Interview Tomorrow

I'm back from Texas, more on that tomorrow (although I will say that I have to ice my right knee down tonight... it's reminding me how long it's been since I've driven a long distance without cruise control). And I got my synopsis done before I left, and my contest entry sent off, so that was good. And kid is back, safe, sound, and maybe a little wiser.

But the big news is that I have an interview tomorrow.

I had five or six contract companies talk to me about the samejob at Lucent (now Alcatel-Lucent). It was a technical writing job, and they wanted a whole slew of experience on various of their products and practices... all of which I have. It's Lucent, who I'm completely comfortable working for since I've worked for them off and on for 18 years. It's a casual clothing work environment, so I don't have to buy a new wardrobe. They're not fanatic about what's on their computers, so I can re-map my keyboard to how I have it at home. It's flexible hours, so I can come and go as I need to, as long as I put my hours in. After they get to know me, working from home, on the occasional days that I have a sick kid, shouldn't be a problem. It's close to home. It started the day the kids start school. And it's only an 8-month contract, which means it isn't forever, because I didn't want to work forever. All of which made me think the job was meant for me.

So, to the first contract company who called, I said: "sure, send my resume in for it." Then he comes back and tells me the highest they can go is about half of what I was making last time I worked at Lucent 8 years ago. I tell him "no thank you." So, then another one of the companies calls and they say they'll submit me for 2/3 of what I was making before, which is close enough, given the 8-year break in my employment, the tighter market, my growing desperation, and the fact that it's tech writing and not programming, and tech writing in general pays less than programming.

Long story ensues, of course, the end of which I get told that Lucent won't even interview anybody at the pay rate I want. So, I say to them: "fine, I'll get another job." Because I don't need one where I'll be resentful every day. At which point, I figure it's back to the drawing board, and I got really bummed out.

Then the morning of the day I'm getting ready to leave to pick up my kid... an email from the contract company... Lucent apparently interviewed some of the people who were willing to work for what they wanted to pay, and amazingly enough, none of them had the experience Lucent wanted. Duh! So, the contract company guy says Lucent wants to interview me, at the pay rate that I wanted, can I go in first thing Monday for an interview?

Well, of course I can. :-)

I even had time to rush around the day before I left and found something to wear to the interview. I just hope it's not beastly hot outside tomorrow, because I hate wearing a suit in 90+ degree weather.