New Job

Anyone reading this probably already knows about my new job. But I'm going to write about it anyway.

About a month ago, a co-worker told me about a job posting that he'd seen that he thought I would be qualified for. He thought of me because the job requested that the position be filled by someone with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, which is exactly what I have. He forwarded the e-mail to me, and I decided I'd go ahead and apply for it, even though I was quite sure I wouldn't get it. The reason I applied though was because the pay was nearly double what I was making at the shrimp lab.

So, I updated my resume, filled out the paperwork, and located my transcript and sent it off to TCEQ. About a week later, I was jogging on the treamill, and I saw someone was calling me from a number I didn't recognize. It was an HR rep from TCEQ calling to set up an interview! I informed her I was jogging, so that's why I sounded funny, but assured her I was ok to talk. She set up an interview for the following Thursday. I was so excited and amazed that I actually got an interview.

The interview went pretty well. I enjoyed the process. It didn't really matter to me whether or not I got the job because I enjoyed my job at the shrimp lab. The position I was applying for was an emissions evaluator under the air quality sector. However, while I was there, I found out that they had an opening in the water quality department that was going to be posted the following week. Now THAT was a job I could see myself doing.

On monday, I received a phone call from my interviewer informing me that I did not get the position. I wasn't surprised, But he strongly urged me to apply again and made sure I had the HR recruiter lady's contact info. So I called her up, and she set me right up with an interview for Thursday!

The interview went very well. I had good answers for all the questions and obviously had plenty of experience to qualify for the position. I liked the attitude of the interviewers better than the air sector guys. I can't explain it. I just liked them better.

Friday morning I anxiously awaited a phone call from TCEQ letting me know whether or not I got the job. What a long morning! They finally called at 11:00 and offered me the job. I was SO excited. I went in at lunch to fill out some paperwork and received my official offer of employment the next week with a start date of October 4th.

My new position pays nearly double what I've been making at the shrimp lab. It has state benefits, is located only 3 miles from my home, and claims to have a 50/50 ratio of office work to field work. That's good because I do enjoy office work, but not ALL the time.

Needless to say, I'm pretty stoked about the new job. But there are some things I'll miss about my old job:

• The cooling pond- it's great to have an undisturbed wildlife habitat with a running path less than a quarter mile away from work. However, my new job is on campus, which has a running path that follows Oso Bay, so that's good.
• My own lab- I didn't have an office, but the small water quality lab essentially became mine. It wasn't too bad of a set-up I had there.
• Flip-flops and tank tops at work.
• Most of my co-workers.

But there are a lot of things I won't miss:

• Mosquitoes EVERYWHERE
• 2 of my co-workers
• Low pay
• Getting stabbed by shrimp
• cBOD
• 20 minute commute
• My gas bill
• Sharing 1 tiny, horrible bathroom with 10 other people
• Free labor in the form of inmates

I'm excited to be able to dress nice for work. I'm sure that will get old quick, but for now, I'm looking forward to it. I just hope that what I wrote about in the previous post doesn't mess everything up.

Well I better get to bed.