Big City Panic
I’m sitting on the 9th floor of the Marriot hotel at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Outside my rainy window I see a Wendy’s, distant lights, and the world’s only full sized replica of Athens’ Parthenon. (My guest directory informed me of that fact.)
If you don’t know already, I’m down here to interview for a web developer/designer position at a company that has created patient software used in clinics, hospitals, etc. The job, as I understand it, is supposed to bridge the gap between developer and designer. I couldn’t ask for a better description because I enjoy both sides of the fence. I even labeled myself as a Web Designoper on www.tylerneu.com. But this unique position leaves me with questions about how I would, if I got the job, would fit into the work flow. Am I a developer or a designer? Who do I answer to? All good questions for tomorrow.
This job would change Beth & I’s life. Not only would be I making significantly more money and actually be able to learn and advance, but we would be moving to a city.
Sometimes when I visit a city I develop a mild panic and I don’t know why. St. Louis has never bothered me but I’ve been going there all my life. And of course I can’t think of any other examples of this occurrence but it has happened before like it happened tonight when I came around the bend and saw Nashville twinkling. I wasn’t worried about getting lost or even thinking about the lifestyle changes of living here. There weren’t any distinct thoughts in my mind but I wasn’t at ease. That feeling has subsided since I have checked in. Maybe the darkness contributed.
The hotel is close to both the employer and recruiter which I will appreciate in the morning. I’m not used to staying at a hotel this “nice.” I would have been thrilled with a $90 room somewhere else and I wouldn’t have to drop $10 on Internet access. What am I saying? I’m not the one paying for the access or the valet parking. (I decided I didn’t need to navigate a parking garage and walk back with my luggage to save this potential employer $3 when they already dropped over $200 on my room. You would think a place this nice would let me drink the bottle of Dasani on the counter without charging me $4. Hotels are funny.
When I first read tomorrow mornings 3 hour schedule of 6 meetings with different individuals, I was intimidated. But now I like the idea of being able to talk to so many different employees who I assume work in different departments. Even if I bomb with one, I still have five others! A friend of mine today told me that so many times an interview is mainly to determine if the interviewee “fits” within the company. I agree with that and hope that first one or two interviewers I meet tomorrow will be able to help me determine the attitude of the company so that I may prove I can “fit”.
Your words of encouragement and prayers are appreciated.