<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: [CAUT] Getting an Interview</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> Hey, John, I don’t know about advice, but I can tell you a story. When I applied for this job, I had been acquainted with the incumbent technician for over 10 years.  I had done a lot of work for the local dealer that sold this school about 80% of their current inventory.  One of the two top private piano teachers in town was a client of mine.  I got the dealer and the teacher to write letters for me. The replacement they just hired ( I’m leaving) has done work for a piano professor at another school who is a good friend of the head piano professor here. I’m quite convinced that in both cases connections got us the interview and the results of the interview got us the job. You must have made some connections over the last 10 years – think of all the people you have met!  Use those connections, and never miss another convention (if you’re not already a regular attendee).  You’ll make more contacts every time. The classic job-hunting manual, “What Color is Your Parachute?”, consistently reports that most advertisements don’t result in hirings, and most interviews and hirings begin with a personal recommendation to the employer from someone they trust.  Universities have bureaucratic processes they have to go through, but you’re still dealing with people.  Hiring a new person is a situation fraught with uncertainty, and nobody likes uncertainty.  The best way I can help reduce the uncertainty surrounding my application is to use those personal contacts to get the message to the employer that I’m OK and worth looking at.  Look at it from their point of view: if you can increase their comfort level and make their job easier before they even meet you, then you’re likely to keep doing that after they hire you.  That’s what you call a warm fuzzy.  Everybody likes warm fuzzies. Just my two cents, Ken Z. On 5/1/08 12:12 PM, "John Pope" <jhpoperpt@earthlink.net> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE>Here's a question folks, I've been working on pianos for about 20 years, been an RPT for about 15. I've had a part time college contract here in Danville KY for the last 10 years, including piano prep for a very prestigious concert series. Murray PIraiha, Andre Michal Schub, Cedar Walton, and Menachem Pressler have all been here and were all pretty happy with the D. In fact everybody here is happy with the work I do. Now, for the last 2 years I've applied for full time university jobs here and there but I have yet to get an interview. Any suggestions on getting one? John Pope       </BLOCKQUOTE> -- Ken Zahringer, RPT University of Missouri School of Music </BODY> </HTML>