Wow.
My blog has been left neglected for 7 months. I have been busy and tired with the toddler who is now a rambunctious, active, and handsome 19 month old. I miss the baby days. I miss the days when he took naps and couldn't roll over. I need a time machine.
I have decided to return to the work force. Being a stay at home mom is as rewarding as it gets and unless you haven't been a stay at home parent, sit down and be quiet. We work a full time job. From morning until night. No sick days allowed even when you, yourself, are sick.
My search for a job has not been the easiest one. I would turn in resume after resume after resume. I only received two calls, both from private practice clinics.
I first interviewed with a practice in Edmonds last week. I was really nervous. I had no "grown up" professional business attire. I haven't had a real professional interaction for almost 2 years. I was afraid I was going to fudge the interview. Contrary to my fears, the office manager was warm and cordial, and the physicians were friendly and nice. The position I interviewed for is a temporary part time gig. The hours are half day 4 days out of the week plus 1 full day but the gig will only last about 8-12 weeks since it is to fill in for a staff member going on maternity leave.
Today, I had another interview at a bigger practice in Mill Creek. I got the call yesterday. Because I was attending to the toddler, the manager left me a hurried and rushed voice mail. I had to replay the message several times to get her name and I had to Google the words she had rambled to figure out what clinic she worked for.
I called back the Mill Creek practice and spoke to the manager. She spoke in that hurried and rushed manner not to mention cold. You could tell what kind of person you are talking to just by that initial phone call. I guess my perkiness was too much for her. She bitingly asked me "Why have you not been working since 2009?" I told her the reason was because I had a baby and decided that I was not ready to go back to work just yet. Then another biting question as to why I haven't called my former work place to get my job back. I felt like I was defending myself answering her questions. THEN she made a snide comment regarding the questions and said "I am asking these questions so that you don't waste our time and we don't waste yours". I was taken aback and shyly responded that I completely understood that time was valuable indeed. We scheduled for an interview today at 11 this morning.
Even though I had this "feeling", I gave the manager the benefit of the doubt regarding her cold demeanor. Maybe she was having a bad day?
I went to my interview this morning and well, my nerves were present however I believe that I showed good composure under the harsh and grueling interview. I met with the same lady I had spoken to over the phone yesterday. She was cold during her interview. I don't expect her to sugar coat anything and while I respect honesty up front, there are some ways to deliver certain questions or statements. This lady was neither cordial nor warm. I felt intimidated by her almost condescending tone.
One part of the interview that really ticked me off was when I asked what system they ran for the electronic medical records. Her response? "You don't know it." I was stunned by this response. STUNNED. Who responds like that?!
On my way home, I had replayed the whole interview in my mind. That interview alone raised a lot of red flags about the company. I mean they have that woman representing their company for crissakes! However, could I just see past the manager and hope for the best? After all, the pay would be decent, the benefits are fantastic, and they are opening a satellite clinic 10 minutes from my house. I did get the feel of the clinic as a very busy practice. Busy equals stress. I was so stressed out from my last job that I was hanging by a very thin thread before I could die from exhaustion at the end of the day. And I didn't have a child yet back then!
I was caught in a dilemma.
Do I go with the warm and fuzzy clinic that I had interviewed with first? A temporary part time gig, 30 minutes from my house ? They have plans of expanding in the future although there isn't a definite date however, they assured me that I will be their first pick when that new practice opens.
or ...
Do I go with the 2nd clinic with the manager who needs to work on her attitude in a busy and potentially stressful practice. A full time position, 10 minutes from my house with good benefits?
I have made a decision. And once I know that I commit to that decision, I don't ever want to look back and wonder "what if I took the other job?"
At the end of the day, it is my son, my happiness, and my sanity that matters when it comes to making the decision of which road I will take.
What would you do?
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