Sun streaming in the windows. Balmy morning walks with the beast. Slush in the streets. It makes me yearn for spring. I figure the January thaw is mean, really. It teases us with its pleasant weather and then wham! Back into snow falls measured in feet and temperatures measured by what it feels like and how fast exposed body parts can be frostbitten. But I’m enjoying it now … staying in the present.
I haven’t been able to attend my regular networking meetings for quite a while. Between personal appointments and interviews, I haven’t had the time. It’s a good-bad thing. I miss seeing everyone and I don’t know who has become employed. Not everyone posts celebratory statements at LinkedIn or at our network subgroup sites so I don’t get to hear the good news. I feel a bit cut off. But I’m happy for my situation having turned to a much more positive direction.
I’ve landed a second interviewnext week for a marketing director position. I’ve been in this spot before over the last year but this feels different. The first interview felt right. And, if the people in the next interview are as described, it should feel right again. I learned long ago to listen to my little voice inside. No, I don’t “hear voices.” It’s my intuition that can size up a situation and while I can’t describe it any better, I just know when it’s right and when it’s wrong. I didn’t listen to it once when I was quite young. I had been offered a job as a marketing director and my little voice said, “Don’t do it.” Well, I did it. On day two of my employment, the EVP (whom I had not met before), let me know in no uncertain terms that I shouldn’t get delusions of “having the President’s ear,” that if push came to shove, he would always win. The EVP didn’t believe that the company needed marketing and that this was all a waste of money and effort. I didn’t see that one coming. I went home that night and cried. I stuck it out for three years and was recruited to work at another firm before I even began to look for another position. I did learn a lot in that position and because I didn’t have a lot of money to work with, I became incredibly savvy and creative. And, as it turned out, the EVP and I became good friends. I’m glad I didn’t listen.
I also passed an exam for a position in the Department of Agriculture with the State of Wisconsin and I scored well enough to earn an interview. It’s in two weeks. Once you get to an interview, everyone is considered equal. I’m pretty excited about this opportunity, too. It would use my past experience working internationally. I enjoyed those years even if the travel was wearisome. I don’t think this job would require the same amount of travel that I did in the past so that’s good. And, I’ve always been a big advocate of Wisconsin products, trying to buy locally whenever I can so this could be a good fit. I won’t know until I get to the interview. I have a friend who works in continuity planning for the State of Wisconsin so I’m going to try to meet with him for lunch. I don’t think I’ve seen Art in 10 years but we’ve remained friends and try to stay in touch.
Both opportunities are very good ones. I'd be honored to work at either of them. A good start to the New Year. Seems it’s more than the weather that’s thawing.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
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