I found a new job!
(Yay!)
On October 1, I’ll start as a medical editor at a local hospital, editing articles that researchers and physicians have written for submission to scholarly journals. I’ll also help with ad hoc public relations pieces and website content. I’ll get an ID badge. I’ll have a closet-sized office — with a door! — in a quiet wing of the hospital. I can’t wait.
See, at the end of last week, my life became very confusing. Last Tuesday marked two weeks after my second interview with the hospital, so I followed up with my contact. In her words, I was the “leading candidate” (woo!), but I couldn’t extract what that meant. The feedback and paperwork had to go through her boss and then to HR, so was I still going to get an offer? Or was there more decision-making at hand? I should hear in “one or two days,” she said.
Between that Tuesday and the following Monday, I had an interview at another company, received a job offer there the very next day, and stalled for more time in the hopes that the hospital would get back to me. During this whole job search process, I’ve been straining for even one interview at a time, but I was rather flustered at having two viable options. It’s a bit easier to decide whether one job is the right or wrong decision, but throwing in an alternative and evaluating whether a position is better or worse creates a completely different situation.
Much to my relief, I got a call from the hospital’s HR department with an offer on Monday. I talked it over with JG, made sure I understood the compensation and benefits package, asked some clarifying questions, and notified them of my acceptance yesterday. Upon hearing my decision, the HR contact said, “Oh, they’ll be ecstatic when they hear this!” I couldn’t help but glow a little bit.
After I called to decline my other job offer, I had to inform my manager of my resignation. I thought that I would give my notice with triumph ringing in my voice, but I was startled to find that I was trembling uncomfortably as I delivered the news. “I wanted to let you know that I received a job offer,” I said shakily, “and I’ve accepted it, so I’m giving my notice.” My manager was taken aback and said that it would be a huge loss for the team, which I appreciated. We decided to discuss my transition and communication plans the following day, after HR had been notified.
As I hung up the phone, I was struck with a strange sense of nostalgia for this job, my desk, and the comfortable niche I had carved. It’s odd — even though I’ve had really tough times, it’s my first job. It’s the only one I’ll ever have and I had just quit. I realized that telling my close co-workers the next day that I was leaving would be incredibly difficult. After almost 60 job applications, a handful of interviews, and more than my fair share of tearful workdays, I expected to feel exuberant when I was able to resign. Instead, I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders and a quiet sense of peace. It’s not jubilation, exactly, but I’ll take it.
I’m ready.
12 comments
Congratulations!! I find quitting a job to be always extremely difficult. It’s just hard to say “I’ve found something I prefer to you.”
So true. I felt like saying, “It’s not you, it’s me.” But it was kind of not just me…
Woohoo. Congrats. I can see how it can be a tad bittersweet being the first job and all, but it looks like you have so much to look forward to and a bright future! Even your own office! You’ve already graduated from the world of cubicles. Now that’s impressive.;-)
I’m so looking forward to having a door! Even if it might be to a windowless, airless box… I’ll just put up a picture of a window…
Congrats! I’m so happy for you! I can see how it would be bittersweet — I think I’ll feel the same way when I finally escape from my current job. But how wonderful that you get to start an exciting new job with your very own office! Hooray!
Thank you so much! I’m sure it will all be interesting, to say the least.
Congratulations!! This is going to be such a great move for you! And you get your own office; Awesome!
xox
Thank you! It’s so wonderful to have bloggy-cheers!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Quitting a job is one of the most nerve wracking experiences ever. (Which reminds me of a story I should blog about…)
I’m so glad you found a new position that you’re excited about. YOU DESERVE IT.
That is so sweet. And, I can’t wait to hear about your quitting story!
Woohoo! Congratulations!!
No matter how much you hate a job, quitting is always hard. I was SO ready to leave my last job, but I was still shaking when I gave my notice. And I still cried when I left on the last day with my little box of personal items and drove my car out of the parking lot for the last time.
I’m going to have essentially the same commute, but pulling out of this parking lot for that last day is going to feel very strange, indeed. I didn’t even think about that.
Congratulations, RA!
I have a lot of trouble quitting jobs so I try not to do it unless it becomes physically impossible for me to work it (because I have school or some other obligation that I can’t drop). In fact, I think that’s why I’ve been at my part time job for 8 years and counting…first I said I’d hang on to it just in case the full time position didn’t work out, now I have no real excuse but I can’t seem to let go.
I hope you have lots of fun with the new position…I’m sure you’ll find the new environment very stimulating!
Thank you - I hope that’s the case, too!
Congratulations on your new job!
It is hard to quit a job- I’ve done it twice since I became a “professional”. And it never gets easier. The first job was hard even though I had problems with the ethics of the company I worked for at the time. And the second one was even harder because I loved the people I worked with and I really liked my job. But, I wanted to be closer to my family.
Yes, I am really going to miss my co-workers. That’s the worst part of all for me, in this. I just hope I don’t break down when my last day rolls around.
Congrats! This is so exciting!
I quit my first job for a much better one (the one I have now), but it was hard. Even though I knew it was the right decision and I don’t regret it one bit, I was racked with nerves and stumbling to get the words out. Not fun.
I think there’s something about quitting or resigning that makes it sound so … I don’t know … cop-out-like. I more feel like I’m just stopping. But that doesn’t sound the same.
Hubby has been unemployed enough times for me to learn that when it rains, it pours…in job offers. I swear it takes forever to get the first one, but then they pile on!
I’m so happy for you (and jealous, oh so jealous)…
Thanks, Janet!
I’m so happy for you! And you get your own door! =)
I’ve been in the situation where I have a job offer, but one is in the works that I want more. Ohhh, it gets so complicated and confusing! I’m glad this worked out so well.
I hope you love your new job!
Thanks for the good wishes, Emma! I hope so, too…
I’m so happy for you! I know you’ve been wanting to do something different for a while. Very cool.
Thanks, Zandria!
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