Thoughts around a job application

I’ve applied for a job local to me, for which I’m very well qualified. The deadline has passed (3 days) and I’ve not been invited for interview, I’ve followed up with them earlier today to enquire if I will be and if not whether they can give me some feedback as I feel my application was very strong. I live in a fairly remote and rural area and I don’t think they will have a had many – if any – applications as strong as mine especially as it was only for a 4 month position. I’m currently out of work and feeling pretty desperate about finding work, as I’m a single mum and also this is the first time I’m venturing back into employment since being diagnosed autistic.

Unintentional model:

C: I haven’t been invited for an interview
T: they must have heard some negative things about me if they don’t even want to interview me
F: upset, sad, panicky, shame, hopeless powerless
S: fluttering in my stomach, tears in my eyes, constriction in my throat
R: I don’t want to apply for jobs any more, feel hopeless, lose impetus and confidence
A: drag feet and put off applying for other roles

I’d like to get to a point where it doesn’t affect my ongoing job search so much, because at the moment I feel totally powerless and ashamed. There are a couple of other roles at local businesses that i can apply for but neither is ideal (both are FT which I can’t do right now) and are in slightly different areas to the role I specialise in and I do feel a bit of dread thinking about doing them. However I feel dread thinking about doing most jobs!

I realise that they could have an internal candidate or someone they already wanted to give the job to, however it doesn’t make sense to me that they wouldn’t even interview me when I made such an objectively strong application, so it’s really gnawing away at my self esteem and self confidence. If they’ve heard negative things about me, there’s nothing I can do to counter that if they won’t meet me and give me the opportunity to speak for myself. I guess also the uncertainty of not know if they’ll even bother to reply to my follow up email could also be a source of some of the flutteriness.

 

 

Answer:

You’ve done some great work here. I think it could be useful to start with the feeling that’s driving you now: desperation. There are many reasons that you have not gotten a call yet. You can’t control that. You can take care of you.  What is happening for you in this model?

C: Job deadline passed X date, no outreach for interview received by x date

T: ?

F: desperation

S: What does this feel like in your body?

A: followed up with questions, make it mean all kinds of things, what else do you do or not do when you feel desperate?

R: What is your result?

It’s ok that your brain and your nervous system are having a bit of a moment right now. How can you support yourself through this?