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Monday, November 27, 2006
This whole professionalization thing is wacky
I've been getting some letters and emails lately, acknowledging receipt of my job applications.
One today, from a University That Will Remain Unnamed -- This is to acknowledge receipt of your application for the tenure-track position in Philosophy at Blahdiblah State University. Applications will be reviewed by the search committee during the next several weeks. We will be in touch with you as the selection proceeds.
In the meantime, in accordance with University policy, please complete and return the enclosed self-stamped and self-addressed affirmative action card to: Affirmative Action Office, 123 Superduper Building, Blahdiblah State, Random Town, US.
Thank you for your interest in the position.
Yours cordially,
Chair, Philosophy Search Committee All very nice. Kind of weird to think that I'd be filling out an affirmative action card, since I think as a foreigner I don't get counted in the same categories. Oh well.
The silly thing is, they didn't actually enclose the card. Trust me. I triple-checked.
"Yikes!" I thought. "Now I have to email the search committee and tell them they screwed up. Yikes yikes yikes yikes." A (probably totally groundless and unreasonable) fear washed over me. I felt as though it was my fault the card wasn't there.
Is this nervousness and anxiety reason to think that I'm not ready for this application process? I wonder.
Anyway. I sent them a super-polite email ("Thank you for your letter acknowledging receipt of my application for the tenure-track philosophy position. I will be happy to complete and return the affirmative action card, but it was not enclosed in the envelope. Would you be so kind as to send me one?") and the chair just sent me one back, calling me by my first name and signing off with his first name, saying of course they apologize and will sent me one shortly. So it's all good.
This is just a sample view of the weird self-doubts I've had lately.
jane 7:40 PM [+]
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