Of Course Life Works Out Like This
So...that job. You know, the one I was really excited about? With 40% international travel, the ability to assist with budgeting and site payments and contract agreements. The chance to draft clinical documents, like ICFs and protocols. The opportunity to act as a project lead on a global product. Seriously, a once in a lifetime opportunity...
...well I applied last October. A recruiter contacted me towards the end of January, said I was in the second round of resumes. Then, before the phone screen, the recruiter told me the company was pursuing a 'known entity' which usually means someone within the company has recommended that person and about 9 out of 10 times that person is a shoe-in.
And afterwards I heard nothing from them. So I assumed the 'known entity' was hired.
And I kept looking, and accepted the Parexel job, and quit my job, and managed to get myself a week off in between. Which is this week. This glorious week of awesomeness and nothingness that I am enjoying more than anything I have enjoyed in the recent past.
Then yesterday morning my phone rang. Usually I don't answer numbers that appear on my Caller ID as "Unknown" but this time I did. At it was the recruiter! Apparently there was a personality conflict and the 'entity' didn't have the right type of experience. They asked if I was still interested.
And yes I am! How can I NOT pursue this job?!?! Opportunities like this are few and far between. For the rest of my career, I would hope and dream for a job like this and never find it. So I have to pursue it. I can't not know, I can't not try.
What followed was a whirlwind of calls. Recruiter Mike called me to verify my interest. Recruiter Mike called them to verify their interest. Recruiter Mike followed up with me to confirm a phone screen time, and set up an appointment to 'coach and provide interview tips'. Recruiter Jonathan calls me and asks if he can call my references. I call my references to tell them to expect a call. Recruiter Mike calls me for the 'coaching session', which was helpful but also bizarre. Recruiter Jonathan called my references. One responded (Stephen), and he called me to tell me how it went. And tomorrow at 930, the Hiring Manager and HR Someone-or-another will call me.
I know there is nothing wrong with interviewing and testing the waters. I know that Upsher never has to know about Parexel, and vice versa. I know I can not accept the job, with Parexel none the wiser. I know I can also accept the job and quit Parexel prematurely. It is, after all, just business and happens more frequently than one might imagine. But even so, I have spots of doubt.
What if quitting prematurely gives me a bad reputation (I quit Cardinal Health right out of college, before I even had my first day, because I got an offer with Genentech for like 2/3 larger salary, plus I DID NOT want to move back to San Diego)? What if the switch is awful and I hate the Upsher job? What if I like it TOO much and abandon all my future plans of becoming a dairy vet and spend my days with my hands up cow asses? What if I like it TOO much for just long enough for me to get too old to go back to school, and just long enough to HATE IT? What if I end of hating the international travel, even though I have been aching to do more international travel? What if I'm horrible at the job?
What if I'm too fat to fit into my suits and have to go and buy ANOTHER one? Or what if they think I just look sloppy and unprofessional?
And why, oh why, am I even worried about this now?!?! I haven't even had a phone screen yet! Talk about jumping to conclusions! I should just be focused on nailing it tomorrow. Meaning I should get some sleep NOW!
...well I applied last October. A recruiter contacted me towards the end of January, said I was in the second round of resumes. Then, before the phone screen, the recruiter told me the company was pursuing a 'known entity' which usually means someone within the company has recommended that person and about 9 out of 10 times that person is a shoe-in.
And afterwards I heard nothing from them. So I assumed the 'known entity' was hired.
And I kept looking, and accepted the Parexel job, and quit my job, and managed to get myself a week off in between. Which is this week. This glorious week of awesomeness and nothingness that I am enjoying more than anything I have enjoyed in the recent past.
Then yesterday morning my phone rang. Usually I don't answer numbers that appear on my Caller ID as "Unknown" but this time I did. At it was the recruiter! Apparently there was a personality conflict and the 'entity' didn't have the right type of experience. They asked if I was still interested.
And yes I am! How can I NOT pursue this job?!?! Opportunities like this are few and far between. For the rest of my career, I would hope and dream for a job like this and never find it. So I have to pursue it. I can't not know, I can't not try.
What followed was a whirlwind of calls. Recruiter Mike called me to verify my interest. Recruiter Mike called them to verify their interest. Recruiter Mike followed up with me to confirm a phone screen time, and set up an appointment to 'coach and provide interview tips'. Recruiter Jonathan calls me and asks if he can call my references. I call my references to tell them to expect a call. Recruiter Mike calls me for the 'coaching session', which was helpful but also bizarre. Recruiter Jonathan called my references. One responded (Stephen), and he called me to tell me how it went. And tomorrow at 930, the Hiring Manager and HR Someone-or-another will call me.
I know there is nothing wrong with interviewing and testing the waters. I know that Upsher never has to know about Parexel, and vice versa. I know I can not accept the job, with Parexel none the wiser. I know I can also accept the job and quit Parexel prematurely. It is, after all, just business and happens more frequently than one might imagine. But even so, I have spots of doubt.
What if quitting prematurely gives me a bad reputation (I quit Cardinal Health right out of college, before I even had my first day, because I got an offer with Genentech for like 2/3 larger salary, plus I DID NOT want to move back to San Diego)? What if the switch is awful and I hate the Upsher job? What if I like it TOO much and abandon all my future plans of becoming a dairy vet and spend my days with my hands up cow asses? What if I like it TOO much for just long enough for me to get too old to go back to school, and just long enough to HATE IT? What if I end of hating the international travel, even though I have been aching to do more international travel? What if I'm horrible at the job?
What if I'm too fat to fit into my suits and have to go and buy ANOTHER one? Or what if they think I just look sloppy and unprofessional?
And why, oh why, am I even worried about this now?!?! I haven't even had a phone screen yet! Talk about jumping to conclusions! I should just be focused on nailing it tomorrow. Meaning I should get some sleep NOW!