Well, after a two-week period that was unexpectedly full of interviews, I can now claim success! I have found a new job!
I got the job offer last night - I only saw the job -offer email about an hour after they sent it - and accepted right off the bat. As soon as I heard, I called Mom, Rob, Sister and all of the people I used as references…I had originally made an appointment for another job interview with a different company on Monday, and I had to call them back as well and cancel it.
Predictably, while Mom was happy with the news, she had to find something wrong: why did I cancel that Monday interview? I could have walked away with a better job! However, in the second interview I had with my new employer (before I got the job, of course), they asked if I would be willing to start on Monday. For all intents and purposes, I said yes, although I qualified my response by stating that before I started, I would have to make different arrangements with the Broadview Centre to continue my computer certification. Considering the job offer letter I recieved requested that I start work on Monday the 28th, I figured that it was best not to go back on my word and say something to the effect of “Oh hey, I’ve got another job interview coming up, can I go to that first before I commit to you?” I figured an approach like that would lead me straight back to No Job City.
Anyways, the job and employer itself: my employer will be an online marketing firm whose largest client (at this location at least) is an online transaction service similar to PayPal. I won’t be doing any tech support stuff - to be honest, I’m still not really sure how the business works and exactly what my employer does to ensure the PayPal-esque company’s smooth flow of operations - but I will be handling the front desk, taking and rerouting calls, talking to customers, and overseeing general office management. In some ways it’s grunt work (letters, ordering supplies, etc), but in some ways it’s grunt work that I have no experience with (eg: making travel arrangements) and need to learn.
The good news is that considering it’s entry level, they’re offering what I feel is a very nice package: competitive starting salary, and two weeks paid vacation. The first 3 months will be on a probationary period, after which I will be evaluated, and if considered successful, be made a permanent employee. Of course, there’s all the rigarmarole to sort out once I start - forms to sign, background checks to undergo, etc. They’ll be checking my references (which is why I called all of them as soon as I heard), my credit history, and my criminal record (which I don’t have - I expect that the police records will come out clean as a whistle).
What’s also really nice is that the commute will be quite reasonable. I live very close to a train station (about 5 minutes away) and thus taking the regional commuter train will be very easy, as the employer itself is located only about 10 minutes away from the station that serves as the hub of the commuter system. The only drawback (and it’s somewhat major) are the working hours: because the company’s head office is in LA, the working hours for the Toronto office have been shifted accordingly, so that instead of it being 9-5, it’s 10-7 (with a 1-hour break for lunch). I suspect that there won’t be much for me to do when I come home in the evenings.
Anyways. It’s a job! I’ve got student loans to pay off and stuff I need money to buy! The fact that I’ve “made it” (sort of) with a job that’s got a nice salary, excellent downtown location and such is a cause for cheer. The weekend shall be devoted to de-scruffifying myself, cleaning my room, and getting myself more polished for Monday. Wish me luck!