Weeks before, after a mad mass-mailing of both virtual and hardcopy resumes, I had been contacted by a few potential employers, one of which was located in Arkansas.  After spending a good hour and a half talking to my would-be supervisor, and feeling each other out, he had asked me to send him a transcript of my college and graduate school work.  At that point, my hopes were high, and I felt like I had a found a company I would like to work for. 

After all, the job description said, "Seeking a water resources engineer with experience or knowledge in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling.  M.S. preferred."  It seemed to be a dream come true.  After sorting through the chaff of jobs that kind of matched what I wanted to do (but not completely), I found this position in Arkansas on the internet that fit exactly what I wanted to do - computer modeling.  And after I had talked to my would-be boss, I had felt even more confident that I would be doing what I wanted. 

In the following days, I was on cloud nine, eagerly waiting by the phone to hear back from them.  Similar to meeting that perfect girl, and waiting for her to call the second time.  Any time the phone rang, my heart leapt, only to be discouraged by yet *another* telemarketer trying to get me to buy siding for the apartment I was living in.  As the days passed without hearing from them, my elation turned to disappointment, and then utter despair (well, not really, but close). 

Several more weeks passed without hearing a word, and my hopes hit rock bottom.  My fear was that they had seen my transcripts and decided my somewhat less-than-spectacular grades weren't up to their standards.  To soften my already somewhat fragile ego, Jen & I decided that we didn't want to move to Arkansas anyway.  Besides, I had two prospective companies that I had already interviewed with, and were waiting for job offers from.  Without knowing *anything* about Arkansas besides our ill-founded preconceived notions, we made up a list of reasons why we wouldn't like it in that part of the country.

"I'm going to be upfront with him, ok?" I asked my wife again, "I'm going to tell him I don't want to waste the company's money just to fly me out for an interview when we're not interested in moving out there." 

There.  My mind was made up.  If and when they called, I would thank him politely for taking the time to consider me for the position, but courteously decline an interview. 

Sometime later, I finally received a call from the Arkansas company...I was prepared for the worst.  Instead of letting them turn me down, I was going to be the one doing the "dumping" this time. 

The more I thought about it, the more the whole job interview process seemed to be like dating.  The employer sends out job postings & the potential employee sends out resumes to see if there is any mutual interest.  If there a somewhat of a spark, then the first interview is similiar to the first date.  Each party presents its best side, and try to get the other to like what it sees.  If there is still some spark after that, then sometimes a 2nd and 3rd interview are scheduled (i.e. more dates).  And then if both parties are still enamoured with each other, then the deal is made & both parties are joined in holy jobimony.  If somewhere along the way, one party loses interest in the other one, then the relationship is over.  So I was ready for the rejection speech - the "let's just be friends speech."  One speech that was very familiar to me as I had heard it countless times in the past.

I was fully prepared to tell them thanks but no thanks, when he surprised me with, "We looked over your resume and we think you'd be an asset to our comany.  We'd love to fly you out here for an interview, all expenses paid, if you're interested."  I was floored.  I had expected to be turned down, maybe even a second interview over the phone, but not once did I expect him to present me with such a fine offer.  But since I had rehearsed my speech, I laid it out for him.  With all due respect, we're not interested in moving to Arkansas...don't want to waste your time or money...thanks for considering me...yada, yada, yada. 

He then asked me why I didn't want to move here or if I had any basis for my reasoning (which I had none).  I didn't have a good answer.  So then to surprise me even more he said, "we'd still love to interview you and unless you're 100% against coming out here, we'd still want to fly you out."  "Even after I told you I may *not* be interested?" I asked.  "Yeah, I think that the company and Arkansas will sell itself if you give us a chance," he replied. 

Since they weren't willing to take no for an answer, and I wasn't 100% against moving out there, I agreed to go visit.  "In fact," he added, "we feel that it is an important enough decision that we may be able to fly your wife out here as well, but I'll have to clear that with my boss first."  Wow.  None of the other companies I had interviewed with had even remotely offered anything like that.  "Why don't you talk it over with your wife," he suggested, "and I'll check with my boss to see if we can fly your wife out with you, and I'll call you back shortly." 

Before we knew it, after scrambling to find someone to take care of Ariel (who was 4 yrs old at the time), Jen (7 months pregnant) and I were on a flight out to Arkansas.  The interview couldn't have gone better, and the company seemed like a perfect fit.  I would be doing exactly what I wanted to do, and the people I would be working with all seemed very competent and friendly. 

But was surprised us the most was what Central Arkansas was like - I don't know what we were expecting, but it definitely wasn't a good-sized city surrounded by hills, state parks, rivers, and lakes.  He was right in that both the company and the state "sold themselves."  As we left, we thanked them for the hospitality and told them we would wait to hear from them.  But secretly we both knew that if they made me a decent offer, we would be on our way out there without any reserve.

So almost 3 years later (my 3-year anniversary is on May 24th), here we are.  I'm still having a good relationship with the company, and I've actually moved up a few rungs on the proverbial career ladder.  No longer am I the new, unexperienced, fresh out of school, wet behind the ears rookie, but now I'm one of the more experienced modelers that rookies come to for help.  The job hasn't been perfect (what relationship is?), but it's still been very very good.

And with the following view that I get of the Arkansas River everyday on my commute to work, what more can I ask for?  (Actually, I can think of lots of things, *BUT*...)

Finally, with all the success I have been having from almost having turned down a perfectly good job offer to begin with, the next time Ed McMahon offers me the chance to win a million dollars, I'm just going to say to him, "With all due respect, I'm not interested, ok?"  

You never know, it just might work.