I got a job. It's a long story. I'll take a cue from my friend Margie and her South American travel novels, and provide a short version you can skip to.
Most job placements in the I.T. industry go like this:
- Candidate sees job posting.
- Candidate applies for job.
- If agency likes application, they call Candidate in for interview.
- If agency likes Candidate, they send details to client.
- If client likes details, they call Candidate in for interview.
- If client likes Candidate, they offer job to Candidate.
In my case, it went something like this:
- Candidate sees job posting.
- Candidate applies for job.
- Agency likes application, rings Candidate on the phone for informal interview.
- Agency likes Candidate, forwards details to client, who is a very small company.
- Client likes details so much, they make extra effort to call Candidate in for interview before Candidate's other interviews that day.
- Candidate thinks hey, these guys seem pretty interested. Cool!
- Client and Candidate meet. Two people interview Candidate together. All agree that Candidate skills would fit job best in about six to nine months. Immediate job requires some specific skills Candidate doesn't have much practise with, and might be a bit boring to boot.
- Candidate goes away wondering if job is worth pursuing, since it pays 10% less than old job and involves six to nine months of boring stuff that he still needs to learn skills for.
- Interviewer 1 goes away unable reconcile the immediate mismatch (lack) of particular skills.
- Interviewer 2 goes away thinking they want Candidate on board anyway.
- Candidate starts thinking job might be really good in six to nine months, when they start using cool development tools and tackling interesting technical challenges.
- Candidate thinks some more and decides job might turn out great after the first six to nine months. Decides job is worth pursuing.
- Agency rings client and speaks to Interviewer 1.
- Candidate rings agency and hears that client has rejected Candidate.
- Candidate thinks Oh Crap.
- Candidate says hey, did you speak to Interviewer 2?
- Agency rings client and speaks to Interviewer 2.
- Agency rings Candidate and says can you meet tomorrow with Interviewer 2.
- Candidate meets Interviewer 2 for coffee. Long chat about lots of things, including how much influence Interviewer 1 carries. Candidate learns all sorts of things about the unique personalities in the client office. Candidate thinks, you could write a sitcom about these guys.
- Interviewer 2 wants to hire Candidate, but needs to convince Interviewer 1. Also wants Candidate to meet company boss (small company, remember?)
- Candidate meets company boss. Very interesting guy (the boss). Candidate learns even more about the unique personalities in the office. Candidate thinks working here might be fun. Candidate thinks sitcom idea definitely worth pursuing. Candidate wants job. Candidate says so.
- Afterwards, Candidate chats again with Interviewer 2, says the boss seemed pretty cool. What do I need to do. What did the boss think? Can I work with Interviewer 1? How are we going to swing this?
- A couple of days pass.
- Agency rings Candidate and says client wants to meet with Candidate for lunch, and discuss things (particularly Interviewer 1's concerns about certain skills).
- Interviewer 2 rings Candidate and gives a list of technical items. He says study these, because Interviewer 1 is going to give you a short test before lunch.
- Candidate studies.
- Candidate shows up before lunch and is tested by Interviewer 1. Candidate demonstrates a bit of stuff he only learned that morning, as evidence that skills can be learned quickly. Interviewer 1 is partially convinced.
- All go to lunch. Candidate thinks hey, we've spent a total of about six hours together in the past week, and now I know all sorts of stuff about your company and the people who work in it. Is this interview ever going to end with a job offer?
- After lunch, Interviewer 1 and Interviewer 2 talk privately for a few minutes.
- Interviewer 1 and Interviewer 2 tell Candidate that they'll just consult with the boss again, and the Candidate can expect a formal offer soon.
- Candidate thinks what is "soon" ????
- Agency rings Candidate later that day and says here's an offer!
- Candidate goes into the office the next day and finally signs a contract. Also, Candidate finally meets agent in person.
So if it doesn't work out in the end, I can still write a sitcom pilot. Anyway, the company is called Third Millennium Management, they make payroll software, and I start on March 3rd.
I got a job, it's with a small company called Third Millennium Management, they make payroll software, and I'll be one of the programmers in a small team of people with very diverse and complementary personalities. I start on March 3rd.