I have a new job!

[professionalhenchman]

So, those of you who have seen me in person know some of this already, but as of today, I finally have a new full-time, permanent job.  It was a rather eventful end of the week last week - I got a phone call Weds. afternoon from one of the temp agencies I'd been regularly in contact with, they apologized for it being much less than what I was looking for, but wanted to know if I'd be interested in a part-time, short-term temp job washing glassware at one of the local biotech companies, starting the next morning.  As it was decidedly better than no job at all, I accepted it, and went about my first day there, ending up being kept for 7 hours rather than the offered 4 because the person I was working for really needed the help.  So, I got home, checked my phone messages, and found a job offer from a lab in the Vet school's medicine & epidemiology department, which I really hadn't expected to be  offered based on how I felt the interview went.  Still, I was pleased at the surprise, and played phone tag, leaving a message that I'd be glad to accept, and would be available Monday.  Then, I called the temp agency, told them I'd be done after Friday, and why - they took it in stride.  Friday, I go back to the glassware washing job, tell them, get congratulations and some sadness that they wouldn't get to keep me, work another almost full day, and come home.  Then, I get a call that evening offering me a job in Plant Pathology working on a Biofuels project.  Having accepted the other job just the day before, I tell them that I'd just accepted another offer, and am promptly asked if I'd signed the paperwork yet.  "No," says I, and they tell me that they were going to offer me a raise over what I'd been making when I was laid off at the previous job (and what I'd be making again at the new one), and that if I changed my mind, the offer'd be open until they interviewed more candidates and found someone else.  I thank them, and hang up, then send an email (as it's seemed to be the best way to reach these people) to the vet people, asking if they'd be willing to match the salary offer, as I'm leaning towards that job from what I remember from the respective interviews.
        So, this weekend, I found myself in the surprising position of getting to choose where I'm going to work next, from two options that were both quite interesting and each of which offered different opportunities for growth in my chosen career path.  I was understandably excited, and in between dancing at Faire and splurging a bit on stuff I'd been wanting all season, but couldn't afford at the time, I pondered options.  This morning, I went in and talked with the vet school first, found that they wouldn't be able to match the salary offer, and got the tour of the labs there, something which had been left out of the interview.  After that, I wandered off to think for a while over a cup of chai.  In the end, what decided me was my impression of the people I'd be working with, and I ended up accepting the Plant Pathology job, though when i went to sign papers, they got a call from HR informing them that they weren't actually allowed to offer me more money, causing a brief awkward moment as I had to reassure them that I wasn't going to change my mind because of this. 
         I spent most of the day getting to know the people in the lab, and helping pack up the lab as we're moving to the recently-renovated Robbins Hall.  It's a large (~20 people) lab, but it feels very comfortable, and I think I'll get along well here.  I found out that one of my former co-workers from the lab next door to my old one was here and is good friends with my new boss - apparently he put in a good word for me.  Also, I talked with the person I'll be replacing - also named Brian - and found that he's taking a job with Arcadia Biosciences, which is one of the companies I'd been thinking it'd be really cool to work for, so I think that this job will be good for my career advancement too.

Comments

[whalejudge.livejournal.com]

So...this one is on campus proper?

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Well, it will be once the move is finished. For now, it's over by the vet buildings and the new stadium.

[fallen42.livejournal.com]

Sweet. Congrats on the new job.

[ziibminthalij.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the job!

(Tangentially) I have Arabic class in Robbins. It's a rather odd place for it to be, since most things in there are related to plant studies, but I like it.

[davefreer.livejournal.com]

:-) Congrats! That's quite a rollercoaster. So what will you be doing in Plant Path?

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'll be working on rice and switchgrass on a project trying to make their cell walls easier to break down for use in making biofuels - particularly cellulosic ethanol, I think, but I'm not sure - I'll have more details once we're finished moving the lab and I can actually start work on the project.

[agengrgal.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I'll keep an eye out for articles from my technical organzation that might help...

[kelsied.livejournal.com]

Yay! Congrats! *hugs*

[klellingson.livejournal.com]

Congratulation on the new job. Kind of nice to be in the position of choosing and taking the option you would prefer. It would seem that when it rains, it pours.

[satyrlovesong.livejournal.com]

Woot! I'm so happy for you.

Any chance that dishwashing job is still open?

[agengrgal.livejournal.com]

Can he call them and recommend someone???

[satyrlovesong.livejournal.com]

That's what I was hoping.

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Well, they were supposed to find someone to take over Monday, so probably not, but the company is Lab Support, and the Sacramento person to contact is Sherry Mabray
Senior Account Executive
Lab Support
A Division of On Assignment
t: 707.694.5407
v: 800.998.3411
f: 866.549.9611
sherry.mabray@onassignment.com
toll free: 800.546.1670

I doubt she'll mind my posting her details here as it's more exposure for them, and favorable too - I do highly recommend them for lab temp positions, of the companies I've dealt with, they're the ones who've been the most responsive, and as far as I can tell, work harder at finding positions, as both times I've had a lab temp job it's been through them. Give Sherry a call and let her know I recommended you (or S, as the case may be.) I think I might even get a referral bonus if they fit someone I referred to a position. I do suggest checking in with them every week or two once you've sent in a resume, just to let them know that you're still interested - their former Sac person gave me that advice the first time I dealt with them, and it seemed to pay off.

[buffaloraven.livejournal.com]

Grats! Goodluck

[cowgirlknits.livejournal.com]

Yay job. I join in the congratulatory chorus! Also, awesome to have the choice. Go you.

[agengrgal.livejournal.com]

Congratulations... on being valued as a potential employee, on successfully navigating negotiations, on taking time to consider your options, on knowing what you want, and on getting a job! :o)

[barelyproper.livejournal.com]

Woo hoo! congrats!

[ailurodragon.livejournal.com]

Congratulations - I went through the same sort of thing at my previous job at UCD when I asked for more money than they originally offered, and they said "Yes, whoops, now we have to re-offer the job at that salary to previous candidates who indicated they were not interested, but they all had been hired elsewhere so it shouldn't be a problem, really. Just wait a week or two."

*Hooray!*

Also, cowgirlknits will be down on the weekend, starting Friday night, and leaving either Sunday night or wee hours Monday morning, so nominate a time that would be good for getting together.

[groblek.livejournal.com]

I'd say Friday night would be best, as we're pretty booked other times.

[elissali.livejournal.com]

congratulations! that's wonderful! you definitely deserve having people fight over you, because you are awesome. :) That all sounds like it works out really well!

*big hugs*

[kevinbunny.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! Congrats! Much niftiness!

Since you're replacing a Brian, you should insist on being called 'Brian II', or perhaps 'The Other Brian'

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Actually, I seem to have been dubbed "The New Brian."

[masterfiddler.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Glad for the good news.

[dushai.livejournal.com]

I don't think you've been congratulated enough, so I hereby offer yet more congratulations. Seriously, being the subject of a bidding war in this economy is a great achievement. And finding a job with people you enjoy working with is an even better one.

[battymaiden.livejournal.com]

Huzzah to The New Brian! ;)

go you!

[laviolinista.livejournal.com]

Best of luck!

[dancingguy.livejournal.com]

Congrats!