Work to live, not live to work.
I’ve been working part-time at Eagle Home Mortgage for two and a half years. It’s been a great run – but with the end of Steve’s contract looming I knew I needed to get back out there full-time and build on my career. I started looking at the end of March. The market is amazing for people with backgrounds such as mine – in property management and real estate. I’ve been aiming at jobs paying 25% over what my last industry job was – and I have never had so many interviews in all my life. I had some close calls, too. Three times for three great jobs I was second choice, the other applicant just being a “better fit”. If anyone knows what the hell that means, please enlighten me.
I guess it doesn’t matter because I finally received a great job offer – and not from any of the places I interviewed with.
When I interviewed at the Port of Seattle there was a consultant who was part of the interview panel. She’s been doing acquisitions and relocation work there longer than any of the actual employees have, which is why she was asked to be part of the panel. She called me about 10 days after the interview (this being Wednesday May 24th, when I was sick as a dog at home). She asked me if I had heard from the Port yet and I said not yet. She said she knew I had been high in the rankings and that when my interview was over she told the Port folks that if they didn’t hire me, she would. She said I should be hearing soon and she would be in touch.
I got a message the next day asking me to email my resume over to her – but after my interview that morning I just drug myself back home and collapsed on the couch and never even turned on my computer.
On Friday morning she left me a voicemail when I was in that morning’s interview (I had 5 total last week). She said she had heard the Port had made its final decision and I was 2nd choice (this is the 3rd time confirmed this has happened to me). And when would I be available to come and talk to her about working for her? So I made an appointment for the morning of May 31, after the holiday weekend and not interfering with any other appointments.
I got the distinct impression when I walked into her little office in Renton that she had made up her mind long before I got there and it was just up to me. Linda Lane (Lane and Associates) is a real estate consultant and has 3 other people working for her – all as consultants. I will also be an independent housing consultant, working with the others with contracts with the Port of Seattle and a number of other government entities. I'll be managing the purchase and sale process of such things as rights-of-way, cell towers, power lines, parks, and relocating families living in homes impacted by airplane noise to new homes not under SeaTac's flight paths. I will also be managing the lead consultant's technology and marketing efforts. I'll be out in the field a lot, and working from different field offices. I’ll be getting my real estate license again to be able to work with relocating families.
She said the magic dollar amount and I admit I am attracted to the idea of being self-employed again. I will still have some flexibility but I also will have guaranteed work – and I will be getting paid what I am actually worth. It’s a win-win situation.
So I gave notice to Ted and Eagle Home Mortgage. Ted looked panicked (because it’s all about him you know) and verified with me that there’s no way he could compete financially to keep me at Eagle. I am really looking forward to all of the variety I will be doing, the people I will be helping, and the people I will be working with. Linda seems real smart and professional and I respect her since she saw a good thing and grabbed it – ME! And I love her beliefs in work/life balance and was relieved when she told me she now works to live, and no longer lives to work. That is exactly the kind of environment I need. I'll be starting June 26th, after she returns from her vacation in Greece.
You just never really know where your life is going to take you.
I guess it doesn’t matter because I finally received a great job offer – and not from any of the places I interviewed with.
When I interviewed at the Port of Seattle there was a consultant who was part of the interview panel. She’s been doing acquisitions and relocation work there longer than any of the actual employees have, which is why she was asked to be part of the panel. She called me about 10 days after the interview (this being Wednesday May 24th, when I was sick as a dog at home). She asked me if I had heard from the Port yet and I said not yet. She said she knew I had been high in the rankings and that when my interview was over she told the Port folks that if they didn’t hire me, she would. She said I should be hearing soon and she would be in touch.
I got a message the next day asking me to email my resume over to her – but after my interview that morning I just drug myself back home and collapsed on the couch and never even turned on my computer.
On Friday morning she left me a voicemail when I was in that morning’s interview (I had 5 total last week). She said she had heard the Port had made its final decision and I was 2nd choice (this is the 3rd time confirmed this has happened to me). And when would I be available to come and talk to her about working for her? So I made an appointment for the morning of May 31, after the holiday weekend and not interfering with any other appointments.
I got the distinct impression when I walked into her little office in Renton that she had made up her mind long before I got there and it was just up to me. Linda Lane (Lane and Associates) is a real estate consultant and has 3 other people working for her – all as consultants. I will also be an independent housing consultant, working with the others with contracts with the Port of Seattle and a number of other government entities. I'll be managing the purchase and sale process of such things as rights-of-way, cell towers, power lines, parks, and relocating families living in homes impacted by airplane noise to new homes not under SeaTac's flight paths. I will also be managing the lead consultant's technology and marketing efforts. I'll be out in the field a lot, and working from different field offices. I’ll be getting my real estate license again to be able to work with relocating families.
She said the magic dollar amount and I admit I am attracted to the idea of being self-employed again. I will still have some flexibility but I also will have guaranteed work – and I will be getting paid what I am actually worth. It’s a win-win situation.
So I gave notice to Ted and Eagle Home Mortgage. Ted looked panicked (because it’s all about him you know) and verified with me that there’s no way he could compete financially to keep me at Eagle. I am really looking forward to all of the variety I will be doing, the people I will be helping, and the people I will be working with. Linda seems real smart and professional and I respect her since she saw a good thing and grabbed it – ME! And I love her beliefs in work/life balance and was relieved when she told me she now works to live, and no longer lives to work. That is exactly the kind of environment I need. I'll be starting June 26th, after she returns from her vacation in Greece.
You just never really know where your life is going to take you.
posted by Wendy Hughes-Jelen @ 10:11 AM
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