I had gotten the opportunity for a quick, three-month contract with Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and I was definitely glad for the work. However, I didn’t feel like I could truly get involved with the group or invested in the company because I knew it was a short contract and I was there for a singular purpose. However, about a month before my contract was up…

Whirlwind Steel came in like a wrecking ball, but in the absolute best way. I had a quick call with a recruiter at Jobot, then an interview with five Department Heads or other critical minds, and the next day an offer letter with more money than I’d ever made in my entire career. How could I turn that down?! Only issue is they wanted me to start on 6/19, and my DART contract was supposedly through the end of June.

However, I’d already progressed far enough in my projects with DART that I felt I could complete what I was hired for before I left, even if I left early. I felt proud that I was able to finish a contract with 100% completion with another job beginning directly behind it. So I let Whirlwind Steel know that I’d be theirs on the 19th with no issue, and am anxiously awaiting the next steps so I can start building a strategy for information gathering. I haven’t been this excited for a new position since…well, since my last salaried job. It’s always fun to be brought on to a new team, where you and everyone around you are evaluating your usefulness to said team, because it gives you an opportunity to truly listen and understand and bring all of your experience to the forefront to present solutions to this new tribe.

Wish me luck and good mojo! Tots and pears accepted.

I recently had a bit of a job-based heartbreak through a position I thought I was a shoe-in for. My recruiter was constantly telling me how perfect I was for the position, how he was the only recruiter for the company and there was only one other candidate who wasn’t as experienced as me and was asking for more money, etc. etc. etc. and that I should hear asap that the job is mine.

Well…it wasn’t. I ended up being turned down for the position as “an excellent silver medalist.” I have my theories as to why I was turned down, but the entire experience really helped me realize something:

I enjoy my work. I like working. And I’m ready to get back into it.

I was excited to potentially report to a new onsite position, work with new people and new technology, helping set up a rockstar documentation system for a company that has never had one. I was looking forward to the challenges, easy wins to be conquered that I saw already and an inkling of a long-term plan. I was even looking forward to supporting five different product stacks when nobody could really explain the differences between them.

I’m disappointed that I wasn’t given that position, yes. But I’m not going to thumb my nose at anyone, because that’s just business. That’s how this happens.

TL;DR: I’m ready to pounce back into the job market, and I have the skills. I just need the opportunity to show them.