Greetings Cubicle Monkeys. I know it’s been a while since my last post, and after you’re done reading this I’m sure you’ll understand why.

The expression “when it rains, it pours” fits my current situation to a T. As you all know I’ve been struggling to find a job after parting ways with my last employer. Well, I’m sitting at a crossroads with several different choices.

Over a week ago I had been waiting to hear from Tele-Optics (T.O.) Communications regarding the Assistant Project Manager position they wanted me for. Prior to that I had already accepted a seasonal position with H&R Block in IT support, but I was supposed to hear back from T.O. prior to starting with H&R Block. Well, T.O.’s HR department was busy playing with my piss that I submitted for a drug screen. They didn’t get back to me before my start date with H&R Block, so I started my employment with them last week.

Since starting with H&R Block, a position I had applied for with Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a Network Support Specialist (level 2) 5 months ago reopened for whatever reason and they called me back in for an interview, which I attended last week. In addition to that I have an interview for IT Support specialist with Crye-Leike this Friday. Now here is where everything starts getting all lopsided.

This afternoon, T.O. finally called me back to let me know they were done playing around with my piss and that they want to hire me in. This obviously creates a dilemma for me as H&R Block has been taking good care of me and I don’t want to leave them hanging. However, that’s not a full time job and the job with T.O. is full time. On top of that the job with Vanderbilt is greatly more suited to my talents, experience, and career path. Vanderbilt still has candidates to interview before they’ve made a choice as to whom to hire and there’s no time frame as to when I’ll hear back from them.

So, I have a temp job that’s going to be paying my bills, a full time job that thus far has not painted themselves in a good light with me, and another potential job offer that requires that I wait but if I get it, it will be well more suited to what I’m looking for in continuing my career. And then there’s the job I haven’t even interviewed for yet, but could be a serious contender amidst all this employment chaos.

Needless to say I’m torn in more directions than one and the “hurry up and wait” scenario is getting old quick. At this point I really don’t know which direction to move in, especially since I don’t have confirmation from all the contenders yet to be able to make a solid choice one way or the other.

For right now, I plan to drink a few beers and try to think this through a little more and sleep on it before I tell anyone anything as far as my decision goes. I’ll post more as it develops.

Stay Tooned !!!

Defiantly a pickle, at least you are flooded with options. This is a lot better than a month ago when you had nothing. I for one, am glad you have so many options. Hope you didn't have to many beers, keep your head on and choose your path.

You should have many beers and leave nasty messages on a random two of those companies. No more problem.

Quote: Originally Posted by TiZakit You should have many beers and leave nasty messages on a random two of those companies. No more problem.

given the economic problems filtering down into the IT industry, burning bridges isn't an option at this point. and not only that but I've got to get back into my own place. my drummer has been a God send by letting me take up a room at his place while i get my life sorted back out.

needless to say the recent problems in the economy have hit everyone hard, but I've been hit exceptionally hard with losing my last job right before the economic crash, as well as losing my home, and all of my savings. My choices going forward are going to have to be very calculated, especially with getting back to work on Cubicle101 as well as the new site I will be launching to host my personal artwork.

but rest assured, I will have many beers, regardless of anything else that's going on in my life

Just trying to make a joke. Things aren't so well here either.

I had to tell is as much for me, as for you.

Many beers it is.

well, it's definitely raining.

the project management job is STILL dicking around. They called to tell me everything has cleared (drug test and background check and all) but they must first get approval from the company CEO before I can begin work. They have now wasted a month in hiring me, much to the disappointment of my would-be boss as well as myself.

as i told him this "out sourced" HR department has now wasted a month of the companies time and what is infinitely more important, my time. so at this point i've given up on them completely, their loss.

so for now i'm going to continue to work @ HR Block for income. I interviewed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as well as Crye-Leike. Both of which I'm now waiting on a call back for a second round interview sometime in the next week.

I also ran into an old friend from the Cubicle101 days who is working for a communications company that is looking for an IT tech with a brain. As i've been told the guy they currently have doesn't even know how to set up his own email, and he's their only IT person. scary aye?

Ah well, such is life. And to think, I still have the comming ecenomic recession and eventual depression to look forward to. Ramen noodles and hamburger helper anyone?

All things being equal, I like the position you are in. A job in hand, one offered, and two good prospects. Not bad at all. It is a good place to be in these times.

My advice, try to hold out for the job you really want, but be ready to take the other one if they dick around too much longer. The H&R block one is only seasonal, which in their case means until April-May. You don't want to be looking for a job then, things are only going to get worse (in the economy) in the short term, not better. And while your attitude is admirable in that you don't want to let them down, don't think for a second that any company would hesitate to let you go if they needed to. Loyalty between employers and employees is pretty much dead nowadays. A wonderful idea, but not something you generally find. You need to look out for yourself and do what is best for you.

Quote: Originally Posted by DickNervous And while your attitude is admirable in that you don't want to let them down, don't think for a second that any company would hesitate to let you go if they needed to. Loyalty between employers and employees is pretty much dead nowadays. A wonderful idea, but not something you generally find. You need to look out for yourself and do what is best for you.

Well, to be honest I am looking out for myself. I'm not looking to burn any bridges as no one knows what the future holds and I may well one day have to come back to H&R Block. As for the jobs I'm waiting to hear back from I think I've got a better shot with crye-leike than Vanderbilt.

to be honest I know how Vanderbilt operates both business wise and politically and it's not something I would be looking forward to. Plus the details of keeping the job once I've been hired are somewhat totalitarian.

right now I'm keeping all of my options open period. I'm too old and too experienced to put up with the HR mind games and just about every company I have interviewed with has respectfully recognized that. No matter who I work for, my life and my time come first. If they want someone who's going to play along with their corporate mind games then they need to start recruiting from a high school and stop wasting my time.

I've accepted the fact that the economy is in the dumps and I'm going to have to lower my standards a bit as far as my job goes, but I refuse to lower my self respect.