“Thank you for your application for the position of [JobTitle] with [CompanyName].  We were very impressed with the quality of the applicants, and the final selection from among the many fine candidates was a difficult one.   It is, therefore with regret that we inform you the the position has been filled.  Thank you again for your interest.  We wish you success in attaining your professional goals.”

I despise everything about the job-hunting process.   It’s demeaning and horrible, and I just hate it.  I hate being judged and compared, and I hate having to be ‘on’ all the time.  I hate this economy and how it’s crippling the entire world, and I hate how this financial mess could so easily have been avoided.  Corporate greed, predatory lending practices, and lack of any real oversight are finally being recognized for being ruthless, reprehensible, and even criminal.

It’s true; I could have and should have done many things differently in my life, and I still have plenty of hard choices ahead, but I also know that there are many thousands of people out there who have it much worse than I do, and I’m trying really hard not to get too down about my own situation.  I do still have options, and good health, and a pretty decent and low-overhead life, but it’s getting harder and harder each week to keep up my indomitable spirit.