In desperate need of the cruelest month
March is, as predicted, proving just as insane as February. Right now I have three major projects: job searching, studying for comps, and revising a paper on catechesis in the English Penal Law period. To my surprise, job searching is not the project getting ignored right now.
Spring break has been comparatively focused, split between job applications and reading through *checks* 16 volumes thus far. Two more and I'll be done with background reading and ready to move on to reviewing classes. One way or another, comps will be done by this time next week. I have one or two promising job opportunities, and few more less promising, which I should also hear back about in the same time frame. Unfortunately, thanks to the amount of time I dump into your average cover letter, I can really only get out one or two applications a day, and that's if I don't do much more than eat, sleep, and pray. (Lots of praying going on right now.) For that matter, I still don't know if I'm preparing for comps adequately/correctly; I think I'm doing well, but it's not like I have a point of comparison.
I also wish, of course, that I could simply apply for the right job and get it, rather than apply for a dozen or so jobs and pick between, maybe, two acceptances. Since job applications are, in effect, graded on a curve--with only the best getting the passing grade--there's much more uncertainty there. If someone could just clue me in on a job which no one else will apply for (which I will still like and can do), I'd really appreciate it.
I shouldn't make things sound so hopeless. If things were hopeless, I wouldn't have to worry. Rather, things will be exhausting. Thus continues my slog until April. Oh, will I enjoy April.
Spring break has been comparatively focused, split between job applications and reading through *checks* 16 volumes thus far. Two more and I'll be done with background reading and ready to move on to reviewing classes. One way or another, comps will be done by this time next week. I have one or two promising job opportunities, and few more less promising, which I should also hear back about in the same time frame. Unfortunately, thanks to the amount of time I dump into your average cover letter, I can really only get out one or two applications a day, and that's if I don't do much more than eat, sleep, and pray. (Lots of praying going on right now.) For that matter, I still don't know if I'm preparing for comps adequately/correctly; I think I'm doing well, but it's not like I have a point of comparison.
I also wish, of course, that I could simply apply for the right job and get it, rather than apply for a dozen or so jobs and pick between, maybe, two acceptances. Since job applications are, in effect, graded on a curve--with only the best getting the passing grade--there's much more uncertainty there. If someone could just clue me in on a job which no one else will apply for (which I will still like and can do), I'd really appreciate it.
I shouldn't make things sound so hopeless. If things were hopeless, I wouldn't have to worry. Rather, things will be exhausting. Thus continues my slog until April. Oh, will I enjoy April.