Come prepared to ND

When we came out here A was offered a job with a minimum contract of 5 years. He did not accept the job until we had his apartment lined up and his hotels for the month until his apt was ready lined up.

Ducks in a row

It’s how I operate. Then I started looking for a job. And was QUICK to realize, and be told flat out, “unless you’re here, don’t bother applying, we need people RIGHT NOW”. I offered to hop on a flight but refused until I had SOMETHING lined up.

Well, after four months of that bullshiznizzle, I finally came out just to come out. We had saved enough and the apt was cheap enough that we could afford for me to not “work”. I did MK gift baskets and made my bills that way.

We got married and I applied only for jobs that I actually wanted and in less than a week had my offer.

So here I sit at my job listening to some people talking about the hiring process (since it’s growing) and how they don’t understand people who “get off the bus and expect a job” and how they LOOK for people who are preplanning. OH REALLY!??!!?

So I jump in.

Since it was my experience that those who preplan will get a phone interview at MOST and even then it’s just a formality. I got three phone interviews because they didn’t have time to get everyone in the office so I don’t even think they realized that I wasn’t IN STATE when they were talking to me. EVERY. SINGLE. INTERVIEW. I was asked to come in for a  follow-up, if not offered the job just over the phone. The MOMENT I ‘hesitated’ and said the earliest I can be there is x/y/zz when they asked (which was stupid because it was on my application) … and never more than a week out (once A left I was packed and ready the next week)… silence. They would put me on hold or say they would call back while they talk to HR or whoever…

AND THEN NOTHING

I would have to call them and the response was the same, we need someone who is already here to start tomorrow, or next Monday, or whatever.

And yet. Here I am in the conversation about how they want people who are here and ready BUT are keeping their eye out for “fresh talent” who has their ducks in a row.

I could not make this shit up if I tried and I have a VERY active imagination.

I ran into the HR lady just after this conversation and asked, ‘hey, if I wasn’t IN ND when you called me (cause the application had to be submitted IN person) would you have done the phone interview and follow up”

THIS IS THE HR RESPONSE

“well, there is a sour note on most native ND’s tongue about people who come here EXPECTING a position the day they show up, EXPECTING to find housing that isn’t ‘spendy’ and what have you. But we do keep an eye out for someone that is worth waiting a few extra days for, but frankly if they don’t like it they can leave, we don’t need any of those welfare rats coming out here and complaining all the time.”

To avoid the argument I nodded and she smiled and said, “we’re glad to have you here and that you like our weather right!”

Again I nodded and walked away

I don’t even know what to make of it.

It’s a total catch 22, if you come out here “EXPECTING a job” cause, you know, people just come out here for fun, shits and giggles type crap…. You’ll be judged.

If you try to plan accordingly and get a position before making a move presumably across the country, you’re judged.

The guy that was at the center of this conversation, moved here in less than three days after his interview because he was from Michigan. Wasn’t a hard move, wasn’t a long move and he had spent some time planning out what he was doing. I respect that. But I also know that he didn’t exactly share the same interview experience that the IT dude is talking about.