The Roller Coaster of a Job Search

Nothing is easy. EVER.

I was so psyched to meet with my dream firm in the beginning of last week, before I had any offers or any commitments. I was even more thrilled when the recruiter loved me so much she wanted me on a plane to San Francisco as soon as possible to meet with the rest of the team and get started. I was ecstatic when she promised me more money and a free plane ticket and life on a silver platter “if only I would choose them.”

But that was back three days ago when things looked like smooth sailing. The next evening, Wednesday, the woman I had interviewed with called and to say the team was crazy busy and only had a brief opening the following afternoon to meet with me. She seemed disappointed.

“Fine,” I said, shocking her. “I’m flexible and willing to travel at a moment’s notice.”

“Oh, um… ok!” She went off to finalize times and I pulled out the old red suitcase. Unfortunately, she came back with bad news. “I’m sorry, it looks like that’s not going to happen. But I think most of them will be available on Monday?”

I sighed, put the suitcase away. “Just let me know.”

“Trust me,” I could hear in her voice that she was really sincere about all of this. “I’ll let you know anything as soon as I do.”

But I heard nothing from her the following day, yesterday, Thursday. I did, however, hear from a PR firm in Boston, a firm that does what I want to do (well, what I hope to do later on down the line) but pays poorly and is a small, one-office operation (and lacks the career development quality that I admire most about *Company Anonymous*). I was relieved to have some kind of offer until I realized this would do nothing but complicate my life even more. I had to make a commitment of 18 months, and I had to let them know by the following Tuesday. As in the day after I meet in SF. And I’d have to start right away. And they’re not flexible. With anything – from the salary to that a.s.a.p. start date.

Of course that was my queue to panic. Friends and family calmed me down… “wait to see what news comes from California.”

Desperate, I called my contact in San Francisco this morning only to reach her voice mail. “Um, I just wanted to know if I was flying anywhere this weekend?” Please???

It doesn’t help that I’ve been trapped in my bedroom with two stinky dogs all week while painters slave away throughout the rest of the house. I’m itching to get out.

She called back in the afternoon with some news – two interviews on Monday. “But I want you to meet with another team too, and they won’t be available until later in the week.” She said this like it was a problem.

“That’s ok. I have friends out there who I can stay with. I can spend the whole week if you want. Do I book the tickets or do you?” The suitcases came out once again.

We agreed we’d both search for flights and reconvene at a later hour. I called sometime before dinner when I found a cheap fare. She returned the phone call after I ate.

“I’m so sorry Catherine.” Oh no. They hired someone else? “I feel like I’m swimming upstream. It’s so frustrating. Even I don’t understand this. I want to get this excellent candidate (that’s you) out there as soon as possible to get started right away, and it’s so difficult. This should be the easy part! I already found the perfect person for the job!”

She sounded very sweet and all, but I had no idea what she was talking about. “I don’t understand?”

“The team’s busy Monday. They won’t be back until the middle/end of the week.”

Sigh of relief. I’m still going for the job. “That’s ok. I’ll work with you.”

“I know, but I just wanted you to see us before taking another offer...”

“Listen,” time to speak candidly. I want this job, I don’t want to screw myself over, and I really believe this woman is my ally. “I want to work for *Company Anonymous*. I just don’t want to make the mistake of telling another offer no by their deadline of Tuesday, taking a risk for *Company Anonymous*, if it’s not going to work out with you guys for whatever reason.”

“You mean if it isn’t a match?”

“Right.”

“I completely understand, but I don’t see why that would happen. You’ve got everything we look for in candidates; your qualifications are perfect for this position. I’m your advocate here – trust me, I don’t spend this much time and go crazy for all the people I meet with! I want you to have this job too… it’s just…”

I felt my heart stop. Then relief. I realized that even if this dream job wasn’t meant to happen, even if there was someone rejecting me, at least I’d know. At least the Boston offer would be the smart – and only – option.

“There’s been a little bit of a crisis.”

“A crisis?”

“Yes. That’s why they can’t meet with you Monday. And… well… if things don’t clear up, they might not be able to hire someone until January.”

Hey – a January start would guarantee me Christmas with my family here. That doesn’t sound so bad.

“I could work with that. If I knew there was a job for me.”

“I want a job for you for sure, on paper, before I tell you to refuse other opportunities.”

Fair enough.

“Call me Monday with any news. Or this weekend. I think we’re kind of stuck right now.”

“Ok, I’ll call you as soon as I hear something.”


And now I get to sit and stir all weekend long, wondering what awaits me in the future. God, I have no idea what to do. Just as many people have told me to keep hoping for San Francisco as people who have told me “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.”

Someone sort me out.