The hiring manager from the company in Texas emailed me yesterday thanking me for coming down and saying they hoped to make a final decision by the end of this week. Hopefully, that means I'll have a definitive answer within a week or so and can either start packing or stop thinking about packing. I feel good about my odds, but I don't know what other candidates I might be competing against, nor what kind of compensation will be on offer if I am offered a position. So, for now I'll keep plugging away.
In the meantime, my department is being reorganized and my director will be under a different functional area. We've had a close professional and personal relationship, so I'll miss him. I also worry that our department will be diminished in the corporate pecking order within the legal function.
On Sunday, our ward (congregation) was also realigned, so I'll have many new neighbors at church and many old neighbors attending a different ward. The combination of a work and a church realignment the same week makes me feel change is in the air. It also weakens the social barriers I may have felt about leaving for a new opportunity. If change will be forced upon me anyway, why not try to make something of it?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
TX Trip
My lunch in Texas went well. One of the three attorneys was out sick with the flu, but he was the one I had previously met. The two women I met with were both pleasant, and I could see myself working with them. I had noticed one of them was involved with an open-source technology industry group. Since my current employer is heavily involved in the open-source movement, I used that as an opening to talk shop with her. She seemed pleased and said at the end she enjoyed the exchange of ideas. Lunch was on the top (43rd) floor of a downtown building. Too bad I was too focused on the conversation to much enjoy the view.
I felt good about the interview and my chances, but I won't find out for a few weeks whether I will be offered the job. There are actually two positions available, but only one open headcount, so they are trying to decide which to fill first. I think I might enjoy the capital project procurement attorney position more, but the IT job would be a better fit out of the gate.
On the flight home, the pilot pointed out Canyonlands n.p. as we passed by. After being in Texas, it looked so dry, but it was also stunningly beautiful, even from 36,000 ft. It's easy to see why the section they call the Maze is so named and is one of the most remote and inaccessible areas in the United States. Then, a few minutes later, I could see the abrupt edge of the Colorado Plateau in a way that you don't see from the ground. It looked like a vast table for a feast of the gods. A few minutes after that, the Wasatch Mountains came into view. We flew up Highway 6, passed some giant wind turbines near Spanish Fork Canyon, flew almost directly over my home, and along the Wasatch Range.
I've visited many states and have found natural beauty in each one, from the Berkshires in New England to the sand dunes along Lake Michigan in Indiana. However, I think that only Oregon and California can match the variety of different types of beautiful scenery in Utah. We have everything from lush, rainy subalpine forests to some of the most inhospitable deserts. And the state is a geologist's paradise. The Colorado Plateau and Grand Staircase (including the Grand Canyon, just outside the state, of course) have exposed more layers of rock than probably any other place on earth.
So, with all that, why would I move to east Texas? Not for the scenery. Texas has its own beauty, but for me, geography is a barrier to overcome, not a selling point. Nevertheless, I'm very impressed with the company and the career potential there, so I may end up moving away from the mountains I love so much, as well as many dear friends and family members.
It's not something I'm considering lightly. For me, as a believing Mormon, the decision will be a matter of prayer and careful pondering, weighing it out in my mind, but ultimately relying on my heart to tell me where I believe the Lord would have my family at this time. Maybe I won't be offered a position and I won't have to make that decision, but I am preparing myself all the same, savoring every opportunity I have to be with family or enjoy the natural beauty around me. On Sunday, for example, we went for a ride up a nearby canyon and enjoyed the changing fall colors. It was beautiful, and a part of me hopes I end up staying here. But I am also excited about the positives that could come with a change.
Soon, I may have a new place to write about and new cultural or geographic wonders to enjoy, but for now, Utah is home, and I think it will always have a big piece of my heart.
I felt good about the interview and my chances, but I won't find out for a few weeks whether I will be offered the job. There are actually two positions available, but only one open headcount, so they are trying to decide which to fill first. I think I might enjoy the capital project procurement attorney position more, but the IT job would be a better fit out of the gate.
On the flight home, the pilot pointed out Canyonlands n.p. as we passed by. After being in Texas, it looked so dry, but it was also stunningly beautiful, even from 36,000 ft. It's easy to see why the section they call the Maze is so named and is one of the most remote and inaccessible areas in the United States. Then, a few minutes later, I could see the abrupt edge of the Colorado Plateau in a way that you don't see from the ground. It looked like a vast table for a feast of the gods. A few minutes after that, the Wasatch Mountains came into view. We flew up Highway 6, passed some giant wind turbines near Spanish Fork Canyon, flew almost directly over my home, and along the Wasatch Range.
I've visited many states and have found natural beauty in each one, from the Berkshires in New England to the sand dunes along Lake Michigan in Indiana. However, I think that only Oregon and California can match the variety of different types of beautiful scenery in Utah. We have everything from lush, rainy subalpine forests to some of the most inhospitable deserts. And the state is a geologist's paradise. The Colorado Plateau and Grand Staircase (including the Grand Canyon, just outside the state, of course) have exposed more layers of rock than probably any other place on earth.
So, with all that, why would I move to east Texas? Not for the scenery. Texas has its own beauty, but for me, geography is a barrier to overcome, not a selling point. Nevertheless, I'm very impressed with the company and the career potential there, so I may end up moving away from the mountains I love so much, as well as many dear friends and family members.
It's not something I'm considering lightly. For me, as a believing Mormon, the decision will be a matter of prayer and careful pondering, weighing it out in my mind, but ultimately relying on my heart to tell me where I believe the Lord would have my family at this time. Maybe I won't be offered a position and I won't have to make that decision, but I am preparing myself all the same, savoring every opportunity I have to be with family or enjoy the natural beauty around me. On Sunday, for example, we went for a ride up a nearby canyon and enjoyed the changing fall colors. It was beautiful, and a part of me hopes I end up staying here. But I am also excited about the positives that could come with a change.
Soon, I may have a new place to write about and new cultural or geographic wonders to enjoy, but for now, Utah is home, and I think it will always have a big piece of my heart.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Labor market
I posted this on another forum and thought I'd repost it here as a partial summary of my employment search over the past year, year-and-a-half:
The conversation on the awful labor market made me think of my own employment situation. I have a decent job, but have decided that my long-term career development will be served by making a change. I've been selectively looking at opportunities for over a year now. Three personal anecdotes show just how cautious companies have been about hiring lately, at least in the legal market.
Company #1: A financial services company contacted me over a year ago. I had a couple of interviews with them, but then the financial market blew up. Nothing happened for many months, but in June they contacted me again and asked if I was still interested. Several more phone interviews followed (seven total in-person and phone interviews to date), and I was told that everyone liked me and they want me to interview in person when the manager comes to my city for a super candidate day (they are growing a team from scratch and need several people). But they've given no indication when that will be or even when they will be able to tell me anything definitive, and it's been 2.5 months since my last interview. I think they sincerely want to staff up in this city, but they are apparently in no hurry to do so.
Company #2: A tech startup interviewed me for a general counsel job last fall/winter. I went on-site three times for interviews, signed an NDA, got loads of their confidential information "to get up to speed so I could hit the ground running," and was told by the CFO that he was meeting with the compensation committee to decide what they could offer. All of this took about three months. Then, nothing. The CFO didn't answer numerous calls or emails, the promised offer never came, and the company never contacted me again. It was bizarre. Given that and the shape of their financials, I'm glad I'm not working there.
Company #3: I spoke with a Fortune 100 company in mid-February and flew out for an interview in March. They were to get back with me in April, then that was pushed to May, June, August, and finally, "we still like you and have you on file and will contact you if a position becomes available." Just when I had concluded that things seemed doubtful to go anywhere, I got a call last week. The company wants me to fly back next week for another interview, after which they will supposedly quickly make a decision. So, even if things proceed in that fashion, it will be eight months from first contact to final decision.
For those of you looking for a job, good luck, keep your chin up, and don't count any birds before they hatch. If I knew someone with a suboptimal job offer and an "interested" company that was early in the recruiting process, I'd tell them to take the first offer available, because the one might take a long time to develop. I feel very blessed that my search has been from a position of full employment.
The conversation on the awful labor market made me think of my own employment situation. I have a decent job, but have decided that my long-term career development will be served by making a change. I've been selectively looking at opportunities for over a year now. Three personal anecdotes show just how cautious companies have been about hiring lately, at least in the legal market.
Company #1: A financial services company contacted me over a year ago. I had a couple of interviews with them, but then the financial market blew up. Nothing happened for many months, but in June they contacted me again and asked if I was still interested. Several more phone interviews followed (seven total in-person and phone interviews to date), and I was told that everyone liked me and they want me to interview in person when the manager comes to my city for a super candidate day (they are growing a team from scratch and need several people). But they've given no indication when that will be or even when they will be able to tell me anything definitive, and it's been 2.5 months since my last interview. I think they sincerely want to staff up in this city, but they are apparently in no hurry to do so.
Company #2: A tech startup interviewed me for a general counsel job last fall/winter. I went on-site three times for interviews, signed an NDA, got loads of their confidential information "to get up to speed so I could hit the ground running," and was told by the CFO that he was meeting with the compensation committee to decide what they could offer. All of this took about three months. Then, nothing. The CFO didn't answer numerous calls or emails, the promised offer never came, and the company never contacted me again. It was bizarre. Given that and the shape of their financials, I'm glad I'm not working there.
Company #3: I spoke with a Fortune 100 company in mid-February and flew out for an interview in March. They were to get back with me in April, then that was pushed to May, June, August, and finally, "we still like you and have you on file and will contact you if a position becomes available." Just when I had concluded that things seemed doubtful to go anywhere, I got a call last week. The company wants me to fly back next week for another interview, after which they will supposedly quickly make a decision. So, even if things proceed in that fashion, it will be eight months from first contact to final decision.
For those of you looking for a job, good luck, keep your chin up, and don't count any birds before they hatch. If I knew someone with a suboptimal job offer and an "interested" company that was early in the recruiting process, I'd tell them to take the first offer available, because the one might take a long time to develop. I feel very blessed that my search has been from a position of full employment.
Flu shots
Yesterday, my employer offered flu shots on campus. They were free for employees and $10 for dependents, so we brought the whole family. When we got to the large, crowded room, though, they had one line for employees and another for dependents. My younger kids were already nervous about getting a shot, so it was poor planning to make me stand in a different line on the other side of the room for 20 minutes while my wife tried to corral and reassure them. Especially when my four-year-old got poked and started crying loudly and I couldn't do anything about it because I was still in line.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
$1000 lunch
Back in March, I flew to Texas for an interview with a multinational energy company. They seemed to like me, but delay stretched into delay and nothing came of it. Then, a few days ago, they called unexpectedly and asked me to fly back to TX next week for another "interview." The interview consists of me meeting the recruiting coordinator at 11:30, having lunch across the street with three employees at 12:00, and taking the limo back to the airport at 2:00. Since there was no morning flight that arrived early enough, though, I'm flying in the night before.
Based on the e-receipts I've gotten, the company will pay over $1000 for this lunch meeting. I'll burn a day of vacation for the privilege. The good news is, they say I should find out very quickly afterward whether I get the job. If I do and if I accept, it will be a huge change for the family to move from Utah to eastern Texas. A Texas-sized change. I'm keeping both eyes open, but I'm looking for opportunities to advance my career. The company seems like a good place to work from what I've learned so far, but still, Texas is a whole other country.
Between work, school, and internships, I've lived at least briefly in OR, CA, UT, CO, IN, PA, and CT. The South is the gaping hole in that geographical c.v. Culturally, Texas isn't quite deep South, but it was a Confederate State.
In contrast, my wife is from Kansas City, but she was born in Memphis, where her mother was raised and many of her relatives still live. She also lived in Houston for several years as a child, so she knows better than I do what to expect. And yet, I enjoy exploring new cultures and places, and I think it's much easier to do that by "going native" than by taking a vacation. Bring on the grilled armadillo and deep fried Twinkies??
Based on the e-receipts I've gotten, the company will pay over $1000 for this lunch meeting. I'll burn a day of vacation for the privilege. The good news is, they say I should find out very quickly afterward whether I get the job. If I do and if I accept, it will be a huge change for the family to move from Utah to eastern Texas. A Texas-sized change. I'm keeping both eyes open, but I'm looking for opportunities to advance my career. The company seems like a good place to work from what I've learned so far, but still, Texas is a whole other country.
Between work, school, and internships, I've lived at least briefly in OR, CA, UT, CO, IN, PA, and CT. The South is the gaping hole in that geographical c.v. Culturally, Texas isn't quite deep South, but it was a Confederate State.
In contrast, my wife is from Kansas City, but she was born in Memphis, where her mother was raised and many of her relatives still live. She also lived in Houston for several years as a child, so she knows better than I do what to expect. And yet, I enjoy exploring new cultures and places, and I think it's much easier to do that by "going native" than by taking a vacation. Bring on the grilled armadillo and deep fried Twinkies??
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Visiting Grandma
My parents travel quite a bit, and when they're out of town, I usually try to check in on my 90-year-old grandmother at least once. Last night, I stopped by with my older son, and we saw a flock of about 20 birds on the lawn behind her house. They were pretty good-sized, maybe the size of a pheasant. I think maybe they were a type of grouse, but I'm no bird expert.
We were visiting, and my grandma started talking about the sororities they had when she went to college, and how she didn't like them much because the sorority girls tended to look down on everyone else. In any case, she was from a small farm town, it was the Depression, and she couldn't afford to join a sorority, either. She commented, "Once, we were passing by one of the sororities, and we saw a girl hanging out the window with no clothes on!" She then added matter-of-factly, "Blaine [my grandfather] watched that window pretty closely after that."
I love little stories like this and hope at least my older children will remember knowing their great-grandmother. Her stories of growing up in the Depression are more relevant than ever today, yet so far removed from the experience of my children (no running water, refrigeration, etc.).
We were visiting, and my grandma started talking about the sororities they had when she went to college, and how she didn't like them much because the sorority girls tended to look down on everyone else. In any case, she was from a small farm town, it was the Depression, and she couldn't afford to join a sorority, either. She commented, "Once, we were passing by one of the sororities, and we saw a girl hanging out the window with no clothes on!" She then added matter-of-factly, "Blaine [my grandfather] watched that window pretty closely after that."
I love little stories like this and hope at least my older children will remember knowing their great-grandmother. Her stories of growing up in the Depression are more relevant than ever today, yet so far removed from the experience of my children (no running water, refrigeration, etc.).
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Still here
The reports of the death of this blog have been only slightly exaggerated. The reports of our family moving, however, have been somewhat more premature. Not only are we still here, but we have no immediate plans to move. That is, our Realtor, after only six weeks as our listing agent, told us that we should cut the price by 40k if we wanted to sell the home. Since that would mean essentially walking away from the home with no equity, we told him to hit the road, and we terminated our listing.
So, we've begun the process of getting emptying out the storage unit and unpacking some of what we'd already boxed up. We have sufficient storage space in our basement, but we had moved out a lot of stuff to stage the house. We'll be closing that out soon. It's a bit sad that things didn't work out, but happily it also means we don't have to worry about showing our house at a moment's notice anymore. That was very stressful for H, with four young kids in the house, as you can imagine.
So, we've begun the process of getting emptying out the storage unit and unpacking some of what we'd already boxed up. We have sufficient storage space in our basement, but we had moved out a lot of stuff to stage the house. We'll be closing that out soon. It's a bit sad that things didn't work out, but happily it also means we don't have to worry about showing our house at a moment's notice anymore. That was very stressful for H, with four young kids in the house, as you can imagine.
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