As I've mentioned, I have been applying for a bunch of jobs this week. All except for one asked for the materials to be submitted on-line. Which in theory should be so much easier and quicker than printing out all of one's materials, finding an envelope and then heading to the post office to mail it off. But they so ARE NOT EASIER!!

Here's my reasons why...

1. If they want you to apply through their on-line system there is never a person involved, I don't know who to address the cover letter to, who to contact to make sure they got it (some of them don't even bother with the form email to let you know your application was received), or who to contact if their damn system won't let me upload my materials.

2. Each one makes it sound like all you have to do is upload your CV/resume and cover letter and you'll be done, but in actuality MANY of them have have you also basically fill in all of the information on your CV electronically. Um.. if you're going to have me fill in my work history and education information, why bother having me upload my CV?

3. Some systems don't allow attachments, so that means I have to take out all of the formatting from my CV (which I specifically put in for ease of reading) before I can paste it into their stupid little box which doesn't even let me see what it will look like when they get it because it's really just a 4" X 2" rectangle showing a paragraph at a time.

4. They all say that due to the number of applications they receive they regret to inform me that they can't contact me if I don't get the job. So I spend all this time uploading materials, writing very specific cover letters, filling out their stupid forms that ask for all of the same info I have in my CV and then they can't even send me a friggen form email to say sorry you're not getting the job. what the hell??!!

Of course, if some of these places start calling me for interviews I will be a lot less bitter about the application process.

Whoa two good days in a row.!

Yesterday was yet another good day. I spent the day finishing up some analyses from the day before and working on the paper that data is going into. I made really good progress, and the data rock! So I am excited about getting this paper out. It's just my mentor and I, with me as first author and she is currently working on a paper with each of her grad students but wants my paper at the end of next week. I am sure it will move quickly once she gets her hands on it and I'll be well on my way to meeting my goal of 3 first authored submissions this summer.

I also applied for another job yesterday - non-academic research institute. I really hope they call, it sounds like a really great fit. I'm going to send out two more applications today, both of these are academically related research positions. I'm amazed at how many relevant jobs I'm finding right now, but underwhelmed by the lack of contact from any of them after I send in my materials.

Let's hope things turn around soon. I'm trying to be patient and remind myself that they don't necessarily begin contacting people as soon as they get responses to their ads. They need to wait and see who applies. Right? Right???? :)

So my plan for today is

1. Submit two job applications.
2. Work on dissertation manuscript (#2 first authored summer submission).
3. Get cards for mom and grandmother.
4. Have some fun later, maybe take the dogs for a walk and spend some time with my sisters.