If At First You Don’t Succeed…

“The more you can stay involved in your community, the more interest you show, the more opportunities will open up for you.”

-Daniel Rickenmann, Mayor of the City of Columbia

Not everyone who applies to a board or commission will be appointed. It’s a simple fact. Yet, not being appointed doesn’t mean you aren’t an asset to your community. Sometimes it’s just math. Some more urban areas, like Richland County and the City of Charleston, may receive multiple applications for one position. If there are fifteen applications for one spot, one person will be appointed, and fourteen others will not. That means 84% of those applicants will be rejected, and only 6% will be appointed. 6% is pretty close to the admissions rate at some Ivy League schools. If you fail to get into Harvard, it doesn’t mean you aren’t bright. It just means you were facing stiff competition. The same can be true for appointed office.

TIP: Applications for county and municipal boards and commissions generally stay on file for at least one year. You can find out from the clerk how long your government will keep your application on file. If there is a sudden vacancy, your application may be reconsidered.

Don’t give up if you’re not appointed! Instead, we have a few other things you can set your mind to. 

• If you hear from an elected official or staff member that you have not been appointed, thank them for their time and let them know you would like to be considered for future positions. It’s also okay to ask if there’s anything you can do next time to be a better candidate. 
• Don’t cause a fuss. No one likes a sore loser. If you kick up a storm about not being appointed or belittle the person who was, you’ll only be remembered for that, no matter how qualified you were. Be gracious in the face of disappointment. 
• Don’t disappear. Regardless of whether you’re appointed, the needs of your community aren’t going to change. Stay involved in your community. In addition to the good work you’ll do and the change you’ll create, you never know what future opportunities it could present.
• Maintain your networks and relationships. You worked hard to build a network and foster relationships. Don’t let those deteriorate because of a setback. Continue cultivating connections because you never know how they may come in handy. 
• Reapply. You know the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” It’s a cliche for a reason. More board and commission positions will become available. You’ll have more opportunities to serve. You may also want to explore applying to a board at another level, i.e., apply for a local board if you were not appointed to a statewide board. 
• Help others and mentor.  Share your experiences with others who are applying for appointed positions. Serve as a mentor to another woman and help build up the next generation of leaders. 

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