The Job Search Thread

[Lavabe]

Keep vibing until Arkie opens up the "Take this job and shove it" thread.

[Very Duke Blue]

VIbes for all of you!! Colchar, I hope your feeling better. Tilly, what ever you decide to do, you will make it work. AD, can't wait to see how your second interview went. I bet great.

[DukieInKansas]

Keep vibing until Arkie opens up the "Take this job and shove it" thread.

Can't wait for that thread!

Vibes continue for all who are job searching.

[windsor]

Another day, another round of 'Take This Job and Shove It Feel Better Interview Acing Job Finding" VIBES

[Lavabe]

Arkie Interview Vibes: Day 2!!

[colchar]

I had the interview earlier today and, surprisingly, felt a bit better during it. I guess the drugs helped.

I think it went well but am not sure I would accept the position if offered it as it is more technical computer-wise (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.) than it was described to me in the first interview and I don't think my skills with those programs are good enough.

[ArkieDukie]

I had the interview earlier today and, surprisingly, felt a bit better during it. I guess the drugs helped.

I think it went well but am not sure I would accept the position if offered it as it is more technical computer-wise (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.) than it was described to me in the first interview and I don't think my skills with those programs are good enough.

Glad to hear that you're feeling better and that the interview went well!

Question: would you like the position, even though it is more technical? Are the required skills ones that you would like to add to your repertoire?

[ArkieDukie]

Found out a bit more about the position at UTMB-Galveston. As you may recall, they came up with a job specifically for me and posted it with a salary that matches my current level. Job description was such that I'm probably the only person in the country that was qualified. It's the equivalent of a Research Assistant Professor position - which means that it's not tenure track, but it could transition to that. I would need to establish a research niche, get publications, and get extramural funding. Meanwhile, I'd be helping establish UTMB-Galveston as a center for training people in our field. My future dept chair whats to reach out to local academic institutions to bring interested people in for training. He believes that I am "uniquely qualified" for this type of role. That's probably true - you don't run into many people in my field that have the extensive background in teaching that I have. In addition, I'm going to be helping get the new instrumentation up and running and establish SOPs.

I have a research area I'm interested in, and they have several established projects on campus that could use my expertise. In other words, the investigators have looked with other less sensitive techniques and want to step it up a notch. There's definitely a spot for me. Also, from a bit of casual conversation, I know at least one future colleague's opinion regarding data analysis. Let's just say it's far closer to my opinion than to PHB's.

I discovered another funny "it's a small world" coincidence: my future dept chair at UTMB knows my former boss from UAMS. In fact, they have a publication together from their postdoc days. This is added to the fact that future boss is a fellow Duke chemistry alum. How wild is that?!

[colchar]

Question: would you like the position, even though it is more technical? Are the required skills ones that you would like to add to your repertoire?

Yes, I think so, although the commute would be a bitch.

The problem is that I don't think I could get up to speed on those programs quickly enough to fit the time frame that they have in mind for the successful applicant to start in the position.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Found out a bit more about the position at UTMB-Galveston. As you may recall, they came up with a job specifically for me and posted it with a salary that matches my current level. Job description was such that I'm probably the only person in the country that was qualified. It's the equivalent of a Research Assistant Professor position - which means that it's not tenure track, but it could transition to that. I would need to establish a research niche, get publications, and get extramural funding. Meanwhile, I'd be helping establish UTMB-Galveston as a center for training people in our field. My future dept chair whats to reach out to local academic institutions to bring interested people in for training. He believes that I am "uniquely qualified" for this type of role. That's probably true - you don't run into many people in my field that have the extensive background in teaching that I have. In addition, I'm going to be helping get the new instrumentation up and running and establish SOPs.

I have a research area I'm interested in, and they have several established projects on campus that could use my expertise. In other words, the investigators have looked with other less sensitive techniques and want to step it up a notch. There's definitely a spot for me. Also, from a bit of casual conversation, I know at least one future colleague's opinion regarding data analysis. Let's just say it's far closer to my opinion than to PHB's.

I discovered another funny "it's a small world" coincidence: my future dept chair at UTMB knows my former boss from UAMS. In fact, they have a publication together from their postdoc days. This is added to the fact that future boss is a fellow Duke chemistry alum. How wild is that?!

Time to start packing, or at least planning your packing! WooHoo!

[Lavabe]

Time to start packing, or at least planning your packing! WooHoo!

I am still hoping for two things:
1) Job offer for Arkie.
2) Compensation that Arkie can live with.

But in the meantime, I hope Arkie has a large enough external disk to dump all files.

Arkie: If you get an offer and accept it, transfer ALL FILES and EMAIL from your office computer to this external disk BEFORE telling PHB.

Then do your happy dance!

[ArkieDukie]

Time to start packing, or at least planning your packing! WooHoo!

I am still hoping for two things:
1) Job offer for Arkie.
2) Compensation that Arkie can live with.

But in the meantime, I hope Arkie has a large enough external disk to dump all files.

Arkie: If you get an offer and accept it, transfer ALL FILES and EMAIL from your office computer to this external disk BEFORE telling PHB.

Then do your happy dance!

So you are saying don't tell PHB until I have the official offer. I can see that and have been debating that point. I'll e-mail future boss tomorrow and see how long it will take to get that information. No telling how long the "intent to hire" paperwork will take. Based on stories I heard at lunch yesterday, it could take a while.

I have plenty of external drive space. I have converted old laptop hard drives to external disks and plan to take one to work with me for that very purpose.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

So you are saying don't tell PHB until I have the official offer. I can see that and have been debating that point.

Gosh NO! Even I know that! Don't tell him anything until it's official - you could end up out the door with no job if things fell apart. And I don't know if your situation is different, but in industry it isn't uncommon that when you give your two weeks notice that you are asked to clean out your desk and leave immediately (with pay). You might even have security escort you out.

[ArkieDukie]

So you are saying don't tell PHB until I have the official offer. I can see that and have been debating that point.

Gosh NO! Even I know that! Don't tell him anything until it's official - you could end up out the door with no job if things fell apart. And I don't know if your situation is different, but in industry it isn't uncommon that when you give your two weeks notice that you are asked to clean out your desk and leave immediately (with pay). You might even have security escort you out.

I don't think that would happen in my case. There are too many important tasks that no one else knows how to do.

[Lavabe]

So you are saying don't tell PHB until I have the official offer. I can see that and have been debating that point. I'll e-mail future boss tomorrow and see how long it will take to get that information. No telling how long the "intent to hire" paperwork will take. Based on stories I heard at lunch yesterday, it could take a while.

I have plenty of external drive space. I have converted old laptop hard drives to external disks and plan to take one to work with me for that very purpose.

You need to get their timetable for paperwork.
What's a "while?" A few days? A week? A month? Your strategy of when to disclose info to PHB will depend on this. In the meantime...
DOWNLOAD EVERYTHING.
What is your maximum amount of time that you can wait?

But again, all of this assumes that you have a job offer that you like.
I TRULY hope you have a solid job offer that you can live with.

Ozzie is 100% correct on this. Get it official first. I doubt PHB would have security escort you out, but I'd rather be safe.

By the way, I really like Bugs Bunny's line from "Hair Raising Hare" (but don't use it): As Bugs packs his bags before leaving a creepy scientist, "And don't think it hasn't been a little slice of heaven... cause it hasn't." He uses this line while CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME is playing in the background.

[windsor]

Arkie: If you get an offer and accept it, transfer ALL FILES and EMAIL from your office computer to this external disk BEFORE telling PHB.

Then do your happy dance!

I posted EXACTLY the same thing on the 'shove it' thread! Great minds...

[windsor]

Thou Shalt Not Give Notice Until Thou Has Written Offer.


Many years ago we interviewed a software developer...verbally offered him...he gave notice..and the Senior VP nixed filling the position (despite having approved it earlier) and we couldn't hire him. I felt like a schmuck, even though it wasn't my fault.

Thou Shalt Not Give Notice Until Thou Has Written Offer

[Lavabe]

So you are saying don't tell PHB until I have the official offer. I can see that and have been debating that point.

Gosh NO! Even I know that! Don't tell him anything until it's official - you could end up out the door with no job if things fell apart. And I don't know if your situation is different, but in industry it isn't uncommon that when you give your two weeks notice that you are asked to clean out your desk and leave immediately (with pay). You might even have security escort you out.

I don't think that would happen in my case. There are too many important tasks that no one else knows how to do.

Just a reminder, Arkie, that we have seen ample evidence that PHB, NuBarbie, Minion, et al. may not always view those tasks as important. Evidence: see the infamous manuscript.

So please... FOLLOW WHAT WINDSOR AND OZZIE HAVE SAID. Do NOT pass GO. Do NOT collect $200. Do NOT tell PHB until you have things official.

Will be anxious to see whether financial terms are within your doable range. THIS seems to be the mystery question.

[windsor]

Will be anxious to see whether financial terms are within your doable range. THIS seems to be the mystery question.

According to Arkie in a previous post:

Found out a bit more about the position at UTMB-Galveston. As you may recall, they came up with a job specifically for me and posted it with a salary that matches my current level. Job description was such that I'm probably the only person in the country that was qualified.


I think we have the answer

[Lavabe]

Will be anxious to see whether financial terms are within your doable range. THIS seems to be the mystery question.

According to Arkie in a previous post:

Found out a bit more about the position at UTMB-Galveston. As you may recall, they came up with a job specifically for me and posted it with a salary that matches my current level. Job description was such that I'm probably the only person in the country that was qualified.


I think we have the answer

I went to grad school in Missouri. I'll believe it when I see it. You have to show me. ;)