The stamp on my application for the only job I really want. My application was returned to me today, the day after it was due! And this after I put two 37-cent stamps on it! It was only about 5-6 sheets of paper folded into thirds and they're trying to tell me that two stamps was not sufficient!?

I rushed to FedEx to overnight it so it will arrive on Monday morning (one business day late) inside the original envelope marked “return to sender.” My hope is that they will see that I made every effort to be on time and will still consider my application along with those who did make it on time. (I'm sending an email to explain, as well.) I'm not sure I would do that if I were in their shoes—deadlines can be pretty crucial in the law biz (i.e. the deadline to file a motion in a case is something you have to meet regularly as a public defender and it's not usually something you can fudge). Still, maybe they'll be more lenient than I would be.

The good news is that the deadline was not firm. The original ad listed a closing date of 5/12 and said something like “we encourage you to apply by May 12 but we will accept applications after that until positions are filled.” The ad now lists a closing date of May 26 and says the jobs are “Open until filled. Application materials will be reviewed on a weekly basis. The application pool will be considered for employment opportunities up to November, 2006.”

Still, I wanted my application on the very top of the pile. Here's hoping things still work out that way...