I'm popping back in to ask you a few questions about something that happened two weeks ago.
At FutureQuest's website, I posted this message asking if anyone wanted some computer-related help. I made mention that I was willing to work for free in exchange for a letter of reference.
Two weeks ago, I got a message from someone in Florida regarding a potential job opportunity. Though he was asking for someone with experience in PHP and mySQL, he insisted on a copy of my work, which is in Java and Oracle PL/SQL. Here is the latest correspondence.
-----Original Message----- From: Andy XXXXXX Sent: March 21, 2002 2:04 AM To: [email protected] Cc: George XXXXXXXX; Larry XXX XXXXX Subject: RE: Database work
Eric,
Your code looks good – clean and well documented. I don’t doubt that it is indeed a problem with the ODBC driver.
I am going to give you details of a project that is of proprietary nature, and may need you to sign a non-disclosure agreement before reviewing. Basically this just means that you will agree to keep the information pertaining to our project confidential.
It may be a few days to a couple of weeks before I get back with you, but I like your work and would like you to join our network of developers.
Andy
Their company is based in St. Cloud, Florida. They have indicated that they would like me to work for them from my present location in Toronto, Ontario with a possibility of relocation to Florida. Initially, I was apprehensive about relocating (which I have told them), but my girlfriend said that she would support the move and also would come down with me if relocation is required (which I have not told them, yet). I did reply to the above message thanking them for the opportunity and my willingness to work for them.
As you may notice, the correspondence is dated almost two weeks ago. Joys of excitement and optimism have somewhat dwindled to nothing but pure pessimism. So therefore, I need some opinions on what may be going on, and what I should do.
Thanks.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
The delay could be many things. The person you have been corresponding with may be talking to his supervisors or confering with other managers about bringing you and what all that would entail. If it's a larger company, then human resources would no doubt be involved, and my experience with them has been that speed is not a goal of HR. And, if you are a go, it could be that they are assembling the necessary paperwork and the formal job offer.
Since it has been two weeks since you heard from him, I think it would be entirely appropriate to contact him about the job. I would simply send him an email that says you are still interested in the job and that you hope to hear more on it soon.
Oh, and good luck! Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
Well, he did say it would be a few weeks before he could get back to you. But, hey, if it works out ... well, be prepared for the dreaded Florida winter. Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
.....what winter?
I may as well be arranging vacations back up to Toronto. In the Summer.
Any Flare members in Florida, for that matter?
[ April 02, 2002, 16:30: Message edited by: Tahna Los ]
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
The only one I can think of is Jordan. However, he hasn't posted here in several months.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
1) Send them an email.
2) Call them soon after. If you feel you need an excuse, say you're checking the email went through OK.
3) Don't do anything without getting a proper letter by mail.
4) Go down and see them beforehand.
Beyond that, no, you're not being too optimistic, just so long as you keep your feet on the ground.
Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
quote:.....what winter?
Exactly my point.
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
1) Shall I send them a mail now, or shall I wait until next week (like someone else suggested)?
2) I did not ask them for a phone number nor did they give one to me. I was under the impression they would give me the number either from e-mail or via this package they would send to me (in which it has not arrived yet).
3) How long does it take for mail to get from Florida to Toronto?
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Well, the email said a couple of weeks. The fourth will be two weeks, so I think that would a good time to shoot off an email. You wouldn't be jumping the gun, so to speak.
As far as mail goes, it depends on the size of the package. I know that a couple of packages I've gotten recently (each one had one medium size textbook) took about four to five days to arrive at my house. One came from New York and the other came from Arizona. Both came here to Texas. So, I'd say it could take around the same amount of time if the package is approximately the same size. It might take longer, though, if our Postal Service is still on high alert.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
A friend of mine in Ohio sent me a book in the mail. It took about a month and some to get from Ohio, USA, to New Brunswick, Canada. Damned Customs Posted by OnToMars (Member # 621) on :
::waves::
I'm here too.
Where in Florida is St. Cloud?
I'm over in Daytona Beach, but only for another couple of weeks until school ends. Then its back to Jersey. Then back to Florida in the fall.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Hey, wait, doesn't OnToMars live in Florida? Let's ask him.
Well, it's been two weeks now. Any good news to share with us (I hope)?
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
quote: 3) How long does it take for mail to get from Florida to Toronto?
Oh my god you didn't trust your life to Canada Post did you?
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
I was told that St. Cloud is right next to Kissimee, near Orlando. Near Disneyworld. Bleah.
Anyways, I'm going to be drafting my reply to the company now. I figure that the alloted time has elapsed to entitle me to send a response.
Good Morning Andy
I would like to thank you again for your invitation for me to join your network of developers. I consider this an honour, and am looking forward to working with you.
Per our discussion earlier regarding your invitation for me to join your network of developers, you have indicated that you would be sending me documentation that is of a proprietary nature. However, I have not received such documentation as of yet. Please inform me on when I should be receiving this documentation.
Again, I look forward to working with you on your project.
Yours Truly Eric Chow
What say you?
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Sounds good
Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
Who spells honor with a u? Silly Canadians.
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
I'm going to ask First of Two if I could borrow his Deer Contingent to overrun Baltimore. Slash and Burn operation. Leave nothing behind.
[ April 05, 2002, 09:21: Message edited by: Tahna Los ]
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
That sounds very good, Tahna. Er... your email reply, not the slash and burning of Jeff's homeland. I say send it.
Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
Well, actually, Baltimore isn't my homeland. I was born and raised in Adelphi, which is squeezed between College Park and DC, then moved when I was 13 to Columbia, and moved to the Baltimore area a few months before my 21st birthday.
Bring on your Deer, Tahna. I have a Jeep. And a gift-certificate for gas Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Nixpicker. Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
Gift Certificate for Gas? Oh the Horror, oh the Humanity.
I've just sent the message. Wish me luck.
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
This is what I got.
Hi Eric,
We’re working on the legal groundwork for this project right now, and probably won’t have anything ready for another week or two.
Thanks,
Duff
*shrug* Well, at least there is some truth to this. I've heard that companies that hire workers abroad have to go through quite a bit of legal work to ensure everything is kosher.
I'll still be looking at the want ads though, just in case.
Posted by MaGiC (Member # 59) on :
The fact that you got a reply is a good sign. My experience is that if they don't want you they simply don't reply.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Getting a reply is a very good sign. So, it doesn't look like they're yanking you around. Hiring someone from outside the United States does require a good amount of legal work for both the company and the employee.
So, stay optimistic. Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
E-mail Correspondence has somewhat increased in the last few days even though I have not received the package.
It appears that the company is actually in Ocala, Florida, about a 45 minute drive northwest of Orlando. The St. Cloud location was only mentioned because the contact I was speaking to is currently working at his home in St. Cloud.
Part of the reason he hasn't contacted me before is that his computer suffered a HD crash, and it took him a while to get things back to normal. But it appears everything is bona-fide at the moment, and I should be receiving the package. I'm getting a little giddy about it. It may be piecework compensation, but it is the best opportunity available, given the Tech meltdown.
!!!!!
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Absolutely fantastic!
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
It has been more than a month now since I updated anything about this still-potential job.
From recent phone conversations (yes, I actually spoke to someone at this company), I have received verbal snippets of a project currently in progress.
They have also mentioned that they are a small company, and they currently have several large projects (including the one they want me to take part in) on the table. As such, work involving recruiting new developers is at a slow crawl while they try to clear their plate of all projects requiring expedience.
I have made several phone calls down there to check for progress. This is the recent one:
Hello Eric
I appreciate your patience lately as we have been very busy with the release of our new *CLASSIFIED PROJECT HERE*, and we are still working on the contract that we will be offering you as soon as it is ready. I have several projects that I am anxious to give you details about but we have to make sure all of the legal groundwork is complete so that we are all protected. We should be able to share this information with you by the end of next week.
I am looking forward to introducing you to the people who are part of this fast-growing organization, and also look forward to putting some money in your pockets.
Thanks
Xxxx XxXxxx
Still waiting. Patiently.
The trouble is, the anticipation is eating me alive. I haven't done much job searching in the weeks since. It's easy to have too much optimism for this position even when the industry you're applying has taken a beating over the last year.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Yes, it is. Always try to have more than one option available to you... and don't put all your eggs in a single basket.
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