not normal

Not normal. What i have done is not normal. A HR manager at a place that was interviewing me for the 2nd time said that me, leaving a job of 8 years to go contracting in an investment bank is not normal. She went on and on about it asking why i left. Professional ambition and wanting a new experience and to work with new people and technology did not seem to be a believable reason to her. Maybe i should have said the other reason, which is because it pays a lot more, and maybe she would have believed that, but money was not the only reason i left and you know what?....i don’t think she would have believed that either.

I still study for exams and its something i have always done. I am interested in technology. I don’t think they understood that someone might be genuinely interested in something and do it because they want to learn stuff, and all this from a company that is supposed to be a technically innovative company. Oh dear.

I told the recruitment agent i got a bad vibe and i thought the fact that professional ambition is something they don’t understand does not cast them as an organisation in a positive light. The recruitment agent said they may have been worried that i might leave if i got a better offer in 6 months. Why wouldn’t i leave if i got a better offer?. Why would i turn down something else thats better?. The agent was a little stumped to explain that.

I also told the agent i had something else on the go. The agent then kept pressing me who i was interviewing with. I kept saying it was another bank but she kept asking who. Why you need know about what i got going on and who else i am going to see?. Its nothing to do with you so why do you keep asking?. After a bit i said i was not going to tell her because it was none of her business and that shut her up.

Am getting annoyed with dealing with idiot recruitment agents. Have booked myself an exam in about 3 weeks to get my mind off it. feel much better already.

i am glad i am not normal. i am glad that i left that internet company after 8 years and i have never regretted leaving. its been an adventure since i left and although there have been ups and downs, its all been experience and that is making me better and more confident and i think i have picked up some knowledge on the way. you have had a couple of jobs since i have known you V, and it looks like we are rare in wanting to get something better and having ambition and actually doing something about it. i think we are the exceptions. we are not normal. :-)

My road trip to the states is looking like a more and more like a viable option.

Today i have mostly been listening to phantom planet – California.
We've been on the run
Driving in the sun
Looking out for number 1
California here we come

Take care California girl. keep smiling

UPDATE: no more job applications from now till i get back from my road trip. if i get calls i will see what they are, but i am not going to go actively looking for something. talked to a friend of mine and he is up for the road trip and we are just getting the dates set. i will be available to start a new contract when i get back, but i need to go away and forget about these idiots who think ambition is something to be suspiscous of and who look at people stretching themselves to learn and have new experiences as frivilous risk takers and who are instead looking for people who just collect pay cheques and stay in a job because its comfortable and easy. i was that guy, but not no more...he's gone.