Its nice to say: You're NOT hired

Since August I've applied to a million jobs.  Ok, maybe not a million.  But it feels like a million.  In that time, only 2 potential employers were courteous enough to send me a letter letting me know that I did not get the job.  I thought it was a common practice to send the "thank you, but no thank you" letter.  But apparently its a rarity.

I think of all the effort I put into my resume and cover letter, writing samples and professional references, not to mention the follow-up thank you cards/emails.  And to have all that effort be unrequited seems just wrong.  So it leads me to this...

Dear potential employer:
It is ok to tell me that I did not get the job.  I know that no one likes to be the bearer of bad news, but sometimes we have to be adults and do things that we don't like to do.  Don't have me waiting by the phone, checking my email, hoping upon hope that I will hear from you.  Let me move on.  Give me some closure.  And allow me to still respect you and your business ethic when the process is all over.  Maybe you are trying to cover your tracks, trying to keep me as a backup just in case your first choice doesn't pan out.  Well I will not be your side chick!  I am looking forward to encountering the potential employer who will see me and my resume for the fabulousness that we are!  In any event, may God bless you and keep you is my prayer.
Sincerely,
EE

In general, its difficult for us to tell the hard truths.  We don't like to tell people no.  We are sometimes so afraid that the truth will hurt that we lie or say nothing at all.  And let me tell you, that hurts just as much.  So I'm pledging to be honest, truthful, and responsive in all my endeavors, even when its not convenient.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  This is the golden rule.

It All Works Together... Who Knew?!

I wear many hats.  First, and foremost I'm a mother.  I'm also a wife, a daughter, a sister, and an aunty.  To add more excitement to the fire I was recently appointed to a position within my church's religious education department.  And on top of all that... I am a newly admitted, UNEMPLOYED, lawyer.

All my life I conveniently compartmentalized everything.  I put on my daughter hat when I'm with my mom, my church hat at church (ha ha), and so on.  But recently I came to a huge realization.  There's only one me.  And all these things that I do... they all work together.

I was sitting at the Boston Bar Association's event for new lawyers "in transition".  A panel of highly successful attorneys sat before me talking about the mistakes new lawyers make.  They gave out lots of pearls of wisdom, like... lying is unforgivable.  Really?! Lawyers shouldn't lie?  Isn't that true for all people.  As a matter of fact, isn't that the 9th commandment?  I sat there listening to this panel discussion and all I could think is these are partners at big firms and heads of agencies... people who are the top of their field.  And here is little unemployed me sitting there listening and wondering isn't this all just common sense.   I learned this in church.  I try to teach this to my daughter. 

Right then and there I issued a challenge to myself.  As I embark upon this journey as a lawyer, I want to be mindful of all the places where the compartments of my life intersect.  As I search for employment, I want to keep my eyes open for opportunities to grow in my faith.  And when I finally have the chance to work, I plan to be the wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend that God intended me to be.  That way I can be the lawyer that God intends me to be.

What about you?  Does it all work together for you?