At the last minute-- almost the very last minute --I got two interviews.  Just two, not that I'm complaining, but last year I had nine.  I got the calls back to back on the last day of fall semester, after I had just walked out of the final exam I was proctoring for the class I taught last semester.

I went home, pulled my suits out of the morass of clothing that is my "dressing room" and immediately took them to the dry cleaner, where I paid something like $60 to have 3 suits done. (Ridiculous, but I digress.)

I put together a teaching portfolio and made six copies as I did not know how many people would be interviewing me.  I've had everything from a one-on-one interview to a seven-person interview (that became six when one member walked out for more pressing business that needed his attention... not a good sign,  ever.)

This year I was determined to go into my interviews better prepared than last year.  Last year at this time, I still had two chapters left to write on my dissertation (no wonder I didn't land a job, it's really not all that shocking); this year I was prepared to talk about the whole kit and kaboodle. 

I had my interviews, I felt they were solid, but I keep telling myself that the rock-solid interview is absolutely NO GUARANTEE that I'll get a flyback to either institution.

The interview is not enough.

I sent thank-you notes to all my interviewers, I sent along the sample syllabi that they requested, I sent thank-you emails as well.  Maybe I went overboard.  I just didn't want them to forget me... or my project.

As I'm writing this at 5:20 a.m., it is clearer to me than ever, having woken up in a panic because I forgot to send in my EOE (optional) survey for one of the institutions, that everything has to be spot-on perfect in order to land a job in this economy.  And ay, isn't that quixotic, the pursuit of perfection, especially when one's own perception of perfection may or may not be the same as those who judge.

The interview is not enough, I know this now, but the rest of it, the stuff that matters-- the first impression, the subjectivity of the interviewers, whether or not you take a drink when they offer it to you, the color of your eyes, your last name, and whether or not the stars are in alignment that day --you have no control over whatsoever.

And so, sit back and do what, precisely?

Answer: keep applying for jobs.

Same as it ever was.