Fresh Start

I got a call at the beginning of February.
My response..."Sure, I'd love to set up an interview."
I cleaned up my portfolio and dropped a few spotless samples in the pockets. Off I went, scared out of my mind over what might happen if my current part time job found out I went to an interview AND if I didn't get the job where I interviewed. I'd never been in a spot like that before. I'd only left jobs due to graduation or because of a lay off. Never had I felt I was in such control.

Laughing as we wrapped up, I felt great about the position and the people I could be working with. It was also nice to know that while I graduated from the school that was this employing location's rival, it wouldn't completely be held against me...

A week and a half later, after my references had been verified and contacted, I got the call with an offer. I pondered it for a few days with my husband.
Factors and questions that weighed in most heavily were:
- unknown status of a potential graduate assistant position and its funding at another university that would eventually provide tuition reimbursement for an MBA
- unknown job location of soon-to-be graduated husband as he begins his career
- relative emptiness of savings account + bills coming due
- potential to remain on the board of my local AIGA chapter
- deeply rooted school rivalry
- potential to commute within a 45 min radius if husband finds job

All of that was dissected and analyzed, and my husband and I decided that this was an opportunity not to be missed. The economy said so. An available job, with included benefits, that I was specifically qualified for would have been a blessing in normal economic times... right now it was nothing short of a miracle.

The job is in the city that I currently reside, unlike my past 2 jobs where I commuted up to 2 hours one way daily. I can gain close to 16 hours of my life back every week. I can't wait for my start date of March 2 to come. Applying for tons of positions in November and not really hearing back from any was difficult, and common from what I hear. But it all seems to fade into necessary white noise after accepting the new job.

I'll be working at a University in the department dealing with student housing and dining services. Serving as graphic design specialist, I hear I'll get to hit the ground running.

I courteously let my part time employer know that this job opportunity had arisen and a decision had been made. They let me know that they didn't need me the rest of the two weeks. Only 5 days later, I was done... with a week and a half between employers.

In the mean time, I'm updating my LinkedIn, Careerbuilder.com, Monster.com, AIGA, Twitter and Facebook accounts to reflect that I'm no longer readily available for full time employment opportunities. I'm still open, just not immediately available. That's the one thing I learned from this process. ALWAYS seek employment, whether you can take it or not. You never know when you may need an option or several.

Wrapping up freelance work I'm currently under contract for, and launching my own website for design services and goodies related to weddings and new babies, ten days should evaporate quickly.

More to come as design gears shift!
CM