How to shoot yourself in the foot

[cornerofmadness]

I got this rather nice and rather infuriating email from the Arkansas school of math and science. They had wanted to do a biology position last year and didn't have the funding and asked me to resubmit this year. I did. Well I got an email today saying they want to do an environmental biology position and want to consider me for that if I wanted them to because (and here's the infuriating part) 'they were looking for a human biologist before and they felt this job would fit me better.'

I thanked them and said yes I did have three years of experience getting my master in conservation and ecology. (and here's where I shoot myself in the foot) However i AM a human biologist with ten years of medical experience.

I knew it was a dumb thing to say. I knew they had pushed my buttons. I knew I should have calmed down first but damn it, they have my resume and cover letter in front of them. How can they NOT see I'm a human biologist I'll never know? I should have erased the email. I sent it. Sigh.

Comments

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you were telling the truth. Yes, you have experience in the field they want to fill, no that's not your area of interest/expertise, and they already know this from your resume. They just want to see if you're interested.

I took a job teaching history of science when my field is philosophy. I knew it was a one-year job and so I didn't care; it sounded interesting. Plus, living in Montreal for a year.

I don't think you were shooting yourself in the foot. You didn't tell them anything they didn't already know, and you were reiterating your interests. Being honest, as I said.

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

As long as you didn't end it with morons! or anything, I'd think it'd go okay, you were just pointing out that's what you were, I've sent emails to our head of department and my supervisor that after I sent it, I worried I sounded rude, but they've never said anything, not to my face anyway.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Yeah I did manage to refrain from saying did you READ my resume twits! Well it's arkansas so I'll be shocked if they get the money for the position anyhow.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I hope you're right. History of science? Yeah that's a little different from philosphy. I could easily teach ecology mind you. Hell, if I were gainfully employed I might even look at getting the PH.d in that from my old school like they wanted.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

My major field in grad school was Philosophy of Science/Epistemology. My "minor" field was History of Science. It was just interesting that my first job out of grad school was a position in History of Science.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Ah, well that would explain it. My masters was geared towards ecology but ONLY because UCF didn't have human studies

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I did an inter-disciplinary study in grad school partly as a defense against the philosophy department I was in, whose view of philosophy itself was so narrow they wouldn't even read philosophers after Kant who weren't Anglo-American. That and the non-contextual, acultural examination of philosophical ideas screamed for the need for historical context, IMO.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Oh lovely, so I wasn't the only one working outside of the departments narrow views (UCF literally did no human biology at all outside of basics)

That and the non-contextual, acultural examination of philosophical ideas screamed for the need for historical context, IMO

That is a very intimidating and scary statement but yes, historical context IS important though mostly I've used it in defensive of certain literature that people would like to see buried.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Wow, does that mean the statement makes me sound all smart and stuff?

; )

[rahirah]

Well, if they want you, they ought to want you even if you've got extra added talents. :P

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

there is that. They emailed me back so they didn't seem TOO insulted by me.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yes it does :-)

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Well, I do have a PhD. Normally, it's just all pretty on my wall and stuff.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

one of these days I'll hang mine on a wall. most of my diploma are still in their mailers. I'm so pathetic.

oh and go look at the latest academic folly that happened today

[rivin142.livejournal.com]

Fascinating, how employer minds work sometimes....

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

it turns out it was sort of miscommunication between Biology and HR. They were looking for MOLECULAR biology which no I'm not really qualified for