I got it!
Well, I knew I had this one in the bag from the beginning. They offered me the job on July 1, right after I had my first interview with them. But I had concerns: they have a 6-month probationary period (unlike every other place, which has a normal 3-month probation) and I hadn't done any other interviews in the area.
"That's okay," said the manager, "Take your time and do your other interviews, and let us know. We'd really love to have you."
Two weeks later, after a disappointing interview at the place I was really excited about (for a place that is staffed by former Penn techs, their pay scale is ridiculously low and their expectations inversely high) and a really annoying bout of phone tag with my former manager from the last place I worked here in PA (who I still haven't heard from despite an excellent working interview and a promise to have a job offer by Thursday at the latest), I called up the first place and told them I'd love to work for them if we could get past this probation thing, since I can't afford COBRA for another 6 months.
They promised to put me on their insurance immediately, although they won't pay any of their portion until the 6-month period is up. Honestly, that's fine--I just can't get accepted to any insurance outside of work, and even without their contribution it's cheaper than COBRA. And in 6 months it'll be like a raise when they start to pay (slightly) more than half the premium!
So I has job now. I start Tuesday night. In the meantime my baby sister Danna is coming out in...uh...4 and a half hours. I should probably get some rest before I drive out to the airport...
She'll be here for two full weeks, spending this weekend with me, then doing a 10-day seminar at Villanova for pre-pre-med students, then spending next weekend with me as well. We're going to New York to see Avenue Q on Broadway and Mike's grandma is taking us to the Art Museum here in Philly where she used to be a docent. So we'll get a little culture in too :)
"That's okay," said the manager, "Take your time and do your other interviews, and let us know. We'd really love to have you."
Two weeks later, after a disappointing interview at the place I was really excited about (for a place that is staffed by former Penn techs, their pay scale is ridiculously low and their expectations inversely high) and a really annoying bout of phone tag with my former manager from the last place I worked here in PA (who I still haven't heard from despite an excellent working interview and a promise to have a job offer by Thursday at the latest), I called up the first place and told them I'd love to work for them if we could get past this probation thing, since I can't afford COBRA for another 6 months.
They promised to put me on their insurance immediately, although they won't pay any of their portion until the 6-month period is up. Honestly, that's fine--I just can't get accepted to any insurance outside of work, and even without their contribution it's cheaper than COBRA. And in 6 months it'll be like a raise when they start to pay (slightly) more than half the premium!
So I has job now. I start Tuesday night. In the meantime my baby sister Danna is coming out in...uh...4 and a half hours. I should probably get some rest before I drive out to the airport...
She'll be here for two full weeks, spending this weekend with me, then doing a 10-day seminar at Villanova for pre-pre-med students, then spending next weekend with me as well. We're going to New York to see Avenue Q on Broadway and Mike's grandma is taking us to the Art Museum here in Philly where she used to be a docent. So we'll get a little culture in too :)