A few weeks ago I finally started getting interviews for jobs. Things started to look up.
The first job I interviewed for was my dream job: Management Consultant. It was 100% travel, leaving on Sunday night and returning Friday evening. I would engage in companies all across the country, assessing their situations and improving it, even though that might involve the recommendation of firing people (think Office Space). It started at $46 800 a year plus per diem expenses, plus this plus that. I spent 90 minutes on the bus getting to Dorval. I interviewed with an HR drone for about 15 minutes, who immediately sent me to meet with the Director (such an honour) to whom I spoke for about 15 minutes. Apparently they were making their final recommendations that day, so I had to be prepared to be back in Dorval at a moment's notice to perform in the next stage of the evaluation. I didn't get that call, and I spent $42 in cabs that day. I was pretty disappointed for a few days.
Then I had an interview for Marcus Evans. I killed in that interview. The job was mine. I was invited back for a second interview the next morning. The job was for inside sales not at all what I wanted, though nothing I couldn't handle. If you have seen Boiler Room, you might get an idea about what the environment was like in this place. I wouldn't last two weeks there. I couldn't stand the interviewer, so I politely declined the next interview.
That same day I had a phone interview at a tech company to do business development. I must say that I nailed that one too, as I was asked to go in for an interview that Friday. But I had to prepare a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation to demonstrate my communication abilities. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Ridiculous. But I complied, because the company looked so leading edge. I was interviewed by two women, and it was one of the better interviews that I have had. The questions were relevant, and they seemed genuinely interested in me as a person. They made me want to join the team.
The last thing they needed from me was references. I ended up giving Sylvie, my old boss, as one of them. The following Wednesday he emailed me as I was e-talking to V and Elizabeth. He said that it seemed to go well, and that I should be prepared to start ASAP. About two minutes later the VP of Client Development called me back to give me an offer. I started this past Monday. Yes, I am back in the real world, and I think I like it so far, if only for the change of pace and the money, which is considerably more than what I got at my last job. And I don't have to wear a tie, either.
Well, time to go grab a beer. More later.
