So, Daniel and I have been saying all along that the only candidate that could beat me out for the job at Company B is someone who is basically me with ten years of experience.

Well, apparently they found him. Talked to the hiring manager at Company B this morning, and they'd narrowed to pool of applicants down to two people: me and this other guy. The other guy had 10 years analytical chemistry experience and 10 years writing experience. It was a close vote, but he won it.

Anyway, the hiring manager was at great pains to tell me that he and the entire committee thought I was a terrific candidate. And part of the reason why it took them so long to get back to me was that it looked for a while like they might have a second opening, and they were going to offer it to me if it materialized, but it hasn't. It may yet, but I won't hold my breath.

So, I'm disappointed. It would have been way cool to get the job. On the other hand, that I was even in serious consideration at all against a candidate with so much more experience has got to say something good about my self-presentation skills.

So, onward. Spied an ad this morning for a position at a new UC-affiliated reasearch institute, looking for someone with a chemistry or biology degree to write grant proposals and press releases and such. Sent them my resume.

Should have some more freelance work coming up soon, too.

So, my plan for the day is to go grocery shopping, maybe take some clothes to the dry cleaners. Read some of the stories and novels I've promised to crit for friends. Do some writing. Attempt to get that Chumbawumba song about getting knocked down and getting up again out of my head.

Later!