Feminist Pub 15: The Bluestocking hangs up its, err, stocking and hopes for a chatty Christmas and a Feminist New Year

[YonicSleighdriver]

Festive greetings!

This is the 15th incarnation of the Pub and is meant as a place to drop by with random thoughts and meandering chats, on feminist or other related themes. Anything you want to mull over but not necessarily start a thread about. Alternatively, get some booze and snacks and hang out! Lurkers, newbies and oldbies welcome.

We have a pub goat, a feminist cannon for firing at crazy sexists and we cheer each other up when patriarchy grinds us down...

Last pub drinkie linkie:

Pub 14

Ah, but Jeanne, what seems like normal sensible talk amongst feminists often seems like frothing to Muggles!

at 'muggles'.

But you probably could quite statistics* at them, and talk about all the things we talk about in here about women getting discouraged and excluded, and sound quite reasonable?

• Yes, I am stereotyping and assuming scientists like statistics.

I think they're is quite keen to get better on gender issues, much more so than some places, and that must help? I mean, I don't think they're just going through the motions with it.

Ooh! I am shocked: I've just noticed they have a spelling error in that job spec.

Colour me catsbumfaced (and a total hypocrite as I'm sure I'd have done the same). You could tell them you know the difference between 'effect' and 'affect' for a start!

I'm allergic to statistics. Well, when I have to calculate them. I'm happier with ones that someone made earlier.

I did actually point out an error in the website of one of the companies I applied to as an editor. But in that case it would be my job to spot stuff like that.

Ah, actually instead of 'quote,' I think. But thank you!

As I say, I would absolutely do the same writing a job spec. But I find it a bit comforting they do too - they can't be that intimidating if they make mistakes too!

Shall we take "quite" as a portmanteau of "quote" and "cite"?

I am generally not intimidated by big corporations, I have worked for the High Ups of many in my career as a personal assistant, and they're all just people at the end of the day.

I like that.

And fair enough - I am easily intimidated by job specs, every time I apply for something. But I expect it's something people get over as time goes on.

It looks an amazing job, that one, I will be crossing my fingers bigtime.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I have a permanent raging case of Imposter Syndrome. But while I have many doubts about my own worthiness to do a job, the people on the other end don't scare me!

What's a word that's better than "proficient"?

Expert, fluent, skilled .... ?

Proficient sounds good to me, though.

adept?

Adept works.

Stats will be given to you, if it's anything like our organisation, until it comes out of your ears. They are useful things to show so-called objective scientists that something is wrong, because nobody will ever admit to being even remotely sexist. Everybody is gender-fucking-neutral. Quote statistics at them. That's the only way.

Would anyone be prepared to give the first draft of my cover letter a gander please? And possibly a professional editing?

"pucker up and kiss the ass-phalt"

Sorry, I know nothing about sciency jobs, although you could send me a copy of the cover letter readability.

'You know how to reach me' does sound wonderfully feminist mafia.

I'd read it too, but frankly, you know I wouldn't know where to start!

It's not a sciency job, kickass, it's a project-managey job at a sciency place! So if you Know Stuff about getting project management/admin-type jobs, I would value your input...

Happy to have a look if you think it will help (I could show it to DH too if you like - he's now a project manager but has a science background). We both have a fair amount of experience in screening CVs prior to interviewing. Feel free to PM me.

I'd look at articles (for the interview, rather than the application) about diversity and companies making more money where they've got more diverse workforces, because it brings different perspectives to the work place. It's the reason why work is so into diversity at the moment - because there's a likelihood of more profit, not because it's just the right thing to do. Still, we must make the most of it, whatever their reasons.

Must be similar in academia in that sense - a more diverse workforce will bring more diverse ideas and perspectives than just a load of middle class white men would.

Im late to this on account of travel, but Annie please PM me. I can get you in touch with someone!

Thanks Oubliette, I will PM you.

Sorry to be hogging the board with this, I'm generally more comfortable with my own applications but a) this is totally new field for me and the type of people reading it are folk I don't have daily contact with so I don't know what kind of blurb is likely to appeal and b) I REALLY want this job so I want to submit the most awesome application ever!

:o kickass.

Ooooh, Fibonacci Knows Someone! (awed and impressed)

Am I PMing you my cover letter or just PMing to start a secret conversations (intrigued)