Oh, what an experience! This job-search life is such a hoot sometimes!

Today I had my first-ever interview for a campus presidency. There’s no way that I’ll ever be hired into this position, though, so I thought I’d make mention of it (and make fun of it) here.

I’ve only ever applied for three jobs at this level, and this is my first interview. So, in that way it’s kind of a milestone. And, it’s difficult to believe that this campus will actually find someone really desirable with the process that they’ve put in place.

Last week, a woman from that campus’ HR department called and identified herself as Bobbi Jo. She told me where she was from and then said, “we was wonderin’ if you’d want to interview for the campus executive officer position.” Yes, Bobbi Jo (what is this, Petticoat Junction!?) actually said, we was wonderin’ – when calling to set up an interview for a presidential candidate. (She phrased it this way two different times during our conversation.)

Well, I talked this through with her and set up a phone interview for today, scheduled to last (a mere) one-half hour.

So: I got the call today at five minutes past the scheduled time. The person on the phone identified himself (by name, not position), indicated that the interview committee was gathered, that they were going to tape the interview with my permission, and jumped right into the questions. He asked them all himself. Totally without inflection or trace of any personality at all. As soon as I provided one answer, he jumped right in with the next question. I had no sense of the group, only this task-oriented, humorless person on the other end of the line.

This is how you hire a president?

I don’t think so.