So, some of you might be wondering if I have a job yet. There should be a simple yes or no answer to that, but of course there isn't. How silly of you to expect simplicity in matters such as this.
There have been developments though, big ones too. About a month ago I started temping at a major studio* inside their worldwide TV marketing group. The job I was doing was pretty rote stuff, all data entry, very little human interaction, staring at a screen all day. But I enjoyed being in an office and I took my job seriously. It could be meditative at times, even melodious with the percussive rhythms of the keyboard. I even added a few interesting-looking films to our Netflix queue because of it. I wasn't expecting to stand out or get noticed; how much can you stand out when all you're doing is checking boxes and crossing items off a list?
Well God must have smiled upon me, because my supervisor approached me on about the fourth day, saying that I have been doing good work and asked for my resume. He sent me an instant message later saying he was impressed by what he saw in my work history and that he wanted to put me up for a job opening in his department. I honestly don't know how I stood out from the other temps, other than divine providence. (I also suspect that my supervisor stumbled upon
my personal blog via an errant email signature and may have taken a liking to me through my collection of funny animal photos. But who is to say that doesn't fall under the whole "divine providence" thing I was talking about before?)
So over the course of the next couple weeks (which were interrupted by an
unexpected trip back to Philadelphia), I had three interviews with HR and differing marketing types. They all went well, and I eventually received a phone call from the HR representative telling me that I was the final candidate. That meant that--after a background check that took five business days--I could expect an official job offer.
That was two weeks ago, and I still haven't gotten that elusive job offer. The HR rep has called a few times to reassure me that the job is mine and we're all just waiting on salary approval, yadda yadda. Meanwhile, we have a giant bottle of champagne sitting in our fridge, just waiting to be popped the very moment this nearly eleven month (!) struggle with joblessness comes to an end.
On the plus/minus side, the temp assignment with the department has come to an end and I now find myself with plenty of free time (but no paycheck). I spent today running errands, doing laundry and sorting through some household tasks. Tomorrow and Wednesday will be spent writing and working out, and Thursday is the King of the Hill Christmas luncheon which I would not be able to attend had I had a job by now. Friday is wild card day, and all week I will be patiently expecting a phone call from HR, offering me a salary and telling me I can start work on Monday.
So that's the job update. I'm sort of hired, but sort of not. It's an odd stage of limbo we find ourselves in, but we believe that I will be fully and gainfully employed shortly. Updates to follow.
*I choose not to disclose any details about the job, company or individuals involved, because this is the Internet and they could all be Googling me right now. Sorry friends, I will tell more if and when I get the job.
