# Back from the Job Interview **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 19, 2008, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836 "2008-05-19T13:29:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/1 "2008-05-19T13:29:23Z")
Well, I just got back from the job interview. It was chaotic, prayer time plus some sort of staff meeting, many people coming and going. We talked, we looked for the tea boy, we chatted, I ran through one of my favorite exercises, I shook hands with people. I got the job. (Well I have to do a demonstration class on the Third Conditional on Saturday, but I can do that in my sleep.) So why the heck am I shaking like a leaf now? Darn, I am suddenly worn the heck out. Now comes the PITA of transferring working papers, learning a new program and all the rest, but I will be doing it for a nice little pay raise. Good for me. I think I will go for a swim and try to calm down. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/2 "2008-05-19T13:30:31Z")
Congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/3 "2008-05-19T13:32:34Z")
Congratulations again. Good luck dealing with the new chaos. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/4 "2008-05-19T13:39:34Z")
Meanwhile, your previous employer has replaced you with a parrot. (Glad you landed on your feet – sorry that your pet had to be given to a new home.) ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/5 "2008-05-19T13:43:56Z")
Perhaps you were tired because you were more anxious about this then you let on to yourself? Congratulations. Does this mean you stay across the pond? I so want a tea boy. Not in _that_ way (pervs)–just someone who will bring me tea. \ ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/6 "2008-05-19T14:29:51Z")
All offices have a tea boy. The bring tea and coffee on command. Most also provide special services if you give them a few riyals on the sly. You know stuff like washing your car. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/7 "2008-05-19T14:37:47Z")
I thought it was a 28%(?) pay cut? Congrats, Paul. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/8 "2008-05-19T14:42:32Z")
No the new job doubles my salary, but does not include housing, so it ought to be a wash. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/9 "2008-05-19T14:46:52Z")
Congratulations. Good luck in your new position. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/10 "2008-05-19T14:51:11Z")
Congrats! When do you move? Do you have housing there yet? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/11 "2008-05-19T15:13:24Z")
We have to deal with all the nonsense of moving my work permit from one company to the new agency. (I will be a direct-hire of the Ministry this time.) If we cannot do a transfer, then I will have to leave the Kingdom and come back in. It is all very convoluted. It might take a month or two. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/12 "2008-05-19T19:30:48Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] All offices have a tea boy. The bring tea and coffee on command. Most also provide special services if you give them a few riyals on the sly. You know stuff like washing your car. [/QUOTE] You are not making the tea boy any less attractive to my mind. (and I meant “than” not “then” in my first post. gah.) I take you’ll still be in Saudi–what about the parrot, then? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/13 "2008-05-19T19:40:08Z")
So what’s a Third Conditional? I am tempted to make a programming joke about _if_, _else-if_, and _the third one_. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/14 "2008-05-20T01:50:14Z")
“If I had gone, I would have died.” It is the unreal conditional. I did not go and I did not die. One clause is in the Past Perfect, the other in the Present Perfect with a modal. “She could have married me, if her father had approved.” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/15 "2008-05-20T14:36:55Z")
Congratulations! Can I ask what you do for a living, that you have to be tested on conditionals? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/16 "2008-05-20T14:40:14Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] “If I had gone, I would have died.” It is the unreal conditional. I did not go and I did not die. One clause is in the Past Perfect, the other in the Present Perfect with a modal. “She could have married me, if her father had approved.” [/QUOTE] Then what is: “I would have liked it if she could have married me, had her father approved, but he did not, so I am now alone.” ? I always wanted to take English grammar. The last grammar I was taught was in 6th grade; we didn’t get past independent clauses etc. I learned some English grammar via learning German, oddly enough. [/sorry, hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/17 "2008-05-20T14:56:57Z")
_Then what is: “I would have liked it if she could have married me, had her father approved, but he did not, so I am now alone.” ?_ That? That is the story of my life. Grammar is interesting on a number of angles. We spoke English before we made up rules for it. Like kids who make-up a game and then impose rules on newcomers. People speak their native languages with no idea how the grammar works. Interesting, no? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/18 "2008-05-20T15:09:09Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] I learned some English grammar via learning German, oddly enough. [/QUOTE] That’s why I took only three hours of German. > [@Mark Twain](#): > > I am going to buy her, I am going to cook him, I am going to eat it." 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-from-the-job-interview/449836/19 "2008-05-20T15:09:16Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Congratulations! Can I ask what you do for a living, that you have to be tested on conditionals? Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] He teaches English.