i'm such a fuck-up sometimes, apparently. (aka, job search woes
so i found out there was a job opening at a local women's clinic while i was there for my annual exam a couple weeks ago and dropped off my resume last week. the receptionist who had told me about the position told me there was no education or experience required, which i was psyched about because i don't have any college experience or education other than my certification as a Licensed Nurse's Assistant. anyway, i got an email this morning from the HR director asking if i would like to meet her for an interview tomorrow, and she specifically mentioned that she had attatched the job requirements and qualifications in a separate file. when i looked them over i found that the position actually requires a bachelor's in science and a year of experience in the field, so i responded to her email with a polite reply that said although i was still majorly interested in the position i know i'm way underqualified and didn't want to waste her time meeting me for an interview knowing that i'm not what they're looking for, but to let me know if something else opens up that i'd be right for.
i forwarded both emails to my best friends, who are both career professionals and have been coaching me through my job search because i'm way overwhelmed looking for jobs outside nannying and waitressing, which is all i've ever done before. they both wrote back freaking out and telling me i fucked up, and that since she had my resume she wouldn't have invited me for an interview unless she was interested in me for the job, even though i'm super underqualified, and that i should have just gone for the interview anyway. they said people do it all the time, go for jobs they aren't qualified for, and i sold myself short and told her "no, don't hire me".
now i'm super distressed and confused, too. i mean, if she specifcally sent me those qualifications she must have wanted me to READ them and be honest about whether i'm actually qualified, right?
this blows. i'm a mess right now, can't stop crying. i want that job so so badly, and i fucked it up. i feel so helpless about this stuff; working in restaurants my whole life has given me ZERO preparation for job hunting outside that field. i've had to have my friends walk me through my resume and cover letter step by step because i'm cluless, and i feel like a moron.
i'm so frustrated that i gave up a chance at an interview for this job. is this really what looking for jobs is about, lying about your qualifications to get your foot in the door and then scamming for a job even though you're super underqualified?! why didn't someone tell me that?! yeah, i should have known that. bah.
this blows.
ETA: okay, so i left her a voicemail earlier telling apologizing for my earlier email and told her i'd still like the chance to meet with her tomorrow if possible; she emailed me again a little while ago, said she was so happy to get my message, and can't meet with tomorrow and will be out of town next week but wants to do a phone interview next week!! woo! it's definitely not as good as meeting face-to-face but i'm so psyched. a friend that does hiring for healthcare positions is going to practice with me this weekend and go over some typical stuff that she'll ask me.
i'm nervous but so frigging relieved that i made up for the stupid "nah dont hire me i'm underqualified" email i sent her. i'm still smacking my head and saying D'OH for that one, but you live, you learn. i'll neve turn down a fucking interview again, that's for damn sure!
wish me luck, mamas! i need all the vibes i can get! 
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Wait, so did you actually cancel the appt.? And you wouldn't have been lying about anything by going, she has your resume right in front of her. I'm sure she noticed that you didn't have any college education on it. Maybe just give her a call and tell her that you are still super interested in the job if she's still willing to meet with you. Don't leave it just up to email, you'll just worry yourself to death waiting to hear back. Just call and explain that you were originally told there was no education required and when you saw the requirements she sent you were just surprised.
Gook luck, mama! It can't hurt to speak with her more.
good luck with this! stay confident!
Maybe practice the interview outloud on your own- think of some questions you may be asked (like why would you want the position, what are your strengths, give an example of a time you had conflict with someone and how did you resolve it) and then say the answers out loud.
Be easy on yourself and have fun! You`re awesome!!!
**Breathe**
she emailed me to setup a phone interview with her for next week...a friend that works in healthcare employment is going to do some practice phone interviews with me to make me feel more confident about it. i'm so relieved that she doesnt think i'm a total moron and she got back to me so soon!
Yay, awesome!! So glad to hear that the chance is still there. You're going to rock the interview, no doubt 
if they like you and if you can be trained to do what they do. period. degrees are toilet paper.
job descriptions will contain things like "BS or equivalent" or even just "BS" but whether you get in is really up to the person doing the hiring. there's no, like, law or anything forcing most organizations to hire degreed people. certain fields, and certain organizations, are audited for their staff's qualifications and sometimes they do have to have this degree in this position, (in my experience it was actually health care orgs that had to adhere to this) but in almost all companies, whether you have a degree or not is irrelevant.
someone with a BS would need all of the training you will need, and this person interviewing you knows that. any person who's ever actually managed a business of any sort knows that everyone has a learning curve, and whether you can learn what they do has nothing to do with what you studied. ask anyone with a lit degree, working in insurance.
so, now you know. kick ass on that interview. your nurse's assistant cert will probably help you more than you think, it's practical knowledge. if you understand how things need to run in that office, you're an ideal candidate.
u shouldnt feel bad about job huting skills im taking an entire class at college called"job search skills" so dnt b feelin bad bout that. never sell urself short mama. folks like to hire underqualified because they feel like you will stick around for awhile versus over qualified cuz then ud always b looking for something better. good luck
Jessica
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind~~Dr.Seuss
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i said that i apologized for the confusion but would still love the chance to meet with her if she's still available, and that i look forward to hearing back from her.
thinking about it now, yeah...she had my resume right in front of her and knows i have no college exp, so she wouldn't have written me to set up an interview if that was a dealbreaker. but at the time when i opened the file and saw the requirements my heart just sank and i was like, "fuck, i can't waste her time." lesson learned: NEVER EVER turn down the chance for an interview. ever.
looking for jobs makes me feel awkward and self-conscious and i lose my confidence so easily; i'm so confident in so many other aspects of my life though, and i need to bring that attitude into this job search.
crossing my fingers that i hear back from her, and that i can show her i'm not the flake i've probably led her to believ i am so far!