I went for an interview yesterday with a natural vitamins company.  It was not for a job I applied for.  I sent my resume to them in hopes I would find a lab research job - but they called me to be a regulatory affairs assistant.  It is doing database searches and filing etc.  It's not the type of job I really want, since there is no laboratory work invovled - it's just an office job (and only pays $11.00 Cdn an hour).  I have already made the decision to go back to school for one semester, and then take an 8 month co-op job for the summer.

The problem with this natural job is that it is only a 4 months position, doing something that is not what I wanted to do.  So when the 4 months is over, and they don't extend me, then what?  Then I'm just in the same place as I am now.

At least if I go back to school, there is a chance to improve my GPA, and get some co-op experience.  I don't have to accept any job that is not what I want to do - and I'll make sure the co-op coordinators know this.

On the other hand, I have someone in the industry telling me that the university is always there, and at least this is a science-related job.....

confusion confusion confusion

Beginning of this day has been productive.  I went down the list of pharmaceutical companies on the phone company listings.  I phoned just over 20 places, and found 6 of them that were willing to take my resume.  That's pretty good considering, almost half of them had out-of-service phone numbers.  So, I faxed in resumes, and emailed them in.  Resumes were getting fired off left and right!  It was raining my resume and cover letter in cyberland.  One guy I talked to was actually the president of the company.  He is a PhD, but he didn't tell me that, he just told me he was the HR department (evidently!).  He was really nice, and told me how cold calling can be tough, and that if I keep it up I'm bound to find a job.  He asked me to send a poster to him, that he could hang in the wall of their complex which contains quite a few biotech companies.

Anyway, on Thursday, I'm going to do the same thing, but with the analytical labs instead.  Also, this Friday (21st), if I haven't heard back from the phytopharma guy, I'm going to call to find out why not.  Out.

I swear that one of the worst times is waiting after you've had a job interview.  It's really hard to get it off of your mind.  That's why I think it would be nice if employers really made the effort to tell the person asap if they are not interetsed.  Leading someone along on a string has to be one of the worst things.

All I can think about is that he said he'd get back to me before the 20th.  Soon, a full week will have gone by since I had my interview.  A nagging voice tells me that he won't hire me, because I didn't have the experience he was looking for, and if he was interested, I probably would have heard from him already.  But then, on the other hand, it could be that he had to interview more people, and then now is going to make a decision.

See, this is like torture!  I love getting interviews, and I love trying to find an interview, but the time period after the interview is just the worst.

Ahhhhh yes, so I have now entered into the "waiting-game" period.  The interview is over.  I gave it my best shot - and now - I have to wait.  He said that I would hear back before November 20th.  Let's go over some pros and cons of this interview:

PROS:  1. He seemed to like me - making jokes etc.  2. I feel I made a good case for myself considering that I lack experience (ie. in-class experience and funding)  3.  He asked about salary (usually this only happens if they are interested.  4. I low-balled my salary on purpose as insentive to hire someone inexperienced  5. It was the president and CEO of the company who interviewed me.  6. I sent a prompt thank-you note immediately after.  7.  He liked my language skills.

CONS:  1. He asked me if I have every done microbiological testing before, and I had to answer no - that I never have.  But that I have counted microbes on culture plates before.  2. The guy I would be replacing had a doctorate degree 3. He didn't ask me back for a second interview right away, instead he told me to wait a week.  4. He said he needs to discuss my resume with the other scientists.

So, no decision has been made at this point.  My own feelings on this are that I still have a hope of getting this job - but if anyone with more experience than me comes along, they will most likely get it.

We'll see, we'll see.

On a lighter note, another COO of a company finally got back to me via email to tell me that he will be discussing my resume with HR.  I wonder what the next two weeks have in store for me.  I'll let you know when something happens.