Normally, I have little trouble putting thoughts into words and then onto paper. I have a bit of a way with words (at least in my native Dutch), people sometimes say. But today I’m hard-pressed at trying to write an application letter to a company. Usually such a letter is in response to a specific advert. or it is entirely spontaneous – great company, highly praised, you just have to work there. Not this one.
My problem today, is more complicated than that. The company in itself doesn’t seem so bad (not a great start already, is it?). It’s a comic books publishing house and I had heard of them some months back, when they were looking for an editor for their French section. The thing is, I am quite convinced I never applied for that job (French not being my favourite language and definitely not one I am fluent in), but I’m not quite sure that perhaps I did sent them one of the half-hearted letters that I used to send at a certain time in the past. That’s a tricky issue to begin with.
Secondly, I talked to some girl on some barbeque some weeks ago who happened to work there. She said they have this position open for a Dutch editor, but it’s not really clear what they want with it, or if it’ll even ever go through. The job seems to have achieved some sort of phantom status within the company already. If they aren’t entirely sure yet, how should I be? And should I mention this girl (whom I know only cursory) or should I leave out any mention of parties and fleeting conversations? Some people just don’t look kindly on that kind of lifestyle, you see.
Finally, I’m not fully convinced I’d even like this job. Sure, comics sound fun and it’s nearby, but what do I know of publishing and customer portfolio management (something, I believe, that was included in the job description)?
So, how do I tackle this one, I’ve been wondering for quite some time now. Sitting down and going head on with the white page is hard enough at times already, but in this case especially so. Nothing’s coming and I keep typing and deleting, without anything to show for. It’s terrible.
In fact, what I prefer most in applications and job interviews is to see the company as the one who is on the lookout for good staff. What I need is for them to present themselves, so I can make a judgment about how this could be something for me. Unfortunately, that prerogative is only reserved for higher management and people who get headhunted. If little old me would try a thing like that, I’d probably not even get an answer. They’d say I’m ‘arrogant’, and that I’m a ‘loner’ and that I don’t fit in with their goody-goody, regular working mates. Huh!
Well, here’s another post written and published in a fraction of the time it took me to even begin addressing this application stuff. Perhaps I should get into that pro-blogging thing everyone’s talking about, with some big, juicy ads all over ND/NL. Yeah, that’d be it. And then tonight I’d just be off to the pub, meeting girls and not talking about the poor miserable wretch I am who’s incapable of sucking up to others just because he needs a bloody job. Aw, it just kills me at times, is all. Have a good weekend. I know I’ll do my best.
25 August 2006 at 6:25 pm
I think you’re gonna hate my answer to this:
Don’t think so much, just write an a**kicking CV and send it. Then go to the pub ;-)
Or do it reverse. Maybe would work that too.
See how simple life is?
*teasing you*
Cheers to a good weekend!
25 August 2006 at 7:14 pm
Hey thanks! Not at all what I didn’t want to hear, but just what I needed. You know what? I simply sat down, worked until I got it right and the e-mail is out the door now. How’s that for positive influence?
Yep, life can be simple sometimes… ;-)
But still that post was quicker and easier to do, hehe.
25 August 2006 at 8:46 pm
I detest application forms full stop. And I watch my students struggling and agonising over them. What’s really odd is that jobs are dependent entirely on fate and absolutely nothing else. When I got my current job, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted it, so made no effort, sending in just my CV with a ‘with compliments’ slip saying ‘here it is’ and nothing more; no great lecture about my skills and how I wanted the job. Anyhow, I was interviewed and selected, all the time uncertain that it was the right move. I’m glad about the way things turned out (not every day, but most days), and certainly fate was determined I should be here, so don’t worry about what you put. It’s all pretty much mapped out for you already….
2 September 2006 at 3:14 am
[...] No Dependencies/No Logo is exactly that: an eclectic personal diary, with no ties to fan sites, no mindless following of trends and no personal rants about politics or economy. As a professional editor Napfisk tries to address the softer, more fragile aspects of life. [...]