Interview!

Last Thursday I got an email from my recruiter saying he got everything I sent him and that we were ready to schedule the interview. He needed better copies of my transcripts so I had to drive to RIT to get one and rush order another from UD. Why rush? Because after filling out my availability form thing, I got a confirmation email from him stating that my interview was Tuesday, 5 days later, in New York City. Which is quite far away. Naturally, I panicked a little. Mainly because after reading a lot of blogs, people who live far away from the regional recruiting office usually at least get offered phone interviews. Alas, we made plans and ventured down to NYC for a few days after my sister graduated.

The city was hot and miserable, but the interview went (more or less) really well. My recruiter was great and I really enjoyed talking to him. Before the actual interview started, the fact that I live near Rochester came up. James was completely horrified that he didn't offer a phone interview because for some reason my file says I live in New York, New York. He also said that it said a lot about me that I came down to the city on such short notice without complaining or asking for a phone interview. Woo points!

For the actual interview, looking over the interview questions on the PeaceCorpsWiki the night before helped plan a little of what I was going to say, but I still wasn't completely prepared. He asked me about a time I had to deal with a rule that I didn't necessarily approve of, but still followed anyway. I blanked for a long time, but eventually came up with some silly example from Denmark. Which is what most of my examples were: Danish. Oh well, it worked out okay for me. I was completely freaked at the end of the interview because I wasn't sure my answers were good enough and that my blanking completely ruined my chances. But he was really nice and I enjoyed talking to him.

Unfortunately, even though I have some ESL experience, it's not enough to completely qualify me. James said I have to get more experience before I can be invited. So imagine my surprise when I got an email less than an hour later saying he found a position which I qualify for in Central Asia / Asia leaving in June 2011 for English teaching. I still need to find more experience but I can't seem to find anything locally. At least nothing that doesn't require a year commitment. I have an idea for the school year, but hopefully something comes through before that. Either way, I have a pretty fabulous-looking Toolkit now, but I can't wait until it changes from Applicant to Nominee.