Monday, July 21: Received phone call from a consulting company looking for a Business Analyst. Third call I received that day. (What can I say? Business Analysts are in demand) I’ve talked with lots of consulting companies in the last year but this one was a “newbie” to me. Position sounded very much up my alley — definitely more emphasis on the “business” side of things, not the technical. Recruiter sends me “job specs” which amounted to six dotpoints (Facilitation, process mapping, etc.). And salary. I email him to reitierate that I’m interested but at the proposed salary would mean leaving a CHUNK of money on the table. A.BIG.CHUNK. Not sure I want to do that BUT, I send him an updated resume and say, let’s play it out. He calls that afternoon saying the hiring manager wants to interview me Thursday - I need to get back to them with viable times.

Tuesday, July 22: Recruiter calls & we land at 3pm Thursday for an interview. One other person from their firm is interviewing at 2pm. Cool. I speak to his boss. Recruiter sends interview details and we talk money. He’s weilling to see what can be done but reminds me that if I’m brought on permanently, my salary would go back to their original. I laugh and tell him by the time my contract ends, they’ll be so enamored of my work, they’d pay be more. LOL

Thursday, July 24: After “taking a tour of the 700 block of Broad Street” (translation: searching for parking), I find my way to the lobby of the building and meet with the account manager and the hiring manager. I get a good feel for the hiring manager. We head up for the interview - which no one told me would be a panel. *sigh* (Breathe. Adjust. Bring it.) Personally, I thought the interview was over WAY too quickly - even with me asking more questions than they did (cause I am NOT trying to get hemmed up.) I get in the car, say a prayer, let it go, then head home to remove the remnants of the day and unwind a bit before meeting FavCus#1 & child for dinner. Recruiter calls and asks about the interview. We chat briefly and then talk money again. He tells me what he thinks he can get for me - especially since it’s downtown which means I’d have to pay my own parking costs (they pay parking for FTEs). Most lots are $10/all day…that’s $50 bucks/week. Hmmm…somebody might have to park-n-ride. I tell him I like the direction he’s heading in and we’ll just play it out.

Friday, July 25: Recruiter calls me @ 9:30am, asking how I’m doing. I tell him that it depends on what he has to share with me and caution him - it’s “Feel Good Friday” and I’m ONLY accepting good news. Ahhhh, what a segue. Good news indeed. The job is mine. And I’m only leaving $1040 on the table. Yes!! We talk start dates. How ’bout they wanted me to start Monday? As in July 28th? As in today? LOL Now you know that is serious. LOL Makes me wonder what I’m walking into. LOL

I tell him I can’t do that. While my contract is pretty much “open-ended” (even though they tell you it’s 6-months, nobody really writes in end-dates), I was asked to stay until 7/31. I figure I could have a week before starting right? Um. Not if I want benefits before we enter my 3rd month of employment. Hmmm….ok. Fine. I’ll start on August 4. That will have the same effect as starting August 11 since benefits kick in on the 1st of the month. DANG!! *sigh* Fine, I’ll start Friday, August 1st. Um…the hiring manager would really like me to start Thursday, July 31st. Cool. We set up a time for me to come in and do all the paperwork, etc.

I call my current consulting firm to share the news. They’re happy for me (*ahem*) but, need to ensure that my leaving “early” (by one day) doesn’t leave my current assignment in a bind. I laugh. They ask me to work out the week and honestly, if it wasn’t for the benefits angle, I would. Besides, exactly WHY do I need to stay the entire week? I’m not working on anything critical and what I do have can be turned over to somebody via a simple email. Seriously. I wasn’t “actively” searching for another assignment although, based on the…um…”anamolies” (and absurdities) with my current assignment, I probably should have. Actually, I get anywhere from 2-6 contacts per week from consulting firms. Nope, not bragging at all. Just that business analysts/business systems analysts are a hot commodity right now. Which definitely works in MY favor.

At any rate, we’ll see how this plays out. ‘Specially since my manager wasn’t in Friday. He doesn’t know. Yet.

It’s gonna be pretty innuh-resting round the old water cooler tomorrow. Yep, pretty innuh-resting indeed.

We shall see.

Loving the thought of “something new”,
*~* MsJayy *~*