For as many trains as I’ve taken in traveling in London and Italy, I’ve never taken one domestically until my job hunt. This came courtesy of a professional services position, integrating big software packages for big companies. New York city was their nearest office, and the closes place to meet up with one of the voices on the phone.
It was straightforward enough to book an Amtrak ticket online and catch the hour and twenty minute train to New York’s Penn Station. There was a healthy crowd, so I was happy to settle into a window seat and watch the world go by while plugged into my iPod and running through job-related thoughts as a background process.
In New York, I met my recruiter at the train station, and went through reconciling how I had pictured him based on his voice with his true appearance, as I did with many people at the recent MCES conference. We walked up 7th Ave and the parade of Fashion Avenue, which had the same palpable bustling energy of people I felt in the station.
There was less of a virtual-physical presence disconnect with the hiring manager, and we spent about an hour talking, unfortunately not having enough time to grab dinner. One of the things that impressed me about him and a few other folks I’ve dealt with in the process is their genuine desire not just to hire someone, but to hire someone with a good mutual fit. I still had my doubts about that, but resolved to give it some thought as I grabbed a sandwich and the train home.
I ultimately passed on the position, but it made for an new kind of trip and certainly more exciting Monday night that usual!
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