Interview Glitches

Joel had 2 job interviews this past week, and both of them took on a life of their own.

Albuquerque, New Mexico: 

On his way to Albuquerque he had a layover in Dallas.  His plane was supposed to be coming from DC, but there was a huge storm, so it delayed the plane almost 5 hours.  His plane took off after midnight Central Time (1am our time).  He didn't get to his hotel until after 2 in the morning, and he had a 7:30am breakfast interview followed by a packed schedule of interviews with a late formal dinner.  He had worked a half day before heading to the airport as well, so he was exhausted.  I told him he could just show them how awesome he is at functioning after a long call weekend.  :)

Even though he had a really long day he talked to me on the phone for almost a half hour straight about how much he really loved Albuquerque.  I was shocked.  Normally I get about 2 sentences out of him on the phone, and that's about it.  He loved the city.  He loved the doctors.  He was happy with the job.  I think he was just really pleasantly surprised by the entire experience. 

He felt really good about everything.  The chief of the department is out of town for the next couple of weeks, so he won't be hearing back from them whether or not he gets a second interview until close to the end of the month.  He did say though that if they decide to bring him out for a second interview that they will have a contract in hand ready to make an offer.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma:

48 hours later we were on a plane headed to Oklahoma.  The chief of the department asked me to come along as well, because he said he only made one move without his wife's approval and it didn't go over well, so now he wants to make sure the wife is happy as well.  He's a very smart man!

We got in to the hotel Sunday evening and just ordered dinner from the hotel in an effort to rest and be ready for the interview in the morning.  This was the interview that Joel had most looked forward to, and he really wanted it to go well.  Half way through the night Joel woke up with food poisoning.  He spent the majority of the night vomiting in the bathroom.  At about 4:30/5am I was seriously concerned he would have to completely cancel the interview.  He was scheduled to have a 7:30 breakfast interview, and he couldn't even leave the bathroom.  Gratefully, the vomiting stopped around 5 and he could at least lay down for a little while.  He looked like death, but he was able to at least meet the chief downstairs.  He didn't eat anything, but they did go to the hospital to try to do interviews.  It was definitely pep talk time!  I just told him to take it one interview at a time, and not focus on how incredibly long the day was going to be - baby steps!  When I got to the hospital at 10, the lady I was with took one look at him and asked if he wanted an IV.  He gave her an enthusiastic YES!  They hooked him up, and it helped.  This will definitely be his most memorable interview if nothing else.  The poor guy made it through all the interviews but ended up canceling the dinner, because he still wasn't eating anything, and he was barely functioning by the end of it.  I was really worried that the whole thing had put a major damper on his experience.  He went straight to bed at about 5pm.

Gratefully, he woke up the next morning feeling 100 times better, and he was back to being the correct color again.  He gave his presentation and had more interviews.  At the very end of the day, Dr. Meyer, the chief of the department, called me in as well and asked me if I wanted to come back for the second interview.  Their hiring committee meets this coming Monday and then we should hear a final decision, but even after all the food poisoning trauma it looks like Joel will most likely be offered a second interview and a possible contract.  It's hard to believe it, but things somehow worked out.

Taking out the whole food poisoning part, he had a wonderful experience.  Everyone is so lovely and kind.  They are like a big family and they are also very family oriented.  It's also a really great job.  It's almost exactly what he wants to do, so it's a great fit.  The department head would also be a really great boss.  He's the most down to earth guy and just a really great person.  He also was a concert pianist and owns a Steinway, so we chatted pianos and music for a while.

Joel has two more interviews in the next 2 weeks, and he also had a phone interview with Rochester, New York yesterday.  They have expressed interest in bringing him out for an interview in the next 3-5 weeks, but unless that timeline ends up moving up a bit it may be too late.  Right now it's really between Albuquerque and Oklahoma unless something unforeseen occurs.