The second interview blues

So I have walked away from very few interviews feeling like I rocked the socks off the interviewer. I often feel like I didn't blow it, which is a plus, but that REALLY good feeling just hasn't come around much.

So, when I went in for an interview on a Friday afternoon for a specialty jewelry sales position, I was feeling really good about it. I love the jewelry and I've got great customer service skills. I was meeting with the manager of the new store, to open up at the end of September. Just my luck, the regional director was in-store and she sat in on my interview as well.

Insert interview going swimmingly well, include the first trip to the future store for both of them, and end it with the RD telling me she was excited to see my passion for the brand and just a little jealous of my growing collection. The manager told me they were hoping to get second rounds of interviews set up for the following Wednesday, and possibly have people training as soon as the next week. I filled out my very detailed application (background check, some kind of honesty test, and references) and said thank you, I hope to hear from you soon.

That was Friday.

I spent my weekend on a bit of a high, feeling good about the interview and my chances for a second round.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday roll by, and I get a little down. We all know that hiring a new staff is complicated and usually takes longer than expected. I call the manager on Thursday to thank her for the interview and to share my excitement for the new store. She was "busy with an interview", but I left a message with another sales person. I hung up feeling sad and defeated. She was interviewing, and I hadn't gotten a call back. Boo.

Fifteen minutes later, I get a call back from that same RD from my interview, who just happened to be in the store and saw my note. She just wanted to call and tell me I was in their pile of "excellent candidates." They were going to be calling for second interviews, scheduling them for Friday or Monday. "You should be hearing from us very soon."

OK, now, I know I really want this job, but I think the RD pretty much told me I'd be getting a second interview. I don't believe I read that wrong.

All day Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. My phone is silent. Nothing. Insert serious bummed out feelings here. Follow them with angry ones. Follow those with confusion.

My call had been to thank the interviewer, and fish a bit to see where they were in the hiring process. There was NO NEED for the RD to call me back. Certainly, no need for her to tell me I was getting a second interview. I don't even know that she has any say in the hiring process directly.

So now it's Monday. And I'm leaving town for 4 days. Wouldn't it just stink if they called me and wanted to have a second interview while I was gone? Would that blow my whole chances?

What is the right move? Do nothing and hope they call and set it up for next week? Call and ask that my second interview, which your RD told me I'd be getting, get scheduled for before I leave? Do I lie a little and say I'm suddenly going to be traveling, and since RD told me I'd be getting contacted about a second interview, I wanted to let you know I'll be gone for a few days?

This stinks. Please leave advice.
~J

Nearly two months gone...

Several of my dear friends have been looking for new employment for a while. They, unlike me, kept their jobs until they found something new. Not this chica.

None the less, I am spending 6-8 hours a day applying for jobs. I search seven different websites all day long, revise my cover letter 5-6 times a day, and I've gotten three interviews. All for different things. What's still annoying is the huge amount of SILENCE. I know many of these postings are receiving 100+ resumes a day, but come on, if you send out an email thanking me for applying, the least you can do is send a "Sorry, we're not interested" email.

On a separate note, I'm headed back to my hometown next week for my mom's birthday and to go to our state fair. I'm really hoping to have a job by then!!!!

All in all, I've loved being here. Seattle is amazing- the food, the city, the parks. I really want to stay! Come on, Universe! Work with mere here...