Ok, Ok...

Sorry for the lack of posting after promising to do so. After giving notice I expected things to get slightly less crazy, but they ended up being much more so. I haven't had a chance to read anyone else's blog since about Monday...

So, I got a job! I'll be in the HR department at the Illinois Housing Development Authority - they're a sort of not-for-profit that helps low income folks purchase their first homes. It's not in the arts, but it's going to be a really big learning opportunity which will put me in a better position to get back there in the intermediate future. I'm going to plan on staying there for at least 3 years, and with all I'll have to learn it'll take me at least that long to really become an expert at all of it.

The fun thing is that rest of the people in the HR department are fantastic - we had really good rapport during my interview. I had my interview last Tuesday, so two weeks ago on the 30th, and according to my girl at the employment firm, the folks at IHDA were telling her that they loved me, and although they had pre-scheduled interviews into the following week, the really wanted to hire me. She told them she had some other opportunities she wanted to present to me and they asked her to hold off. This is one instance in which having the employment firm on my side was huge - their job posting said that they wanted someone with at least 2 years of HR experience (I have about a year) and that knew all kinds of software that I don't know. I was honest with them, but they figured out I was the kind of person who could catch on quickly...plus, I had experience with a lot of the other things they were looking at.

Best part is...I didn't have to take any kind of pay cut, which I was worried about. I actually got a teeny raise, but when you factor in that I'll no longer be paying 50% of my health and dental premiums, and they're putting 6% of my salary into a 401(k) automatically (that's on top of what I make - it's not a deduction), it's a nice small raise. Plus I get 2 weeks of vacation, sick time, and holidays off including federal holidays. I am thrilled!

The people at work are either telling me they're very sad to see me go (my colleague types) or making it look like they're not really worried (the people in charge). I am going to offer to help out a few hours a week if they haven't found anyone yet by the time I leave because a) I don't want to be screwing anyone over, and b) I want to make sure that invoicing still happens so that the company has money coming in and they're making payroll. I really do love everyone there, except for the verbally abusive alcoholic guy, who btw is not talking to me at the moment I think because I'm leaving, but it's too stressful a) working for him, b) not getting sick time, holidays or vacation, c) working with an accountant who screws a lot of stuff up and having to catch it and fix it, and d) going to bed the Thursday night before payday with knots in my stomach wondering whether or not we're going to get paid.

So, that's that. I start at the new place on November 8, a Thursday. Maybe when I'm done at this place I'll go into a little more detail about how horrific it really was there, but we'll see. If I do I may have to do one of those invitation only blogs. If I don't, it'll be because I want to block out the bad memories. :-)

Oh, and while we're on the subject of new jobs, Evi starts her's tomorrow. Good luck mom!