New year, no new job

As some of you may recall, three weeks ago I flew out to California for a job interview and I was anxious about what I felt was a less-than-stellar performance. For four days after the interview I might as well have had my cell phone surgically attached to my hip since I kept it on me almost non-stop (sadly, even at the gym!).

Finally, the Sunday before Christmas - almost a week after my interview - I received an email from the recruiter saying they were still struggling with my salary requirements and that they’d like to take a few weeks to explore the local market for qualified candidates.

Part of the problem is that I am paid a generous salary in Texas so the equivalent salary adjusted to California’s cost-of-living is nearing the six-figure mark…a number that is outside their current budget.

At first that’s what I chalked it up to but then I got to thinking, if they really wanted me, wouldn’t they make their best offer and cross their fingers I’d accept it? They didn’t even make an offer. So I swallowed my pride and responded to the email basically calling their bluff and asking them to give me their best offer.

As suspected, I received an email back from the director of marketing saying it wasn’t actually just the salary that was a concern, it was the answer to one of the questions I’d been asked during my interview. The question was, “what would be your first priority if you were to come on board?” My answer went into a few PR tasks that I felt were important to tackle right away.

Apparently, my answer should have focused on advertising, direct mail, collateral and the website since this is where the director of marketing saw the greatest need. 

But I stand by my answer for a few reasons: first, the position title is director of public relations and the job description focuses mostly on media and PR tasks. Secondly, from a timing perspective  PR deadlines are usually a few months before deadlines for marketing tasks (i.e. advertising, direct mail, etc.) so the bigger priority time-wise would be PR. Third, if I’m doing all the marketing, what the heck is the “director of marketing” going to be doing?

Of course I didn’t really get to explain my reasoning (not that I would have explained my third reason anyway - and I left the interview blissfully ignorant that I’d just put doubt in my potential boss’ head.

To make a long story short I responded back explaining my answer and expressing my understanding that they felt the need to look for other candidates. Then I did what I should have done in the first place…I took the next few days to think about whether I really wanted the position itself or I just wanted them to want me for the position.

Admittedly, I was a little hurt they weren’t jumping at the opportunity to have me as their newest employee. As I analyzed the pros and cons of the actual position, though, I realized I’d been wrapped up in the excitement of it all: the desire to potentially move closer to my family, being back in California and working for a new slick resort.

But the pros and cons spoke for themselves:

Pros for taking the California job
*Opportunity to move closer to family
*Opportunity to gain experience opening a new property

Cons for taking the California job
*Salary range would potentially mean a pay cut (due to higher cost of living)
*Fewer perks
*New job and company would have less prestige than my current position
*Moving costs would only be partially covered
*Increased work hours (60+ hour work weeks vs. 40-45 now)
*Job sounds like it would be 70% marketing communications/30% public relations; while I can do marketing communication tasks, I prefer PR.
*I’m secure in my current job, which is nice in this economy

Even taking into account that some items are weighted more heavily than others (i.e. moving close to my family), the cons far outweigh the benefits of moving right now and for this particular job.

That doesn’t mean I’m giving up on the idea of moving to California, though. It just means I have to take a different approach. I’m still trying to figure out what that will be but today I shot a friendly “happy new year and don’t forget me” email to a few recruiters and hiring managers who I’ve spoken with in the previous year.

Who knows, one of them may have something now or in the near future, and at least I can be content knowing I’m doing everything possible to find a job that is right for me and not just a job.

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