On Friday night we attended the wedding of my good friend Brian. Some of you may remember him as being the one who gave the funny speech at our wedding. Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity to speak at his wedding, but I didn't come up with anything witty to say anyway, so it wasn't a big deal.
The second photo is of Brian (on the right) with his brother and sister. We ended up sitting at the "fun table", which included his siblings and some people I went to high school with that Brian has kept in touch with, but I haven't. They were a riot and we both really enjoyed ourselves.
On Saturday, while Adam was at Scott's bachelor party, I enjoyed an evening of dinner and drinks with two of our Philly friends. We had such a nice evening... I am really looking forward to staying put in Philly -- cross
your fingers that everything falls into place!!!
This morning, I woke up for what is hopefully the last time to catch the 5:52am train to NYC -- getting up at 5am is brutal!
I spoke to the Director of Research at my old firm this afternoon, and frankly, I'm shocked that they are able to move so quickly on all of this -- I figured this process would be drawn out over a matter of weeks. He quoted me the exact salary that the Salesperson I spoke to said I should come back for (anything less, she didn't think it was worth it). This is actually MORE than I am making right now... in NYC and above the amount I expected they would offer... so... I feel like I am in a very nice position right now..... Go back to my old firm where I liked the people better, loved the city, we don't have to move, Adam doesn't have to find a new job, all these perks FOR MORE MONEY! What's not to love? Sign me up!
Not so fast, though.... An official offer hinges on my conversation with the Senior Water Analyst next Friday going well. I am confident that this sit-down will go smoothly, but we can't go counting our chickens before they hatched.....
I think my whole family will be breathing a sigh of relief that we aren't moving to NYC.
So, I spoke to the Water Analyst yesterday - since then, I have been in a "feel good about going back" kind of mode, but knew not to get my heart set on it, since I thought they were going to counter the first time around and I wasn't really going to accept the job offer in NYC -- look how that turned out? Feeling like I have made a decision does make it a lot easier for me to function though,able to sleep (well, as good as I can considering where I stay), less stress/anxiousness, no loss of appetite, etc...
I just spoke with the Director of Research. I know that it may just be a lot of lip service, but he answered a lot of my concerns and is willing to put in writing a timeline for me to get my own coverage (granted its a little longer than I would have liked, but at least it will be in writing). The girls in my office came back from getting lunch, so we couldn't finish our conversation, but he said he is ready to give me an offer TODAY!!
This whole process is moving much faster than I had anticipated!!!! I figured since the Analyst wanted to meet with me on Friday the 27th, I wouldn't be getting an offer before than. Now it looks like I will have one before I even catch my train back to Philly tonight.
In theory this could be my last day working here... weirdness!
I just spent $18.02 for 2 apples, 1 yougart, 1.5lbs of grapes, and some string cheese. GOOD LORD!!!
At Sue's, our favorite neighborhood produce store in Philly, I can buy a week's worth of produce for that price.
I hadn't been planning on doing anything on the topic this week, but today at lunch, I called the new Water Analyst at my old firm and told her that I would like to continue the dialogue regarding the possibility of me returning (wow, that was some crazy wording!). She was estatic that I was interested, which made me feel pretty good. They way we had left it on Friday, she was convinced that there would be no getting me back -- I had mentioned that I would prefer to stay 6 months at my current position, so I could better compare the two opportunities/firms. She was concerned that she couldn't hold off hiring someone that long and would have to hire someone else.
I mentioned that one of my biggest concern was that the company would make promises to me regarding my development (getting my own coverage) and then wouldn't follow though - a common problem there. A situation like that would just frustrating me and put me back on the search for something else. She took my concern very seriously and discussed some ways that she could help make sure the company followed through with its promises. I know that she had been very supportive of the development of her former Associate, so this just reaffirmed my positive opinion of her.
Although she and I have seen each other at various industry conferences over the years, we have not had any in-depth conversations. Her interest in hiring me came from the suggestion of the firm's investment banker (who I have worked with for 4+ years - we actually attended each other's weddings as well) and the positive comments she has heard about me from various people within the firm and company executivies that we have mutual relationships with. She asked that we sit down and meet face-to-face, so we will be doing that a week from Friday. I think its a great idea and something that I wanted to do as well. It isn't exactly an interview or anything, but she wants to make sure that we connect, something which is very important. You have to like the people you work with (part of my problem here). I expect that this conversation will go fine, but if for some reason it doesn't, they would not give me an official offer.
I left a VM for the Director of Research, so I haven't moved forward on the financial aspect on all of this. The Analyst made it sound like the firm would treat me especially fairly upon coming back because of the way things went down, which caused me to leave, but also because the water platform that I would be returning too is such an important revenue generator for the firm. So... we'll see.....
I spoke to a Salesperson today from my old shop that I trust and it was helpful to hear her opinion - I knew that she would be one of the few people I could go to for some career advise that wouldn't have a hidden agenda and could give me a truly neutral opinion. She started out as an Associate at a bluge bracket firm, so she understands the dynamic of my current employer, but has also been at my old firm long enough to know the pitfalls of workign at a small non-NYC based regional bank. Her advise: Experience at a bluge-bracket firm is be invaluable, but coming back isn't bad beacuse I would be returning to the highly covetted Water Platform. The firm has an excellent reputation associated with this platform, so I could really make a name for myself (although it is a niche market). She said if I was covering any other sector, going back to my old firm may not be wise, but since the firm has such a reputation for being knowledge in my sector, I could make a smooth transition back and still become a successful analyst.
I went to sleep on Sunday thinking that we would stay in Philly, and unless the offer was extremely unfavorable, I would return to my old firm. Monday morning, dragging because I had to catch up the 5:52am train, I was still convinced that staying in Philly was the right decision.
Then, at work, things were going extremely smoothly with a project that took me practically three days last month completed in just a few hours and I thought "hey, I can cut it here!" Walking to work today, I thought about all the different restaurants Adam & I could try out once we relocated (for some reason there are a lot of Indian restaurants on my walk to work!), so I was still in a NYC-mood.
Then, this afternoon, one of the women I share an office with was extremely rude when I didn't know an electric utility term she felt I should already knowt... and I am back to thinking that Philly is where I belong, covering the water sector, which I know extremely well. It doesn't seem to take much to change my thinking...
back and forth... Philly... NYC... Philly.... this is driving me nuts!
My boss sat me down yesterday and asked how I was feeling about my time at the firm so far, what I felt he should be doing to help me get up to speed, etc... He asked how I was handling the odd living situation, how Adam's job search was going, etc... it almost felt as if he KNEW that I was considering to leave.
So I spoke with the new Water Analyst and the Director of Research (DOR) at my old firm. Both apologized profusely for the way things happened when I left (although neither really had anything to do with how that happened). I spoke to the Analyst about the responsibilities I would have as part of her team. She is based in DC, but I would stay in the Philly office. Down the road she sees us hiring a third, more junior Associate. The firm is doing a lot of investment banking business in my sector and she has a lot of work to do as a result. Hiring somone with experience in the sector will make a big difference and there just aren't really any other people at my level (besides her Associate who chose not to join her when she got hired). Her interest in hiring me comes from who well liked I was within the firm and with our management teams and the fact that she needs to initiate coverage on companies that she doesn't know at all that I know extremely well.
The DOR and I spoke more in broad strokes, we didn't discuss exact arrangements or finances. He did say that they would pay back my relocatin bonus and I could expect a pay increase. The pay increase would probably put my salary close to what I am making at my new firm (NYC salary in Philly sounds great to me!). I would come back at the newly promoted level I left at (I got promoted when my boss passed away), but would be doing Associate-like responsibilities for the first 6-8months as I prove that I can cover my own names. A big concern I have is that things always take longer than they say, and I wouldn't want it to take more than a year to pick up my own coverage, especially on the smaller names that the current Water Analyst doesn't know at all.
The way I left it with both is that we would only get more specific about details if I expressed a real interest in coming back. Thankfully, they understand the position that I am in and it tough for me to decide if I like my current job because I haven't even been there 2 months yet. They are going to proceed looking for another Associate to hire, unless I tell them I am interested, in which case, we will get more specific on the details of my return.
Ever since Friday, especially last night, I've been losing sleep over this decision. What it really comes down to is a lifestyle choice. Do I want to work for a large firm in NYC, where my career can really take off, or do I work at the smaller shop where my life doesn't revolve around my work. It's a tough decision and I have gone back and forth numerous times. Going back to my old firm is the easier - but easy isn't necessarily better. Is my current job worth all the stress and aggrevation related to Adam finding a job and us relocating? Especially if we want to move back to this area within the next 5 years? Is it worth leaving? Will it be difficult to find jobs to get us back here? In a way, we feel like moving to NYC puts our life on hold in a way. If I return to my old position, we can start thinking about buying a house and starting a family sooner.
Philly vs. Manhattan
So, after almost an hour and a half wait in the doctor's office, I learned that I have a sinus infection. Yuck.
I had off on Monday, and felt bad doing so. Turns out, I should have probably taken some more days off. I went to work on Tuesday, felt bad but not terrible. Woke up on Wednesday thinking I had finally gotten over the past of it. Until about 1pm, when I started to feel progessively worse. Thankfully, I was able to get a doctor's appointment for this morning. Very small perk.... I got to sleep at home every night this week. I got meds in me now, but don't feel much better - kind of like I got hit by a dump truck and then run over a couple of times. The worst thing right now is that I am really achey, especially my back. I'm just hanging at home, watching Greys Anatomy on Netflix if anyone wants to call and chat.
Got this from WebMD (sounds disguisting, doesn't it? I couldn't bring myself to look at any photos).
Sinusitis is infection or inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the inside of the nose and sinuses. Sinuses are hollow spaces, or cavities, located around your eyes, cheeks, and nose. See an illustration of normal facial sinuses
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When a mucous membrane becomes inflamed, it swells, blocking the drainage of fluid from the sinuses into the nose and throat, which causes pressure and pain in the sinuses. Bacteria and fungus are more likely to grow in sinuses that are unable to drain properly. See an illustration of a blocked sinus passageway.
Sinuses can become blocked during a viral infection such as a cold, and sinus inflammation and infection can develop as a result. One key distinction between a cold and sinusitis is that cold symptoms, including a stuffy nose, begin to improve within 5 to 7 days. Sinusitis symptoms last longer and get worse after 7 days.
