Opportunities Gained and Lost
About three years ago I was given the oppotunity to intern on the big island of Hawaii at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center. It was a life changing experience for me and one that I will never forget.
I could have been hired as a staff member there, except that I lacked one important qualification, a bachelors degree. I went back to school to gain my B.S. for the sole purpose and hope that I might be able to return to Hawaii someday and work at one of the bird conservation centers. I had been happy there and I wanted so badly to return.
I struggled trying to get another internship, but I was unable to last summer and I kept in contact with the director of the Maui center ever since then.
Then, she gave me a heads up about a future job opening at the center and I eagerly awaited the job's posting. I waited months, nearly going crazy from the wait. I even sent my resume to the person who oversaw both centers, but he had been promoted and sent my resume to the guy who would be doing the hiring instead. Finally, the job was posted.
Not only did the Maui job come up, but three jobs at the center I had interned at opened up as well. I eagerly applied on the first day and anxiously awaited the closing date. I knew my chances were very good. Not only was I very qualified, but I had interned at the Keauhou center in the past.
Two days ago, August 3rd, the application deadline was up. I've been checking my email and voicemail every day, hoping to hear something.
I finally did.
Two emails, generic "thank you for applying but we have selected more qualified people" yadda yadda.
I was flat out rejected two days after the app deadline without so much as a request for an interview.
I have to say that I'm disappointed. Crushed even. I'm not sure what more I could have done or what I did wrong. It doesn't seem quite fair.
But I know this must mean that it wasn't meant to be and that God has something else in mind. I'm hoping, and praying that this South Carolina Aquarium job, that I interview for tomorrow, works out.
Even so. It still hurts.
I could have been hired as a staff member there, except that I lacked one important qualification, a bachelors degree. I went back to school to gain my B.S. for the sole purpose and hope that I might be able to return to Hawaii someday and work at one of the bird conservation centers. I had been happy there and I wanted so badly to return.
I struggled trying to get another internship, but I was unable to last summer and I kept in contact with the director of the Maui center ever since then.
Then, she gave me a heads up about a future job opening at the center and I eagerly awaited the job's posting. I waited months, nearly going crazy from the wait. I even sent my resume to the person who oversaw both centers, but he had been promoted and sent my resume to the guy who would be doing the hiring instead. Finally, the job was posted.
Not only did the Maui job come up, but three jobs at the center I had interned at opened up as well. I eagerly applied on the first day and anxiously awaited the closing date. I knew my chances were very good. Not only was I very qualified, but I had interned at the Keauhou center in the past.
Two days ago, August 3rd, the application deadline was up. I've been checking my email and voicemail every day, hoping to hear something.
I finally did.
Two emails, generic "thank you for applying but we have selected more qualified people" yadda yadda.
I was flat out rejected two days after the app deadline without so much as a request for an interview.
I have to say that I'm disappointed. Crushed even. I'm not sure what more I could have done or what I did wrong. It doesn't seem quite fair.
But I know this must mean that it wasn't meant to be and that God has something else in mind. I'm hoping, and praying that this South Carolina Aquarium job, that I interview for tomorrow, works out.
Even so. It still hurts.