Update #2
We’re now three years on. I’ve sat on this story for long enough. I’m finally over the sting of rejection. I am grateful to be a part of Agrian. I just passed my three year anniversary and I’ve had time to work on my own side projects; RxCalc and Arrgly to name a couple. In 2018 I hope to complete and ship a new Mac App. We’ll see how that goes.
Update #1
The story below was written in November 2014 when I was still actively looking for a full time position. I have since found a job with a wonderful company and I’m quite happy. At the time I was under a tremendous amount of stress, for reasons beyond the stress of a job hunt. I’ve struggled with the idea of publishing this story. It will come across as whiny to some, that’s fair. Others, including myself, will believe I just wasn’t good enough for the job, also a fair point. The truth is, we’ll never know unless someone “in the know” reaches out. All signs point to that never happening.
Anywho. Here’s the story.
I’m back in the hunt for a full time job. I wrote about it over the weekend and would like to say thanks to everyone that took the time to read it and tell their friends about it. Thank you.
I am finding it more difficult than ever before to get folks to talk to me. The hip, up-and-coming companies, dismiss me out of hand. I’m not sure why, but they do. I know I’m not the smartest guy on the planet, but I’m also not the dumbest, and I know how to get product out the door. I’ve done it many times.
A little over a month ago I had an interview with a company I really wanted to work with. They have a very practical product, and they actually make money. Imagine that, a company that makes a profit to keep the doors open. Crazy talk, right?
Anywho. They flew me out for a couple days. They’re all wonderful folks. I was thrilled with their culture. They were tight knit and seemed really great together. I was thrilled. I haven’t wanted a job this bad in a very long time.
We talked tech and I feel like that went well. They asked why I wanted the job. Fair question. I wanted it because it was something my wife could use and has actually asked me to build, yes she asked me to build what these folks have already built. I was genuinely excited about this company.
On day two I was feeling good. The day before seemed to have gone well. I was still there and hopeful I would receive a job offer. This is where things get weird.
Around 11AM the Director I would have reported to asked me to join him in the conference room with the iOS Developer I would be working with. It was the moment of truth. He asked how I felt, I said “I feel great.” I did feel great. I thought I’d have an offer from the company, everything felt so right.
He sat down and said “We think you have great technical skills and are a good communicator, but we don’t think you are a good fit.” It was a real deer in the headlights moment. I felt instantly embarrassed. Why in the world was I here? I actually appreciate them telling me while I was there, but “not a good fit”, lame. I’ve been over that moment time and again in my head “great technically, good communication skills, not a good fit.” There are very few reason I can think of that fit the “not a good fit” reason. Someone just didn’t like me, or the reason they didn’t hire me is actually not legal to say. I’m definitely much older than most of the company. I’d imagine, on average, I’m 20-years older than most of them. Some are probably the same age as my daughters.
Last week I read they hired a new developer. He is definitely much, much, younger than I am. Of course I will never know if that was the reason, as much as I want to, but it sure seems like it.
I may be older, but I can still think, and I can still write software.
