Don't get your hopes up

Its a strange old phrase that one. Everyone uses it, I did so only this morning. It is also in my mind totally obsolete. When you really want something or are looking forward to something it is natural to get your hopes up, its basically unavoidable.

This phrase often goes hand in hand with "expect rejection/the worst" and then it wont be as disappointing. Won't it? I have admittedly found that if I have done badly in an interview then I am not that disappointed when I get rejected, but its difficult to fool yourself. If you think you have done well, telling yourself you did badly simply is not going to work. I am unfortunately often wrong, this is where the problem lies because rejection does hurt a lot more when you do not expect it.

I expect too much, that is certainly true. With each new opportunity I suddenly see the potential, jumping all the stages in between as if they are mere formalities. Last week I applied to a graduate program, I offered all the skills they wanted and even the ones under the desired column. I wrote an application and was even practicing pyschometric tests in preparation for the next stage.

On Sunday they sent me a rejection, no explanation.
I was crestfallen, with other jobs it was experience that proved the let down, but on a level playing field I did not even reach stage 2? Where do I go from there?

I later rationalised that as my application was late they had already filled the position, or maybe there was something they did not like. Ultimately it did not matter, the only thing to do was to pick myself up and as my Dad put "keep on trucking."

Because what it comes down to is this. You can get your hopes up, you can be massively disappointed but all you can do is get yourself back up and out there and carry on. Sometimes there is a lesson to be learned and sometimes you just leave an experience in the past but in the end you just have to keep on going, applying for jobs and hope that eventually someone hands you a chance.

It is Monday now and my hopes are back up. I have applied to a company called Fubra, they are a young internet company, seemingly with a vibrant, friendly community of workers. They even have an X-Box 360 in the break room. I have had a good saunter around their site and I would love to work for them. The position is as an online marketing assistant, an ideal job title. No mention of a need for experience and once again I fulfil all the criteria.

Now I just have to wait and if my hopes are fulfilled that would be awesome, if not I will just have to "keep on trucking."