Brian ~
I'm sorry that the other job prospect fizzled, too. Although interview skills are important, I don't believe they always make or break your chances to land a job in a technical field. It took me years to hone my job interview skills but as a broadcaster, I was judged mostly on my talent and contributing factors, such as experience and voice quality. Unless I acted like an obnoxious jerk during an interview, I would usually get the job I applied for. However, in the radio D.J. business, the hiring decision is almost completely subjective. I was turned down for one radio gig I applied for (in Hartford) but six months later, a much bigger Hartford station (that paid way more) approached me (I never applied there) and pretty much offered me a radio show. I accepted and by doing so, immediately doubled my salary. It happens. I once had to turn down a lucrative radio show offer because the station was in another state and having been unemployed awhile, I simply couldn't afford to move and with a 3-year-old child, I wasn't going without my family. It killed me to say no to that good job, but I had no choice. Two months later, I landed a nice radio gig about a mile away from my home. I loved that job and stayed at that station for 11 years, a record for radio show longevity, for me. I like to say that I practically raised my son with the money that job paid.
All this reminiscing has a point...honest. Its meant to demonstrate that things have a way of working out for the best, even when it doesn't seem like it at the time.
As we all know too well, there are no guarantees in life - but I believe that if you work diligently, have integrity and are good at what you do things will eventually go well for you, if not exactly the way you expected. There are always new horizons and for a young man with salable skills (IT is a solid job field) you have a lot to look forward to in your career, even if it seems stymied, now. As Liz noted, the economy is tight and jobs are harder to come by. Employers can be highly selective (if not always prescient) but that will inevitably change and your chance to advance will surely arrive. As I stated in an earlier post: never give up.
Jim
