Second interview day...

[johnpalmer]

... has come and gone and though I expected a job offer, it hasn't arrived yet. They're checking references and background. It's a firm that does computerized legal billing, so I'll be looking at some confidential information, so they need to make sure I'm not the kind of person to whom you don't give confidential information.

It's crazy; this is happening 9 days before my proposed move to Oregon to continue job hunting and save money. And Oregon State *still* hasn't so much as called to schedule an interview yet!

On the plus side, I half-expect them to call tomorrow. "Is this John Palmer? Yeah, no one else could wait this long to get interviewed; they've all taken other job offers; you're the only one left on the list. You still interested?"

Ah well... I'd thought I'd have a job offer and a housing budget, but at least I do have some housing advice re: commuting. That'll give me time to start my search.

In the meantime, tomorrow it's back to the job hunting grind (making sure I have my required stuff for collecting unemployment) and then putting the house in move-out order.

Comments

[surelars.livejournal.com]

That's such a frustrating situation - and it's out of your hands.

I hope everything works out in the end.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It will, somehow. I have some faith in the universe putting things right, if I give it some help.

[pagawne.livejournal.com]

I hope you get the job you want. It would be nice if you were closer to Jez.

Good thoughts winging your way.

HUGS

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Chuckle; I hope I get the job I want, too :-).

The tricky thing here is that if I get the job here in Seattle, and OSU hasn't decided, well... I've been trying to think about what they'd have to offer me so that I'd decide to stay here. They talk about bonuses that are up to 50% (total, over the year) of annual salary. If I was poised to make over six figures here, or half that in Oregon, at a university, which would be better?

A big cushion of cash would be nice for grad school. On the other hand, being at an actual college, with professors to geek with and chat up and maybe earn recommendations from, could be even bigger. Plus, if I work at OSU, I'll become a bigger geek. If I work at this place, I'll shrink a bit. (Not that it matters too much, but all else being equal, I'd rather increase my skills than let them stagnate.)

[jilesa.livejournal.com]

Academic institutions run on a VERY different hiring timetable from normal business enterprises. For most of the professional library positions I applied for at libraries, it was a given that interviews wouldn't be scheduled until at least six months after the ad closed. I don't know how long it's been since you applied at Oregon State, but I'm unsurprised that it's taking them a long time to get back to you.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Nod. This is a slightly different situation; it's IT support, and they want the person to start before the school year starts. It's been close to a month since applications closed, and school starts late September, but they also have problems getting the hiring committee together. You'd think people take vacations in the summer, or something! :-).

[laurarey.livejournal.com]

I found many parallels in your life right now to mine several years ago. I was job hunting and trying to move to Toronto, but I didn't want to move without a job. It just kept NOT happening. Then, I realized that for me...the universe was waiting for me to make a decision about what I wanted, and then to take the leap of faith to actually do it. Within a week of getting here, I had a job offer.

Your mileage may of course differ. :)

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Chuckle. Yes... and I've decided that I do want to move to Oregon.

Interestingly, the one thing that's been sticking in my brain is this: the need for a Windows guru at OSU seems like The Perfect Opportunity. And life has shut me out of former Perfect Opportunities that might not have been perfect after all.

I *think* there's a net loss to my life's plan if I move to Oregon without that job. But, of course, I don't know... life is funny that way. So I'm kind of basing my decision on what happens along the way.

[roseate1.livejournal.com]

Let me echo Jilesa's comment -- hiring in academia is frustratingly slow. I'm on the other end of things, trying to interview and hire people to replace departed staff, and in spite of my best efforts, it's taking months. It's not unusual and often doesn't mean anything other than bureaucracy. Goodthoughts.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Nod. This might be a bit better... they want someone available when classes start, but yes... I know that it's slow. Even posting a position for a friend (who knew he was going to be hired) ended up taking two months. They still had to post the position and accept applications, and reject them because this friend was, in fact, the best person in the world for this position (give or take a few people who weren't going to apply for it anyway).

Luckily for him, he was already working for the university; this was just how they were going to give him a raise and promotion.

[droops.livejournal.com]

Hang in there. It sounds like job possibilities are bubbling up to the surface. You'll probably have two offers in no time.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I don't know about you, but I'd be going ever-so-slightly crazy right now if I didn't have a root canal and powerful drugs to distract me.

I'm glad some of the other academic types have chimed in to confirm my sense that the lag in the OSU process is pretty typical for universities. I think they only get away with being so slow because there are a certain number of people who really *want* to work in an academic community.

I was already working as a temp for the department that wanted to hire me here, and it still took a couple of months (and hours of interviews with the people who already knew me) to go through the process.

[sueschus.livejournal.com]

Everything will fall apart nicely.