What's going on here? (job search)

About a month ago, a company called my former major professor and asked him if he was available to do some consulting work them. He told them that he wasn’t, but that I most certainly was, and that I specialize in what they’re interested in, and that I’m an all-around great gal. Thanks, prof.

Two weeks ago, I made the drive to their headquarters to meet & greet. We basically sniffed each others’ behinds–signed non-disclosure agreements and both gave vague presentations about what we do. The boss left me in the hands of some of the developers, and they grilled me about what my research could do for them. I think I answered their questions well.

At the end of that day, the boss told me that he would call me “within the next couple of days” to talk more. I said great.

That was a Tuesday. Late that Friday afternoon the boss emailed me to arrange a time for the phone call. I was packing to go into the wilderness for the weekend, so I said Monday afternoon.

On Monday afternoon, the boss called, and apparently sat and listened while one of the developers I’d met on Tuesday grilled me some more about what I could do for them, and asked where he could see our resource materials. I answered his questions (many of which were inane) and emailed him the web links to our stuff. At the end of this conversation, the boss said that he would call me to discuss the stuff I want to discuss (salary, benefits)–he made it quite clear that they were interested in hiring me full-time.

Well, it’s been over a week now and there hasn’t been a peep. Major Professor thinks that, while the researchers are interested in me, they’re having a hard time convincing the Suits that they should hire me, a Ph.D. who would demand a pretty high salary, instead of another low-paid programmer/developer. Prof is pretty gloomy about my prospects of getting the job.

This really deflated me. It’s my only opportunity to have medical insurance next year, unless a miraculous professorship offer is still in the offing (highly doubtful in mid-April). It would mean finally leaving this college town, buying a house, and finally starting my life. It’s the only rope that’s been thrown me.

So… anyone involved in hiring for research in industry, etc… what do you think?

Sometimes it just take awhile to get everyone on board and the bureaucracy in place for that kind of offer. If you haven’t discussed salary yet it may be making its way through their HR administration. Are they a for-profit or non-profit?

For-profit. They’re still running on venture capital right now, actually, but think they’ll be profitable this year or next.

I’m so desperate that I’m upset because a startup might not hire me! Aaaarrghhh!!!

I’m not in the industry, but didn’t they ask for your Prof first? If you’re only a PhD and he’s a full Prof, wouldn’t his probable salary be greater than yours? So then why are they phumphering about paying you?

Because they thought he’d only be doing contracting. If they hire me, it’s full-time salary plus benefits, I guess. Quite frankly, I’d far rather do contracting work for them than no work at all. I wonder how I can tell them that without sounding desperate.

It sounds like they are interested. There wouldn’t be a second, technical interview otherwise. They probably have more than one candidate. The second interview was to help them decide who to make an offer to. Worst case, they’ve made an offer to someone else and you’re the back up. Best case, they’re trying to figure how much to offer to you and what budget it’ll come from.

Being slow means they’re thinking about you. Be patient. But don’t stop looking for a job. Does your professor have former students you could contact? Do you have collaborators at other institutions who could give you leads and/or contacts? Keep networking.