I'm not so sure that I'd call any of these conversations an "interview" per se. Each phone call lasted no longer than twenty minutes - some of them only ten - and it didn't really appear as though there was an actual position available that these people were looking to fill. Of course, they were all so nice, told me that I'd fit in well with the company, that they would be in touch, blah, blah, blah. But, I wondered, was I being led on?
This reminds me a little bit of sorority rush, where we aren't allowed to tell girls that we'll see them the following week, just in case they don't get invited back to our house (Mean Girls, much?). I'm also reminded of The Bachelor, which I watched last night for the first time thanks to all the roommate hype I endure on a daily basis. In the show, my friend Carrie informed me, contestants vying for the hottie's affection can tell him that they love him, but he is not allowed to say it back until the very end of the show. I wish interviews were like that. I've gotten my hopes up in the past, and as I've written, it's not pretty.
I e-mailed each of my "interviewers" to thank them for their time, and I didn't hear anything for a few weeks. I actually contacted the HR rep who I previously spoke with a few times, wondering whether the company had assessed their staffing needs or not. Time went on.
Finally, the HR lady got back to me, letting me know that although everyone really enjoyed speaking with me, the group was still unsure of their ability to bring on more full-time staff. They'd know more around May, she said, and if I was still available/interested, they'd definitely want to talk again. In the meantime, they are currently hiring summer (paid) interns, and she could set up an interview for that if I was down.
My immediate reaction: disappointment. Obviously I'd prefer a full-time job with the security of continued employment beyond August. I felt a little bit like the girl who was dirty-rushed, told by the older sorority chick that her house cannot wait to see her next round, only to find out that she was not invited back. But was this feeling warranted?
I tried to relax for a sec. True, if I took the interview, it could lead to signing on for yet another internship, only to possibly have to begin the employment search all over again. But, it also could lead to an eventual full-time position after the summer is over.
I had a few questions. One: if I took the interview and hypothetically got the internship, would I still be considered for entry-level positions in May? Her answer was yes. And two: if I took the internship interview, got hired, and was then offered a full-time job either during or prior to the actual internship, could/should I take it? I didn't actually ask her this one. After talking to my mom, we decided that the answer to that one had to be yes as well; as a recent grad, anyone would have to understand that I'm looking for something that will continue to pay the bills full-time. And besides, all of this is assuming that I even get the internship, which might not even happen.
I wrote the woman back and told her that I would be happy to take the internship. Let's face it, this employment search is going to take way, way longer than I originally anticipated. It would be nice to have something cool to fall back on, just in case I still don't have anything full-time by then. An internship can get your foot in the door, and a paid internship is even better. I've come to the realization that I'm not in any position to rule out opportunities or possibilities, no matter what they are. I'm just hoping that things work out eventually, even if an internship delays that satisfaction 'til after the summer.
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