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Topic: should i reapply?
| Author | Message |
| cali1296 | Posted – 12/4/2005 5:57:43 PM | show profile In August I applied for a PR job at a nonprofit. I had everything they were looking for, but I didn't get a response. I also sent an e-mail asking if they received my stuff and again heard nothing back. Now the job is being advertised again. I'm wondering if I should reapply or should I just not bother? Thanks! |
| StillLearning | Posted – 12/4/2005 11:24:35 PM | show profile Definately if it is a job that you are interested in, definately reapply. Chances are they won't remember your resume. Even if they do, it just shows that you are persistent and truly interested in the position. Cheesy as this is ... you miss 100% of the shots you don't take |
| r|s | Posted – 12/5/2005 12:11:29 AM | show profile | email poster what do you have to lose? reapply. just a note on nonprofits & the reopening of positions: i used to often see listings (especially in communications/pr posted on idealist) reappear and think, hmmm, they still haven't filled the position. sadly, as i've come to know from too much npo experience (mine and others), they did fill the position and that person left. or, they still haven't found that candidate with an MA, 10+ years of experience and a salary requirement of $40K -- yes, this honestly happens! if you stated a salary history that didn't fit theirs, chances are that's why they didn't ring you for an interview. as for the first senario, if it's reopened and you do reapply, just be sure to ask about the turnover -- and ask to talk to someone who works closely to that department, and query them about the turnover. it's a massive problem with nonprofits, particularly in communications/pr. good luck!! p.s. be especially leary of health organizations. |
| msln | Posted – 12/5/2005 11:00:28 AM | show profile yes for sure re-apply- and try to find the phone number to follow up- I have found that to be very effetcive- although I still don't have a job |
| cali1296 | Posted – 12/5/2005 1:45:45 PM | show profile thank you I'm going to reapply today. Thanks for your advice! rls -- you could be right. The salary they're offering is lower than other PR jobs I've seen out there. They didn't ask me for my salary requirements, but I would have taken what they're offering because i just want the PR experience. I'm trying to make the move from print. That and the fact that this nonprofit was one of the main responders to Hurricane Katrina could have resulted in some turnover. Who knows really -- but I'll try it again. Thanks for your help. |
| cali1296 | Posted – 12/7/2005 2:25:41 AM | show profile by the way... I did sent my resume again and today they called me for an interview. It's Thursday morning. Thanks for encouraging me, you guys! |
| msln | Posted – 12/7/2005 9:32:50 AM | show profile | email poster should i reapply? Thats GREAT!!! Good Luck- it was meant to be! |
| r|s | Posted – 12/7/2005 10:49:29 AM | show profile congrats! best of luck at the interview!! |
| Lotus665 | Posted – 12/7/2005 12:22:19 PM | show profile I really think timing is everything and in a sense, there are no rules if your timing is right. IE, a cold resume can lead to a job or not, reapplying to a job you didn't get called for the first time can lead to a job or not, etc. My new mantra is just go for everything you want, and the worst they can say is no (or ignore you). Lots of good news on the board today. Gives one hope!. You go, girls and guys! |
| cali1296 | Posted – 12/13/2005 2:52:27 PM | show profile in a bind: an update The interview at the nonprofit went well. I was asked come in the next day, Friday, to meet with the executive director and we really hit it off. She said she thinks my background and the position ''would make a good marriage'' and she was impressed with my accomplishments as a reporter. (I was in newspapers and now I'm trying to make the move to PR. This job is a PIO for a local chapter of a prominent national disaster response organization.) The nonprofit said they'd let me know Wednesday (tomorrow) whether they're going to hire me. Right now they're doing a background check and calling my references. Here's the twist: yesterday when I was offered an PR account exec position at an agency. I should be happy, but I'm just confused. They want my decision by the end of the day today (Tuesday). I'd rather work for the nonprofit, but they won't have any news for me until tomorrow. I'm going to ask the agency again for another day. If they refuse, I was told by a few people that I should accept it then if i hear back from the nonprofit, then i should tell the agency that I changed my mind. This goes against my ethics but if that's something that people do, then I guess i could, just to make sure I have a job either way. I feel very uncomfortable with that, though. The agency also will not allow me to go home for Christmas even though I already have a plane ticket. They want me to start next week. But I'm supposed to leave this weekend and won't be back until Dec. 31. I think they're being a little unerasonable in insisting I start right before Christmas especially when I already have plans to visit my family. I haven't seen my parents in a year. The nonprofit, on the other hand, has no problem with me starting Jan. 2. So do I accept the agency job then renege if I get the nonprofit? Or should i try to get some good faith indication from the nonprofit that they do plan to hire me and turn down the agency job? Thanks for any advice you can offer. |
| GrOoVaL!c!OuS | Posted – 12/13/2005 3:05:17 PM | show profile Call the non-profit and tell them you have an offer for another job but that you have not accepted it because you really want to work at their company. Add that you are really looking forward to hearing their response tomorrow. Do that first because you want to be sure that the nonprofit won't delay the decision an extra day. Then you'll be REALLY screwed. Then call the agency and say that you would really appreciate the offer, that you're considering it very seriously, but that you need one more day to think it over. Tell them that you'll call tomorrow with a final decision. If that don't relent -- or if you've done this already -- then accept the job. They're being total dickwads about it...especially the not letting you go home for Xmas part. I hear what you're saying about ethics, but the agency people are pushing you to make a decision that you can't make right now. So they have only themselves to blame if you change your mind later. I say worry about your concerns first. From the sound of things, the agency isn't doing that. And you might rethink working for a company like that anyway. |
| steady1 | Posted – 12/13/2005 3:10:15 PM | show profile I don't think the agency people are treating you fairly. What, they want to pressure people into making a hasty decision? How can that possibly benefit anyone? And the bit about Christmas? That's dumb. Most new hires need at least two weeks in order to give notice to their old jobs. I don't think too highly of this place, just based on what you've said. If nothing else, it's poorly managed. Ask for more time again. You can say that in order to be fair to them and to yourself, you want to make sure that you are making the right decision. Tell them you need to ''sleep on it'' another day. Another idea: Back when I was receiving career counseling, we were coached to say, ''I just need to speak to one person before I accept the job, and I haven't been able to reach him (or her) yet.'' You don't have to disclose who the person is. If the agency asks you, you can imply that it's your accountant or partner or some other trusted adviser. Personally, I don't like the idea of accepting the position and then reneging, as I know you don't. Also, you should light a fire under the nonprofit. Maybe they can give you a decision today. But I think the fault is with the agency, really. Good luck! |
| Astera | Posted – 12/13/2005 3:10:49 PM | show profile Personally, I wouldn't want to work anywhere as unflexible as the PR agency seems to be. If you already have a plane ticket home for Christmas, I'd think they'd be a bit more understanding. Definitely ask for extra time so you can see what the nonprofit says. If the agency refuses, I'd see that as another red flag. But if you really, really need a job, you may want to accept just so that you'll know you have money coming in. You can still look for something else or change your mind if the nonprofit comes through. It is an uncomfortable situation, but you have to do what's in your best interests. But ask for extra time first. Another day to decide shouldn't cause a huge problem for them. I'd seriously consider if the agency is somewhere you'd want to work, though. Unless you're truly desperate, you may be better off holding out for another job. If they're this demanding before you even start, what is it going to be like when you're an employee there? ------ adeventuresofastera.blogspot.com copyeditrix.blogspot.com |
| cali1296 | Posted – 12/13/2005 3:13:57 PM | show profile You're right that this might be a sign as to how the agency treats its employees. I should have mentioned that yesterday I did call the non-profit and told them about the agency's job offer and deadline. The non-profit said they need to do background and reference checks and can't give me a decision before Wednesday. |
| beenthere | Posted – 12/13/2005 5:27:37 PM | show profile Run as fast as you can away from the agency job. If this is how they are treating a POTENTIAL hire -- with ultimatums that are completely unreasonable -- think how they treat their employees. I worked for a place that would reneg job offers if they weren't accepted on the spot because they wanted total control ( I accepted because I wanted the job and found out about this after I was hired). While I worked there employees were treated like crap, including one hire who was given a job as a managing ed for one title, only to be told when he started that he was now a senior ed. (step down) for a completely different title. I was also given major shit for taking time off for being sick (I was called into the pub's office and told to schedule a vacation day next time I needed a day off), I was expected to come in to work after I had a tooth pulled (me, on vicodin, periodically pulling bloody gauze from my mouth -- I was SO productive that day) and for taking time off to be with my mother who was having surgery for cancer at Sloan Kettering. They also reduced the number of sick days from six annually to four annually because ''people were using them.'' Duh. Another fave example was when they sent the edit staff to LA for a trade show, scheduled a red eye flight Sun night back to NY and everyone was required to be at work at 9 am Mon. And they avoided any legal complications by keeping the number of employees below 50 by using part-timers and ''consultants.'' DO NOT TAKE THE AGENCY JOB. |
| Lotus665 | Posted – 12/13/2005 5:44:09 PM | show profile I'd have to agree--- that agency sounds like bad news. Sure, if you don't get the NP job you have no job, but the fact that you have (almost) two offers simultaneously shows you probably will be able to get yet another one pretty soon. Also, I have a feeling you will get the NP job, unless there's some crime or financial mess that's going to pop out from their background checks, which I assume there isn't. Please let us know what ultimately happens. |
| cali1296 | Posted – 12/13/2005 6:54:46 PM | show profile disaster averted I called the agency and asked if I could have until noon tomorrow. The non-profit said they'd have a desicion by then. To my surprise, the agency agreed to give me the extra time. This is good -- now I know that either way, I'll have a job. I'll give an update tomorrow after the non-profit gets back to me. Thanks so much to everyone who've been giving me advice and input. It's ''food for thought.'' Beenthere -- the job you described sounds torturous! That's a good cautionary tale. It's so hard to tell what a workplace will be like. I agree that the agency hasn't made the best impression. However, I know someone who works as an art director there, my husband's friend since age 16. He works in a different department but he likes it there. But he did say the PR people are stupid, can't write or spell, etc. It's important for me to get a job soon because i was laid off a few months ago from my newspaper job just like so many others were this year. I got a four-month severance package which runs out at the end of January. If I do end up at the agency I don't have to stay forever. With agency experience on my resume it will make getting other PR jobs a lot easier in the future. Thanks for reading my long posts. This has been a very stressful 24 hours. I'll keep you all posted on the final outcome. |
| SFElisaW | Posted – 12/14/2005 1:49:01 PM | show profile The agency is probably short handed because they are letting other staffers leave for Christmas. If you were willing to jump in and work you would probably gain their undying gratitude -- and maybe the promise to take time off next Christmas. With them offering you the job, you do have some power. I think you can politely tell them that you need to get back to them the next day with both whether you want to accept the offer and if you'll be able to start that soon. If the tickets were pricey and it's really important for you to be gone at that time, then you could say that you would love to take the job but you can't start until Jan. 3. They may be pushing for what they want -- an immediate answer and you working over Christmas -- but this is the negotiating process and there is nothing wrong with you asking for what you want. But you may be able to reach a comprise -- ie see what the change fee is for your tickets and if you can trim your trip a bit. If your ticket is nonrefundable, you might even ask them to reimburse you for the trip. Many journalists have to work over the holidays, and many agencies need cover over the holidays because it can be the busiest time of the year for many clients -- ie those in retail, travel, payment cards. Good luck! |
| cali1296 | Posted – 12/14/2005 8:35:07 PM | show profile success! Today the non-profit offered me the job and I accepted. What a relief! When I called the ad agency they were very understanding and even congratulated me! Thanks to everyone who responded with advice during these nervewracking few days. It was all very helpful. I especially want to thank those who encouraged me to apply for the job initially. I really was going to blow it off. I'm so glad I listened to you guys and gave it a shot! |
| Astera | Posted – 12/14/2005 8:45:26 PM | show profile Yay! Congratulations. I am glad this story has a happy ending--you got the job you wanted, and you still get to go home for Christmas. ------ adeventuresofastera.blogspot.com copyeditrix.blogspot.com |
| r|s | Posted – 12/14/2005 9:29:00 PM | show profile hooray! so very happy for you, cali1296! best wishes at the new job and a very happy holiday to you and yours! |
| Lotus665 | Posted – 12/15/2005 11:21:19 AM | show profile I'm going to learn a lesson from your experience, cali. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, or as Nike says, Just Do It! |
| beenthere | Posted – 12/15/2005 11:32:29 AM | show profile Excellent news! Congrats!!! |
