Interview update

I mentioned to several of you by phone that I got a call back last week for a job I applied for in January. Besides the obvious shock factor of waiting 6mos for an interview, I am trying not to get to worked up about this. I mean, yeah, it would be my dream job and open the door for me to do the kind of work I really want to do long term, but.... well, it seems to good to be true.

Actually, I should clarify. I am trying not to get too worked up about this. It isn't particularly working. They were supposed to call at 10 on Tuesday, so here is a quick run-down of my Tuesday schedule.

7:04 Wake up with butterflies. Make coffee, eat breakfast and review my notes.
9:10 Arrive at work. Get set up in the conference room I have checked out for the occasion. Continue to review notes, make up fake answers to fake interview questions and wonder what they'll ask.
9:40 Heart in Throat. Decide I may be over prepared and go to talk to coworkers a bit.
9:50 Staring at my cell phone in the conference room. Willing it to ring.
10:00 Sipping water, clearing vocal chords, practicing how I'll answer the phone "Hello?" "Hello!" "Hello."
10:01 Ok, they are late- it's fine. I bet they had other interviews.
10:02 I bet those other interviews went really well
10:03 They like the 9:00 interview so much they are still chatting??
10:04 They've already given the job away. I start making a list of other places I should apply to.
10:05 Maybe they lost my number? I call the lab and ask them to forward anyone calling for me to my cell phone- as if everyone didn't already know I was sweating bullets at the end of the hall waiting for this call.
10:06 Mentally composing cover letters for the other jobs I am applying to- trying to retain some element of dignity.
10:07 *Ringring* At this point I let it ring twice to be sure it wasn't my ears playing tricks on me. "Oh, you need to reschedule? That's FINE, fine... as long as you aren't punking me, we can talk whenever."

10:08 Dismount emotional roller coaster to help my undergrad. Spend the next hour revisiting activities from 9:10 to 10am.

11:30 *Ringring* There are two interviewers, both women, I can't tell them apart. One is an HR person, the other is likely to be my supervisor. They give me a vague rundown of the job- it still sounds awesome- and ask why I am interested in it. I'm glad I just spent 3 hours reviewing the letter I sent them, I tick off the highlights to show why I am interested and well prepared. They ask about how much writing I've done, I'm tempted to mention the blog but think better of it (in case they actually want to read it), and then can't remember where else I've been published. Arg. They ask how I stay organized, what experience I have in organizing workshops ("Oh, workshops? Oh, I do that a lot...") and what my long term goals are. Then they ask when exactly I will be graduating, and when I might be available to start. It's impossible to read them though- they sound dispassionate at best, possibly slightly disappointed, by everything I say except in my last ditch effort- when they ask if I am pursuing other opportunities, I say this is my dream job, and I would jump at the chance to have it. They like that.

They promised to get back to me by the end of the week- there is another round of interviews to get through, so I am just waiting to make the next round, not get an offer. I am not sure what that means I should do- contact them or no? Thanks for the interview, or is that too forward?

In related news, I still haven't heard anything about the local postdoc job. Neither has my potential boss; we are succeeding at being patient at that one.

Also, I defend my dissertation in 14 days. I will perform another experiment tomorrow that may or may not go in it, print it in 4 days, hand it out in 5 days, give a practice talk in 7 days and get really studied up for the next week. Also, find something smart looking to wear for the seminar. And hopefully a job interview.