So, I'm really stressed. Reassurance from academics would be helpful

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

As in, panicky stressed.

See, I’m finishing grad school in May. I’ll have a bright shiny new master of science in information science.

Because it’s my last semester, there are two main projects going on:

  1. The job search

  2. The comprehensive exam

(there’s also technically #3, classwork for this semester, but I know I can get through that, if I can get over this panic).

I’m mostly applying to academic libraries, although I have sent some resumes to public libraries. Probably 2/3 of these resumes were sent over the winter break, with the balance sent since the semester started January 12. This means that most of them were sent 4-6 weeks ago. I continue to scan the job listings and send resumes out as I find jobs in which I am interested.

Here’s where the panic sets in. I set this vague mental date in my head - it comes from me thinking “well, most academic places slow/shut down over the holidays, so I figure they have to come back and then they can review resumes, so I should start hearing from them around the end of January”. Academic institutions are not quick to hire, especially faculty level positions. But what I keep hearing in my mind is “if only one would call…that would make me feel better”.

Realistic, probably not. Does that help? No, not at all. I am at a point where I am so stressed about the job search that I’m barely thinking about my classes this semester at all - reading for classes? Sort of getting done, but it’s not sinking in at all. Studying for comps? Not happening - I pick up a set of notes, and my mind wanders off to things I’ve not thought about in years.

So how do I get over the panic? Really - I’m starting to feel like I’m going to lose my mind if I don’t get calmed down about this.

2

“Here’s where the panic sets in. I set this vague mental date in my head - it comes from me thinking “well, most academic places slow/shut down over the holidays, so I figure they have to come back and then they can review resumes, so I should start hearing from them around the end of January”. Academic institutions are not quick to hire, especially faculty level positions. But what I keep hearing in my mind is “if only one would call…that would make me feel better”…”

reread that and take note of the “ifs” “shoulds” “woulds” - most of us say these things and in reality, they do us no good whatsoever because they are stepping stones to negative thinking and more stress - and you have enough of that with your exams.

I think you need to manage your anxiety and stress, which you have started to do by posting: each time you hear yourself thinking (or saying) a “shoulda woulda coulda” take it as a warning sign of negative thinking and just say to yourself: “stop” and try to relax: practise breathing properly (diaphragm); get used to where your body holds its stress and recognise that feeling - eg: tight neck, shoulders, cramps in stomach etc - whatever it is for you - and work towards easing that physical stress - it doesn’t have to be very much at all - a quick walk will do wonders. Practise self-distraction techniques too.

Make a “worry window” for yourself ( I know, it sounds nuts but it can be really effective) in which you would say something like: “ok, I’m going to set aside one hour per day in which to look for work, chase up applications: once the hour is up, I will go and do something else.” Try it and see if it helps you at all - you might be suprised? It’s about lessening the panic you are feeling and trying to regain some perspective and control. Also, don’t forget that with the stuff you are dealing with, at the Masters level no less, then all that stress about exams and anxiety about your future is normal; it’s how you deal with it that will make all the difference to you now and in the long run.

Go back to basics and make a revision plan for yourself; include times when you can go and do something else instead ~ again, no matter how small. You will be refreshed and will feel like you are getting a hold on the work you have left to do, as opposed to it spiralling out of control and you beating yourself up about it; perhaps even winding up depressed as a result of “I should’ve done XYZ by Sunday” - see? :wink: Set a realistic work plan too - remember, back to basics first and then you can tackle the world.

You’ve made a start on job applications - and that’s great - but remember that uni. responses are something that you cannot possibly control, (no matter how much you would like to ;)): at the end of the day, they will contact you in their own time, and not before.

Best of luck with your exams and with your future career. If you fancy a moan anytime, contact details are in the profile.

:slight_smile:

3

I can relate, Lsura. I’ve been through that twice, coming out of grad school. The first time was in 1985, when I was finishing up my Master’s degree. That at least was a good year, with lots of schools hiring. In 1993, finishing up my doctorate, pickings were slim (third year in a row of state budget cuts), kinda like I would expect it is now. I remember getting pretty depressed at times. I think it was June before I actually found a position.

You’ve done most of what you can, for now, as far as the job hunt is concerned. Do you pray or meditate? Those are good responses to panics of many sorts. And sometimes panics are irrational, with no rational way to respond to it.

The only suggestion I have re the job search is, if there are any academic conferences in information science within driving distance this winter or spring, go to them. (Especially the smaller, regional-type conferences; the national meetings of any of the academic disciplines are a bit overwhelming for networking, IME.) If there are people from schools with openings that you’ve applied for who are speaking at them, go to their talks if the topic’s at all interesting, and ask questions if you can think of any good ones, or just go up and talk to them afterwards. A face and a conversation can pull a resume out of a pile for a second look.

Good luck! And feel free to email me.

4

Have you considered looking at non-academic possibilities? I’m not suggesting this to be discouraging. It’s just that I went through a job search in the last year and helped husband with one in the last six months and I found that it greatly sustained me to be able to do something related to the job search everyday, even if it was just sending out one more resume or doing an informational interview with someone. Does your current school have some sort of career center you could take advantage of?

5

I have six academic apps out, with deadlines ranging from November to January 7, and so far I have only recieved two letters noting receipt of application and requesting that I fill out an affirmative action form, followed by a phone call from just one of those places.

Most of the institutions you applied to are probably just now getting their applications reviewed–if that. Shortlists could be a while off. Absolutely do not panic until mid-February.

6

First off, just out of curiosity: Would this be a Masters in Library and Information Science?

A large factor in the answer to your question is your location. Depending on the city you live in now, it could prove easy to break into libraries, whether public or academic, or more competitive than Jackie Chan’s stuntman auditions.

In a competitive market, four beautiful words that will help you forward are “foot in the door.” I got my current job in an academic library by working for nearly a year as a casual employee within the building doing clerical work before getting a job offer. I performed mundane jobs well, earning a reputation for organizational skills, attention to detail, and diligence, all of which you must show to get that coveted position behind the desk of an academic library.

A large part of it is seen as simply paying your dues. If you show the interviewer that you’re willing to start small and work at boring but necessary tasks to get the job done, he or she will know that you’re not in libraries just to get away from it all and will be impressed even if the job you did wasn’t earth-shatteringly important or directly related to your field of study. If you work a couple of positions with that sort of work, it’s even more helpful. Also, references from your bosses at these casual jobs will be vital.

While you’re working those jobs, use your spare time to practice your coding. In my not-altogether-inconsiderable experience, libraries tend to be impressed with any skills involving databases, even if all you can do is make a simple Access DB with the wizards. If you know how to create websites and web-based DB’s (in addition to regular library reference/preservation/cataloging skills), then it’s only a matter of time before you find something somewhere. Libraries prize programming skills like you wouldn’t believe.

So stop worrying, and give yourself a pat on the back! A masters in info science is not the easiest thing to earn in this world, and it sounds like you’re taking the search seriously. Just buck up, have fun, and give 'em hell! Good luck, and don’t forget to tell us how it’s going.

7

Yep, it is. I come with 7 years of internal audit experience, general business knowledge, particularly in manufacturing, and a this customer service orientation like you wouldn’t believe (one reason I had to get out of audit - there just wasn’t enough people contact for me). I’m also willing, even eager, to relocate. Where I live now is a place I’ve seen as a temporary home. I moved here for grad school, and now I figure on leaving - there are almost no jobs where I currently live because the school is located here and a lot of people plan to stay here. They have spouses, kids & homes - I have 2 cats.

cher3, I absolutely look at non-academic possibilities. I’m willing to go to public libraries (I have some apps out for those as well, but they’ve been sent more recently). The only place I’ve avoided so far are corporate libraries - it was an environment that didn’t suit me, although for the right location and money, I’d certainly apply. It’s just not my aim.

Thanks for the words, people. I got myself calmed down earlier by making myself leave the apartment early (class wasn’t until 6:30), locating a friend on campus and telling them to get me into a conversation about anything but the job hunt. It helped.

8

Grad school is primarily about stress–how you handle the overwork, how you manage the breadth of knowledge that They expect you to have, how you can appear coolly competent in areas outside of your primary interests–these are all ways of distinguishing very good job candidates from great ones. Very few great ones are actually as competent as manage to seem, but everyone is raw nerves inside–the key difference is who can appear to be in control.

So don’t worry about your mastery of the material. It is what it is. Affect a greater calm than you actually feel, and you’ll start to be calmer, and people (on hiring committees, and elsewhere) might begin to think of you as not only a competent person but as a person they feel confidence is. Once they do that, you’ve got them.

I’m sitting on a hiring committee that just interviewed a dozen candidates for an Assistant Professor opening. All of the candidates were way more competent than we required, but we really took to the ones who were able to affect an air of comfort while showing us their competence. It’s hard to seem calm when you’re going crazy inside, but it’s one of the most crucial ways you can seem desirable.

Fatalism often helps, too. You have only a limited amount of control over the decisions that get made about you, and hires are often–usually, even–made for reasons you can’t even imagine, so do your best, seem twice as confident as you feel, and something will come through. Good luck.