Rick Maher’s Professional Notes

This is the first of a three part series. Check out all three posts regarding the post interview job hunt process:

1. How To: Compare Job Offers
2. How To: Negotiate Salary Out Of College
3. How To: Accept and Decline Job Offers

If you are reading this, congratulations! Aren’t choices great?

Actually, if you are anything like me, than you’re probably thinking this is a bittersweet circumstance. Of course it is great to know that you are wanted by more than one company, but at the same time, the rest of your life is on the line, and generally this is going to be a tough decision.

With some careful and logical thought, you can make this decision and know that you made the best decision you possibly could. After going pulling my hair out trying to narrow my decision in my head alone I realized that I had to go about this using a methodical process. I think you may also benefit from this process, so read on to see how I did it.

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Two weeks after wrapping up my final interviews, I came home to find a few pieces of the day’s mail addressed to, yours truly, Rick Maher.

Inside the manilla envelopes I found offers from each of the three companies kind enough to let me stroll around in their ivory tower headquarters for a final round interview.

All in all, three companies are offering me a combined $138k first year pre-tax salary to work as a logistics manager, operations manager, or supply chain specialist in rotational programs that combined will take me through 7 different locations inside 2 years. Further, just for being kind enough to sign on, one of the companies would gladly hand me a shiny crisp $3500bill, and each of the 3 companies will also make sure I have more than enough money to handle any expenses related to any relocations… Each of the positions starts off as a 2 year rotation, one including three 8 month rotations (in three locations), one including two 1 year rotations (in two locations), and 1 including four six month rotations (in one location then immediately after to a second location). Each promises to pay for my continued education though under a few different stipulations each ranging from a payback period of 2-10 years to a required 10% commitment out of pocket to post-graduation commitments. Each includes a generous 401(k) matching program ranging from matching dollar for dollar on 3% of my salary up to 6% of my salary. Two of the three include pension plans. One includes $5k cash down for the purchase of a house. Two of the three include seemingly well thought out and developed mentorship programs. One has seemingly clear and realistic very high upward mobility potential. Two of the three operate almost entirely in geographic locations only attractive to those who enjoy the excitement of grass growing. Two of the three are Fortune 100 companies. All three have a Six Sigma or Lean Enterprise initiative underway, and all three are at various stages of the initiative’s implementation.

And on and on…

I have to say that I have outdone even my own expectations, and am pleased with my results thus far. I have yet to decide which offer to take, or if any of these three. I’ll be sure to post as the situation develops.

For better or worse, I received my first full time job offer yesterday.

I more or less expected this offer after my second round interview. What I didn’t expect was the quality of the offer. Actually, as I was telling my mom, I wish the offer wasn’t as good as it is. You see, I was only mildly interested in the position to begin with and was absolutely not interested in the geographic locations of this company.

It’s too bad I still haven’t heard from BigBlue who at this point is my “top choice,” but it sure is nice to see that someone wants me. Hopefully they will be one of a number.

My fortune cookie today told me “Happiness can be achieved by using your patience.”

I’m off to eat some lucky charms. Thanks for reading.

Rewarding Continuous Improvement Internship vs Fun Easy and Interesting Web Developer Position
Starring Rick Maher in a Dilemma Role
With a good half dozen interviews behind me and a good half dozen more (at least) coming up regarding job positions for post graduation in May I am suddenly being confronted with a more immediate job decision.

I have been offered an internship position with Goodrich (www.goodrich.com) where I would work as a Continuous Improvement Leader. Basically this position would focus on what I learned I loved last summer in my internship with Honeywell (www.honeywell.com), six sigma, lean enterprise, Toyota production system, 5s, kaizen, etc.

Sounds great right? They even pay pretty decently.

Unfortunately (who didn’t see this sentence coming?), leaving my current position as the Web Minister Developer is not an easy decision to act upon.
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