a week ago today, i drove to the office, wrote up a letter of resignation and for the first time in my life, actually handed it in. it was a bad job for me and let's leave it at that. :>
tuesday, i had an appointment to meet a recruiter in the city. as it happened, the appointment was for mid-morning and the offices were near where i once worked. i keep in touch with the folks there, and every time i talk with them, the boss keeps telling me "ed, next time you come to the city, let me buy you lunch!" i'm a firm believer in not burning bridges if at all possible, and well, hey, free lunch! so i arranged to drop by and take him up on his offer.
the appointment with the recruiter went fairly well, i thought. i headed off to the place of my previous employment. as i stepped out of the elevator, my phone rang.
stepping to a lightly-traveled part of the floor, i took the call. turned out to be an HR person from someone who saw my resume online and wanted to invite me for an interview. after some initial confusion, i realized that this call was completely unrelated to the recruiter with whom i just met.
i was intrigued by the possibility as well as the woman's obvious enthusiasm and job satisfaction--you just can't fake those things, i've always found. we proceeded to have a nice ten minute conversation during which we established something of a rapport. maybe her enthusiasm more than anything else really was what made me want to hear what she had to say. we concluded by establishing that i would arrive for an interview at 2 pm the next day (wednesday).
that was just shy of noon, tuesday.
wednesday: i arrive at their offices (only 20 mins away). i went in, met my contact, she handed me a form to fill out.
[rant redacted for separate blog entry here.]
i walked into the first interview, which was with her. she explained a lot about the company, went through your usual battery of questions, all the usual & customary stuff.
most of you don't know this about me but in each of my last few jobs (excepting the one i just resigned from), i was downsized. since asking why you left a job is a usual question, i was ready with the explanations of how those situations came about. as i explained however, her eyes grew progressively wider and she interjected, "forgive me, but you must be starved for a stable company!"
i couldn't help myself--i laughed! it was really, really funny! cuz she was right--i was!
looking back on it, i don't think my reaction to that question could possibly have been better.
when we reached the point where she asked if i had any questions, i did have some: i'm a firm believer in having at least 2-3 questions to ask at the end of any interview.
she surprised me however by telling me that she was going to have someone else come talk with me.
well, one thing leads to another and wham! i've met with three more people, it's quarter after five, and i'm turning my phone on so i can call my wife and tell her that no, i wasn't in a car accident--i'd been gone already for 4 hours for what we both thought that morning would be just one interview!
i have always known that i interview pretty well. but wednesday, i was on fire. i think i did a good job of turning the right amount of questions into "here's why i'm a great candidate" without doing that to all of them. when i've been on the other side of the interviewing desk, people who did that with everything always annoyed me--they seem fake to me.
a distinct merit to the rapid-fire pace of going from interview to interview back to back like that is that you can reflect on what was said and also any errors you might have made so you can try to correct those errors with the next interview. i did make one or two, so i was able to make use of that format to my advantage, i think, and each interview also gave me more insight as to how to respond more meaningfully to questions or conversational prompts.
the next day, the mrs and i were making lunch when i heard my phone ringing. b/c of the timing, i considered not taking it, but it could have been the recruiter i met the other day.
it wasn't: it was the HR person from the place with which i interviewed just the day before calling to tell me that they wanted me to come onboard!
major decisions like that, IMV, are ones that need to be discussed with one's spouse before making a commitment, so i said i'd call back first thing in the morning with an answer, explaining the reason for the delay. the mrs and i discussed it but i already knew that there was no reason to say no--i just needed to make sure that she didn't have one.
so barely an hour later or so, i called back to accept.
from the first phone call to my acceptance was less than 50 hours.
and btw: their benefits package is embarrassingly good! :D
ed
silverwhisper posted on Mar 17, 2008
| views: 399
Comments
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TinSoldier said on Mar 17, 2008....
Awesome, man! Really.
And I agree, RE discussing with one's spouse or SO any significant changes. Even ones that are beneficial on the face of it.
Congratulations!
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MissMimi said on Mar 17, 2008....
[throws confetti]Congratulations, ed honey! -
evil_twin said on Mar 17, 2008....
That sounds like a fate situation to me! Everything just fell into place perfectly for you didn't it? This must be the perfect job for you :-) Congratulations!
-evil_twin LA
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beyondtheveil said on Mar 17, 2008....
This is great, Ed. Most of all I hope its a job you look forward to in the mornings as you take your ride to get there. I think this would be a welcome change, don't you? -
quietone said on Mar 17, 2008....
piece of cake wasn't it! LOL good for you. I hope it turns out to be a great job :) -
the_infernal_optimist said on Mar 17, 2008....
Ok, that made me grin like a dork. :-D I'm so happy for you! :) Congratulations, ed!
~Infernal
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Mamie said on Mar 17, 2008....
[breathes sigh of relief]BRAVO, MAN!! I am a little skittish when it comes to downsizing as you well know...so this one makes me grin from ear to ear! it surly is a fated thing...now go have some fun and just be your brillinat self!! yahooooo!! mamie -
fearing said on Mar 17, 2008....
Yea Ed!!!!!
{big hug}
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diabolicdame said on Mar 17, 2008....
Hey Ed.. Congratulations!! It sounds like you really were on fire.. And it all fell into place just right.. Sounds like you were meant to get this job.. Hope everything turns out great for you! -
skald said on Mar 17, 2008....
Ed congratulations.!!!!!! That sounds good. -
uniquely-ironic said on Mar 17, 2008....
From the sound of things I'd speculate that you're a very talented and experienced "whatever you do". The long interviews are gruelling, but it sounds like you handled it nicely. Congrats on the new job and enjoy your embarrassingly good bennies!! -
botoni said on Mar 17, 2008....
From the moment I read that you had resigned I knew with out a doubt where you were going. You exude competence and capability. No doubt in my mind that as soon as the word was out that you were available there would be a line up of hopeful employers. -
silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
TS: thanks, man--i was pretty darned excited, as you can imagine. :> yeah, major decisions should not be made unilaterally, IMHO.
mimi: why thank you! :D
kyle: yeah, everything just seemed to line up--weird, but hey, i'll take it! thank you! :D
beyond: i hope that too and yes, it would be a welcome change indeed!
quietone: i gotta say, i was a bit scared at how...easily...things seemed to go!
infernal: hey, it's making me smile like a dork too! :D thanks! :>
mamie: damn, but it does make me glad that my good news makes others happy too! thank you so much! :D
fearing: oof! thank you! [wheezing from being out of breath from the big hug]
diablo: let's hope so, thanks! i can't wait for day 1! :>
skald: thank you--it feels pretty darned good, too! :D
u-i: i fully plan to--i'm not sure how i can make the most use out of tuition reimbursement but i need to think about that. perhaps i should consider going the next step and work on a master's? yeah, it was a bit gruelling but i was so keying off the energy i was feeling, you know?
botoni: i exude those things? egads, i better be careful about blogging or commenting when i'm feeling really confident! :D thank you! :>
ed -
uniquely-ironic said on Mar 17, 2008....
You could do the Master's a class at a time if your workload is heavy. I know good companies really like it when you take advantage of the tuition thing. It gives them a much higher skilled and happy employee. -
Eilan said on Mar 17, 2008....
Way to go!! -
silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
u-i: the single common theme i kept getting from each of those interviews was that these guys are interested in hiring their future leaders so if they wanna make that kind of commitment, i absolutely want to take them up on it--once i figure that part out, you know?
eilan: thank you! :D
ed -
GrapeKoolaid said on Mar 17, 2008....
Good deal, ed. Here I was thinking, "I'll have to leave a comment on ed's blog about the uncertainty of being in between jobs and having a stiff upper lip and stuff". As I progressed down the post, I realized that I wouldn't have to leave a comment of that type at all. Instead, what is needed here is a hearty "Congratulations!!!"
LOL. That must have been some scary and uncertain 50 hours. :D
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silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
thank you, my friend. :>
yes, it was a tense 50 hours, no qyuestion. :>
ed -
vacantmind said on Mar 17, 2008....
I hope this job is a great fit for you! Congratulations! -
silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
thank you, vm--i hope so, too! :>
ed -
Fallyn said on Mar 17, 2008....
oh ed. *grin*
you so deserve it! i really hope you are happy there!
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crybabylu said on Mar 17, 2008....
Congratulations! We look forward to hearing about your new job. -
lfbno7 said on Mar 17, 2008....
You quit a job without having another lined up. That speaks for a lot of security. That's pretty cool. I'm thinking you can survive a few months without income, no problem. You don't sound like a slave to me. I, on the other hand, am a 9 to 5 slave. Made some incorrect choices along the way, very early on. Should have put myself in a far better position. Too late now. -
Expendable said on Mar 17, 2008....
Wow! You resign, then get what, two offers? Simply incredible.Glad you've found something better for yourself. =^_^=-ex -
polarheart said on Mar 17, 2008....
Great news Ed, I am extremely happy for you!! I am meeting with a recruitment agency on Wednesday with regards to a job ad that really appealled to me. I hope things go as well for me as they did for you!
Blessings! Polar
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dailyachesandpains said on Mar 17, 2008....
Way to go! I heard it was my Husband that did some of your interviewing! -
pickersplock said on Mar 17, 2008....
That is wonderful news, congratulations! -
Scottish_GRRL said on Mar 17, 2008....
Silver,You rock man! What a way to end a day! Hope this turns into a good move for you! Cheers, SG -
silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
fallyn: thank you! i hope so, too! :>
dee: there'll be a blog entry about it sometime next week monday--that's when i start. and thank you! :>
lbf: ah, but you see, i didn't actually have anything lined up--i just needed to get out of a bad situation, to be honest. i'm just as much a slave to wages as you are--or i will be soon, anyway!
ex: thank you! i gotta confess, this was completely nat 20 territory! :>
polar: thanks, and know that i've got my fingers crossed for you, too!
daily: um...huh? i'm feeling kinda obtuse here: ?
pickers: thank you so much! :>
scottish grrl: hey there, thanks for visiting my blog! i hope so, too! so you're actually in scotland, are you? i only ever hear people from that part of the world use "cheers" the way that you did. :>
ed -
wakingharmony said on Mar 17, 2008....
just stopping in for a quick (((((((ed))))))) w/o the germs! miss yall -
silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
hey WH--thank you! :>
ed -
Trinov said on Mar 17, 2008....
Hi, it sounds like it was 'fated' and so should be something good. You had the confidence to know that you did not need to stay in a bad situation. That unfortunately is rare in today's 'market'. Good luck in your new situation. -
dailyachesandpains said on Mar 17, 2008....
I was totally kidding!
Mr. Daily had to do the rounds of interviewing one candidate for a position at his office and almost the exact same thing as you described it and they hired the guy!
I hope it wasn't you anyway. lol! If it is, just never tell him all the nasty things I say about him here, lol!
Daily
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soleme said on Mar 17, 2008....
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!
What an amazing situation, this makes a great FOX and/or CNN Headline story. If you want a job, you just have to market yourself . With talk of the so-called recession and employees losing their jobs, you are a prime example that there are job opportunities, that is for the qualified ones.
Benefits are my top priority.
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papajack said on Mar 18, 2008....
Good going Ed. I think that is just great! -
scipio said on Mar 18, 2008....
Whatever happens -happens for the best !
Good Luck.
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scipio said on Mar 18, 2008....
Whatever happens -happens for the best !
Good Luck.
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FutureGoddess said on Mar 18, 2008....
Rock on Ed! -
RollingC said on Mar 18, 2008....
Awesome Ed.... I know what it feels like. I was downsized once but in retrospect I wasn't that happy with that company and the other one that I had for several years I actually did good but wasn't appreciated enough and I started looking for new horizons. But it took me several months before following my inner gut feelings and applying to the one I'm with now.
For a company ( with several divisions ) that offers multi-level openings in different areas and regular paying jobs in the lower spectrum the benefits package is very good and accessible to all so I'm very happy with this one.
Congratulations on the new job and I'm happy for you.
Rc
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silverwhisper said on Mar 18, 2008....
trinov: thank you! the situation was bad for a while--i just wish i realized how bad earlier, you know? and thank you, of course. :>
daily: for real? wow, that's so totally bizarre! and i promise, if it is him, mum's the word, promise! :D
soleme: thank you! i haven't seen you around much lately so i hope you're well. strictly speaking, i don't think that calling it a so-called recession is justified, but we can discuss econ some other time. thank you for your well wishes. :>
JR: hey, thank you! :D
scipio: thank you, i appreciate your dropping by!
FG: [rocks on--hard!]
rollingc: thanks for sharing your tale--it's weird how it takes something like that sometimes to make us take stock and realize, "hey, this isn't a situation i wanna be part of!", isn't it? and of course, thank you for the well wishes. hey, are you ever gonna blog anything of your own again?
ed -
RollingC said on Mar 18, 2008....
Probably...but don't know when...right now I'm adjusting to changes I'm going through and maybe I'll blog about that but must get my thoughts together on things first.
I think that Soulcast will let me do 10 blogs a day but right now that would be a big, big, big challenge for me.
Rc
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wakingharmony said on Mar 18, 2008....
;-) thanks sw! your mrs. is a lucky lady! -
silverwhisper said on Mar 19, 2008....
rollingc: well, i'd like to know what's going on, man. ?
WH: you're welcome! but...why is she lucky?
ed -
queenparanoia said on Mar 19, 2008....
oh wow!!! congrats!!!!!!!!! =) -
silverwhisper said on Mar 19, 2008....
thank you, little sister! :>
ed
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