Bait and Switch

Well this was unexpected...

As I mentioned below, I planned to continue applying for other GS jobs while I was on my FMLA leave (unpaid leave of absence from work). Never did I say I would stop applying for a new job in the IT field. Actually, I have been applying consistently since I became a GS employee over 2.5 years ago. It was during these last 8 weeks though, that I expanded my search and applied with a certain relentless tenacity. Submitting over 20 applications in the 8 weeks I was out. During the last 2.5 years I've received numerous notifications for being qualified but never made it to the interview process. Until now...

Since the second week of September, I've been to 3 interviews for a job opening that I applied for back in June. The job is for an Information Technology Specialist with the Middle Tennessee District, United States Attorney Office in Nashville. This was completely unforeseen and threw me into a decision making process that was both abrupt and stressful. I broke out in not one but TWO fever blisters... yay herpes.

As I also mentioned previously, I began taking general education courses in hopes of one day getting accepted to the nursing program. Just as I had mentally subscribed to and accepted quitting computers as a profession, this interview landed in my lap. When faced with a life changing decision, what do you do?

A few details:

1. The job is in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee, the place my boys, myself and my wife can't stop talking about "remember in Tennessee when blah blah blah?".

2. It's a GS-12 position. The salaries are public information, here is a link. Read the table, and afterwards you can see why leaving this and pursuing a nursing degree was a tough decision in the first place. Needless to say it's not to shabby and the benefits are nothing to "shake a stick at" (where the heck does that come from?).

3. Military buyback. This falls inline with benefits mentioned above, but essentially I can buy my military time back towards retirement.

4. No military uniform and the things that come with it. I think anyone who's worn one (especially in the Guard) can understand this, no further explanation required.

5. It's been my long term goal to become a GS in the civilian world. Before I actually "got out" of the military I learned of the GS realm and all it had to offer. It was then, somewhere around April of 2006 that I made it my goal to get into a civilian GS position. This has been 4 years in the making. It would be unfair to walk away now when the opportunity (finally) presents itself. It has just taken a really long time, longer than I ever wanted it to. Switching to nursing was partly me giving up.

So, I did my best in each interview. I dressed in suit and tie for each interview. Paid the $5 parking each day. Read up and studied the Department of Justice and United States Attorney, Jerry Martin. Got soaked in said suit during downpour after interview. Went back to work to start saving some extra money.

And yesterday at 9am. the U.S. Attorney Office for Middle Tennessee District sent me a job offer, which I of course have accepted. It's in the mail as we speak! So now we close one chapter and begin another.

Who knows, the next time I write on here I may be in Nashville visiting ancient Greece at the Parthenon.