Back in the game?
My sister talked me into going on a job interview yesterday. I had mixed feelings about it, because it seemed almost like a gesture of defeat(!) in light of a current issue I have with my last employer. But a lot of factors made those mixed feelings redundant, so I slipped a tie around my neck, bound the dreds into a neat tail in back of my head, put on my game face, and went to play the interview game.After three years in child care, I had almost forgotten what a formidable resume I've built in my technical career. SNAPS system specialist in the US Navy, 7 years; Helped launch and led the Data Entry team at American Transtech, Jacksonville, FL; Helped open the America Online tech suport center in Jacksonville and led a team for 2 years; Web Master and Technology Manger for a startup ISP (Jacksonville). Single-handledly organized a Tech Support team for the Street.com on Wall Street and recruited, hired, trained and managed my staff. Jumped from there to Director of Quality Assurance with the same company, where I repeated the "organize, recruit and train hat trick" - this time for an entire department. Meanwhile, I moonlighted as Consultant for Network Administration and Web Server maintenance to various NYC-area clients for 6 years.
Then I have to consider the straight 4.0 GPA from Career Blazers Technical Institute, where I completed my MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) course with no test score lower than 96%! When it came to technology, I walked the walk - no! I strutted the strut - all through the '90s and the first few years of the new century.
So why was I so surprised when the interviewer was floored by my history, and quoted a pay rate nearly double what the original headhunter had mentioned; nearly double what I made at my last job? Why was I so surprised that he hinted they might wish me to start as early as Monday? (Of course, I'm still waiting for the call confirming the arrangements.)
Why am I still entertaining doubts? Technology is my Baby man - I've been everything from a member of a hacker ring to a six-digit-income Wall Street geek. So why am I still entertaining doubts???
Because of hateration. I've been here and done that. The Director's position at TheStreet.com on Wall Street was what did me in. You can't maverick your way from software pirate to Big Company BigShot, take time away, and then jump back into the tech game and expect someone to give you a chance near Ground Zero. They view you as a threat, as often as not, and go for someone who can do the job, but hasn't earned a reputation for coming in and taking over.
But these guys seem different. The leader of this unit is a former Kodak employee (17 years) who has his own impressive resume. I may not be viewed as a threat. I might be getting off the bench and back in the game.
Come on, telephone! RING!
posted by JahStorm @ 11:18 AM
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