Satisfaction

Beginning a new job is nerve-wracking.  After the initial search, the call for an interview and all the interviewing. there's finally an offer and an acceptance.  Then the nerves jump in.

First, there is the prospect of learning so much new information.  There are new processes, work flows, co-workers, a new computer system, new bosses, new everything.  It's daunting.

Then there is the whole deal with getting to know new people, as people, not just as co-workers.  Personalities and work ethics are intricate things and each new one presents a new opportunity to learn something one wants to emulate or not emulate.  And one must decide how one's personal philosophies line up with one's co-workers' philosophies. 

On top of all of that is a much bigger issue: proving oneself to the new work world.  "Can I prove to them that hiring me was a good choice?"  "Will they regret hiring me and wish they'd chosen another candidate?"  "Do I even want to prove anything to them?"

Well.  I've now been at my new job for more than three months.  I'm off the 90-day probationary period where I could be let go fired for anything.  (Colorado is an at-will state but I'm part of a union now so I'm protected, to an extent.  I don't expect to need the union for something like that but it's comforting to know it's there.)  I can safely say that I like all of my co-workers.  The doctors with whom I work are fun, funny, down-to-earth people.  The environment of the clinic where I work is positive and professional with an air of "we like being here, we're in this together and we're all doing our best."

Furthermore, I've received several compliments on my work from various staff members and patients.  During a team meeting after just four weeks of being there one of the doctors remarked that it seemed like I was more experienced than just those four weeks.  I have received two personal commendations.  A patient's parent sent an e-mail to the chief of my department telling her how I made her day.  People come to me and genuinely want to know my opinion.  I feel like I'm valued.

And I am satisfied that I have proven myself.  These people want me there and I want to be there.

They like me.  They really, really like me!

(And all this is not to say that I didn't feel these things at my previous job.  I'm just very happy and grateful that I have found job satisfaction again.)

An Actual Dream

Over there to the right, I mentioned that I usually don't remember dreams during the night. Today though, I remembered last night's dream all too clearly.

See, I had a job interview this morning at 10:30. I was apprehensive about it -- the recruiter sent me an e-mail with no fewer than 6 attachments containing everything from a summary of the agency's mission to pediatric competency tests -- and that spilled over into my sleeping hours.

In my dream, I suddenly glanced at a clock and saw that it was noon. As I scrambled for a phone to call the agency, I racked my brain for a plausible excuse for being an hour and a half late. But I couldn't find a phone and promptly forgot why I needed a phone anyway. Next thing I knew, I looked at the clock again and it was 3:00. Again, the mad dash for a phone and an excuse. The whole night continued like this until I woke at 5:00 (really awake this time!) and grabbed my phone off the bedside table. Thankfully, I did stop just short of actually dialing the agency. Great night's sleep, huh?

In case you're wondering, the interview went well, but I'm not sure it's what I am looking for. I'm a bit nervous about working for a home health agency in a city that I am not yet familiar with. Also, there's the whole weather constraint since the roads can get very bad here. But the coordinator liked me. There are all sorts of background checks to be completed and more documentation to turn in so it will be a while before I hear anything else from them.

I had another job lead waiting in my e-mail inbox this evening and it sounds interesting, too. Tomorrow, I am going to go to a couple of medical centers in this area and drop off my resume, fill out applications, the whole shebang. Things will continue turning up and eventually something will be exactly what I need.