Ice, White & Blue

Redhead Amok in Antarctica

Home » April 2005
Friday, April 22, 2005
Rejection Letter

I've been back home for awhile and working on returning to the Ice. I realized less than a few weeks into my season that I would have to go back. The sooner the better. So I re-applied for my Shuttles job for the 2005-2006 Summer Season, thinking, despite the one difficulty I had (which I did not write about because it was not  big enough to change my experience of the Ice) while there, I would be perfectly happy returning in the same position. After all, shit will happen where ever there are people, and in the big picture of Antarctica, the negatives were negligible. 
 
It was a stressful season for the department, with the early switch to Willie Field due to the Sea Ice Runway melting out from underneath them in the unseasonably early warm weather.  This made the mid-season Shuttle Drivers' (me, plus three others) arrival, though on time date-wise, later than usual, airfield swap-wise.  It left the department scrambling & shorthanded during that period.  I walked in as a complete newbie under these circumstances, onto a well-bonded team who could not immediately rely on me until I was trained, and there was very little time for them to train me.  I can understand their frustrations. I learned the job well, with great dollops of kindness & help from Bill, Sharon, Gloria, Julie, Sara, & John. Among the ones whose names I recall off the top of my head & were on my shift.
 
I wrote a kick ass reapplication letter to my supervisor:
 
Hi [boss's name],

I appreciate your recommendation to get my name in to other departments during this season. I have done so, but I did want to reassure you that my interest in returning to the Shuttles Department is not one of "I'll do Shuttles IF I can't get a job elsewhere."  My primary interest is in returning as a Shuttle Driver in your department for a full season.  I really enjoyed the job and the department, and you are a very respected and generous person who I would enjoy working for again.  I appreciated the generosity you showed me despite the completely stressful and challenging time during the season in which I arrived as a total newbie.  You were so kind in inviting me to your Christmas party (which meant so much to me) and to your Christmas dinner table (what a hoot!) and helping me out with my dietary considerations throughout my time there.
 
I am a trained Shuttle Driver, I know the vehicles, I know the dispatch needs, I know my way around town, I am dependable; I would be a boon to your department starting out a new season with new Shuttle Drivers on board.  I strongly believe that my experience will be an asset. I have a history of learning a job well and being a respected trainer and teacher of that same job. My current and previous supervisors at [my current employer] will all attest to that strength of mine if you care to ask them. I can certainly provide you with their names and contact information this time round, as they all know I am hoping to go back down to McMurdo this year. I was given a Leave of Absence to go to McMurdo in the first place, despite my leaving for another job, because they valued my contribution to the team I am on and wanted me back. Within a week of my return, despite knowing I intend to leave in October if offered the opportunity, my supervisor asked me to join the [---] Team. He knows I will learn the extra responsibilities quickly and well, and once I have learned them teach the job well before I leave, not to mention perform beyond expectations as a matter of course while I am there.

I am familiar with the airfield protocol, and did well even under challenging circumstances.  I got along well with the other members of the department and members of the McMurdo community. I believe that if you bring me back I can help you in the first few weeks of the new season, in getting the other people up to speed on the job when the demands are so strong on the department you perform miracles. It is no wonder you won Employee of the Month last season. You provide a completely necessary service to the community.

I have an excellent safety record, and I understand that I was publicly acknowledged for it once on the I-Net. I am very conscious of safety in both driving and working around the vehicles.  I have very good customer service skills and I know my passengers enjoyed being on board my vehicles, just as I enjoyed meeting them. You pointed out in my review that I always show up for shift early in order to bring myself up to speed on the events of the previous shift, I will continue to do that as part and parcel of the job, it makes for a less stressful transition between shifts for all concerned. Just as I believe that bringing me back to the department can help make the new season a less stressful one because of my proven track record andexperience.

I will not consider accepting another position on Ice while there is still a chance for me to return as a Shuttle Driver to your department. Please continue considering me for a full season position in your department this year. I do appreciate your concern for me and my ability to return to McMurdo but I do believe Raytheon and Shuttles would be best served by my returning as a Shuttle Driver this coming season.

In hopes your hiring season is going well,
Genevieve

It took over two weeks before I got a response from her and I was stunned to receive this standard response when I did:

********
Thank you for your interest in working for Shuttles and ATO.   I regret to inform you that all positions have been filled.

Please note that we will keep your resume on file over the summer, and if we have the chance to forward it to another department for review, we will certainly do so. I would encourage you to continue to follow up with your contacts in other departments.

Best of luck in the future, and thanks again,
Shuttle [boss's name]
********
Thus begins the great Second Season Job Scramble.

 

 

posted by: coldwish at 19:20 | link | comments |
between 2005

Friday, April 15, 2005
Back Home: New Links

Hey folks, check out the new links I added to the left of the screen. In particular check out Sarah Kaye and Under the Ice.

I'm adjusting to life in a cubicle again. But you haven't heard the last of me yet. Just not politic to post my experiences when my cubicle neighbours are possibly reading this. Hope you've enjoyed it. I enjoyed writing it. It kept me observant and thinking about where I was, knowing that I had to try and find the words to share it.

Thank you for reading me. And thank you for all your lovely comments, on line and in person.

Shuttle Genevieve

posted by: coldwish at 14:39 | link | comments |
between 2005

 

C'est Moi, Genevieve:

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