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[gunsgermsandsteel]

Anybody has post-MLA blues?
Or post-MLA depression?

I find the cattle call area interesting. It is not as terrifying as imagined. Once I got in, I find myself and the SC comfortably nest in an invisible bubble.

Not as crazy as a stock market. This makes me a bit disappointed.

Now I miss the cattle call area.



By the way, I suspect meat is free in Chicago. People there consume meat of any kind as if it were free.

[pink_]

I always get the post-MLA blues, but I'm one of the weirdos who actually really enjoys the MLA, mostly because I like to visit and catch up with friends and colleagues.  I always end up meeting some interesting and cool people, and I get to stay in a hotel that I could never otherwise afford in a city with lots of interesting things to do.

But when you're on the market it's a whole other kind of letdown, in large part, I think because here's this huge build-up that you have been anticipating for months, and suddenly it is over.  It kind of reminds me of filing the diss in a way.  But don't worry, the roller coaster will wind up and down again as the call-back cycle begins . . .

Hang in there.

[trabb]

This year?  No!  But that's the first time in three years for me.

I'll make this suggestion, and I hope I don't sound all self-righteous.  It really, really helped me to find some kind of service activity with which to involve myself after MLA.  Anything that gets you out of your house and involved helping those less fortunate than yourself will do wonders to put MLA, with all its craziness, in proper perspective.  I highly recommend it if you can afford the time away from course prep for spring.  Oh - and take your cellphone.  I got the call for a campus visit for my current job while on a construction site.

And I agree - I really preferred the cattle call area to the hotel interviews.  I know I'm in the minority, but it somehow seemed like a far more professional setting, and that put me at ease.

[gaeta]

And I agree - I really preferred the cattle call area to the hotel interviews.  I know I'm in the minority, but it somehow seemed like a far more professional setting, and that put me at ease.

I agree as well. It is much preferable to being in a hotel room (not a suite, but a simple room) with way too many people and perhaps an unmade bed. Very weird stuff.

The main problem with the interview area was the area right outside the interview area—where there were some waiting interviewees truly freaking out. To wit: 1) Job hunter pacing frantically in some strange figure-8 pattern while talking loudly to self and running hands through hair repeatedly, and 2) job hunter sitting on floor, back against wall, head in hands, while keening.

I avoided this area like the plague, preferring to arrive 2 minutes before my scheduled interview. I hope those people I saw are ok....

[epistephiliac]

The main problem with the interview area was the area right outside the interview area—where there were some waiting interviewees truly freaking out. To wit: 1) Job hunter pacing frantically in some strange figure-8 pattern while talking loudly to self and running hands through hair repeatedly, and 2) job hunter sitting on floor, back against wall, head in hands, while keening.

This sounds like a Bosch painting! Yikes.

[trabb]

The main problem with the interview area was the area right outside the interview area—where there were some waiting interviewees truly freaking out. To wit: 1) Job hunter pacing frantically in some strange figure-8 pattern while talking loudly to self and running hands through hair repeatedly, and 2) job hunter sitting on floor, back against wall, head in hands, while keening.

See I always loved seeing this.  I pretended that Figure 8 Guy was the person waiting to interview right after me and the Floor Sitter was the one right after him.  If that's my competition, then I'll do quite well, thank you.

[titania]

I always get this from my discipline's conference.  It is the emotional high of running around the conference meeting people, talking, interviewing...and then when it is over you are exhausted, drained and suddenly depressed.

I handled it better this year by just trying to staying calmer during the entire conference so I didn't have such dramatic mood swings.

I also prefer the cattle call area to the hotel room.  I was surprised at how easily a few curtains and a little bit of tension made me forget everything going on outside and focus on the interviewers.  And while waiting I ended up exchanging stories with other interviewees for different schools, one of whom happened to have a friend working at the place I was interviewing at.  Small world.  It was kind of fun.

[gunsgermsandsteel]

I'll make this suggestion, and I hope I don't sound all self-righteous.  It really, really helped me to find some kind of service activity with which to involve myself after MLA.  Anything that gets you out of your house and involved helping those less fortunate than yourself will do wonders to put MLA, with all its craziness, in proper perspective.  I highly recommend it if you can afford the time away from course prep for spring. 

Your idea is great. It means a lot.
I should put myself outside my box-- and inside the box of the other.

[gunsgermsandsteel]

I I was surprised at how easily a few curtains

For me, even curtains are not needed. Tables are not needed either. They simply vaporize in the process of an interview.

[trabb]

I I was surprised at how easily a few curtains

For me, even curtains are not needed. Tables are not needed either. They simply vaporize in the process of an interview.

God Almighty, what kind of research exactly do you do???

[gunsgermsandsteel]

I I was surprised at how easily a few curtains

For me, even curtains are not needed. Tables are not needed either. They simply vaporize in the process of an interview.

God Almighty, what kind of research exactly do you do???

It is just a metaphor :-)
I meant that no object in my sight mattered any more when I was being interviewed. I was not distracted by any other table at all.

Fortunately, I still remembered to keep the SC members in my sight.

[dundee]

I'm actually feeling quite giddy post-MLA. My interviews went extremely well, people liked my paper, I caught up with lots of friends, I stayed in a swank room, ate good food and got asked by an editor to write a paper for a journal in my field. It was nothing like the hellacious experience I was told to expect.

I too gained enormous confidence from seeing the other candidates crumbling outside the interview ballroom. I told myself that since I had a new suit, a haircut, a beautiful tie and didn't look twelve or insane, I was miles ahead of the competition. I am still amazed by how poorly dressed some candidates were and by how many people seemed to be melting down.

[qrypt]

So, who here had a conference fling?  That's the most important thing...

[thekid]

I have the blues but mainly b/c I saw some dear grad school friends and could not spend a lot of time with them. I had my first interview with a SLAC (I am in a R1) and am not sure how it went; was feeling a little bit rusty when asked what theory I based my work in (my scholarship has changed since grad school) but energized and excited by new career possibilities. I had and have the typical remorse after when I think of all could/would/should have saids, though.

I did not see anyone walking in figure 8s in the area outside the Pit -- am quite shocked that people take anxiety that far or at least allow it to show. Do they not think that members from their next interview committee might be standing right there?  To add to group opinion, I too liked the Pit - for my job now, I met countless committees in rooms and suites but this atmosphere was much more professional and to-the-point, which I like.

Good luck to us all! Would enjoy hearing more stories of the highly nervous -- it amuses me for some sad sick reason.

[nsqne]

Anybody has post-MLA blues?
Or post-MLA depression?

Not me... I thought it was going to be depressing but it was actually fun.
And I'm still having fun telling MLA anecdotes to my friends. Although, now that I mention it, they seem to be avoiding me lately :-)