Ooo so you took the Cali job, omnis? Congratulations.

I'm THE finalist. No job offer yet. Last step is they call references. They have to call current employer. I had a hold on that in my app. If I didn't release the do not call, no job offer. I finally released that hold, which was big mental decision that, while not perfect, it's a good move. HR called one of my refs today, she called me to give me the juicy details. Kinda funny.

Once refs are verified, then it hits the final stage, which is a formal offer. Then the negotiations begin. As long as that salary amount is on the upper level, then I will take it. If they dick around, I stay with perfectly fine current job.

Harvey's crying. I have him locked up in the bathroom to collect a sample for UA. He has produced a small amount, but it is not enough. Please, baby boy, just pee for mommy.

I'm THE finalist. No job offer yet.

I'm sorry. I thought I had missed that you had properly accepted the job, because I was so tired yesterday. Today I am so tired that I tried to dispose of an empty hot cocoa package by putting it in the big fruit bowl on our kitchen counter.

I'm THE finalist. No job offer yet.

Sorry. I thought it was all but a done deal. I hope the offer is good.

Aw, Harvey! Poor guy. Hope you get enough of a sample, Andi. also: {{WindSparrow}} and scritches for Harvey.

I've got a phone interview sometime today. They asked me if I was available between 8 and 12, and I said yes, and that between 10 and 12 would be better than between 8 and 10. I expected to get an email back telling me that they'd call me at some specific time. But, no. I emailed to ask if there was a specific time, or just some time in that interval, and no response. I also wasn't sure which phone number I had put on the application, so I sent them the one that they should use for the interview. My other phone interview asked for the number.

Oh, bah, Hil, that's irksome.

Vibing good-decision~ma and negotiation~ma to omnis.

I still don't have my cover letter written. My ex-boss whom I love like a dad talked to the person in charge of the position, and reported back that she was totally adamant about not even considering anyone who doesn't have the specific experience she listed. Not equivalent experience, not the same experience under a different name, nothing but exactly what she asked for word-for-word. Which, I understand, but it's incredibly discouraging. Another co-worker thinks I can easily handle the job and is going to go talk to a couple other people, but it looks doubtful.

JZ, I've discovered that employers can be as incredibly picky as they want in this job market, because the person with exactly the experience and qualifications is likely out there.

It is incredibly discouraging.

JZ, if she's that sticky, it's unlikely she'll find the perfect person and she'll have to settle for looking at resumes that don't quite match. Get that cover letter written and keep having your people drop your name!

Good luck with the offer, omnis!

OK, I finally got an email back saying that the phone interview will be sometime between 10 and 12. I'm going to assume that's their time zone, not mine, so between 11 and 1 my time. Still seems weird to have a two-hour interval rather than a set time.