A little over a year ago, I got a call from a recruiter. I was traveling at the time, doing presentations in Nashville, TN. It wasn't unusual for me to get calls from recruiters. The "hey, I was just wondering if you knew anyone in the market..." kind of call came about once a quarter. Typically, the "anyone" was understood as being me, but sometimes if I legitimately knew someone in the market, I would pass along the information.
My father often taught me that you should always leave doors open. He meant this when it came to certain opportunities, not always about life, in general. For instance, he would not have supported the "leave doors open" policies in relation to my wife. He adored Cyndi (me too!), and always praised our relationship.
He would, however, often suggest that if someone offered an opportunity about a possibly better job--as long as it was an upgrade--that I should always keep my options open. This from the guy who spent 35 years in the same job, and this from the guy who most often said, "I don't care; do what you want." Either way, the advice stuck with me, so whenever a recruiter called, I was open to hearing what the job opportunity entailed.
When the call came from the recruiter last year, I was driving to my hotel after a day of meeting with possible customers. I remember the day very clearly, because it was very cold and very windy. So windy, in fact, that people were being held back as they walked against the gusts. The recruiter did the standard pre-qualification banter with me. "We have a client looking to expand their business...for someone with your level of experience...would you be interested in learning more..."
I wasn't specifically in the job market. I had been at my then current employer for nearly nine years. I was the 10th employee of the company, and it had grown from not having enough money in the bank to pay the salary to a nice $20 million niche healthcare software shop. The update to that story was that the small little, private company I helped build, had recently been sold to a larger, $250 million public company. I was going to be one of 1,000. Word within the company was that the 1,000 person company was merging with another, $800 million public company. I was then going to be one of 5,000. Needless to say, I was open to speaking further with the recruiter and seeing where the opportunity took me.
The minimum information I received from him was enough to peak my curiosity. I had heard of the company a couple years prior, and everything I learned was positive. Their product was incredibly forward thinking, the company was smaller, and they would allow me to remain in healthcare IT sales.
Throughout the process, I continued to make sure everyone involved was clear that I wasn't unhappy were I was at. I simply was very intrigued by the opportunity and wanted to secure the future of my professional career and the lives of my family--a nice position to be in, I felt at the time.
I had a phone interview with the president of the company and their Director of Business Development. The call lasted over an hour, and I felt really comfortable with the exchange. In fact, when I finished the call, it felt like two things: 1) I was "cheating on my wife" (not literally, obviously) with another company; 2) I knew I wanted the job and wanted to work for this company.
The interview went well, so they flew me out to meet them in person. I liked to say that they were flying me out to make sure I didn't have horns and visa versa. Again, I made sure it was clear what my situation was. In fact, during the group interview portion, one of the long-term sales guys (Jason Cooper--I've been there a year now, do you think I've earned the right to call him "Coop"?) asked, "why do you want to leave that job? It sounds like you like it there." I liked him right away.
Obviously, I've let the cat out of the bag on this one, so further boring details are not needed. The job was extended to me, and I took it. And I am damn glad I did.
I've thought a lot today about my "work life" over the past year, and I've decided that it is really great. First and foremost, I love the people I work with. They have always been kind, generous, and caring people. They have always remembered the old "there's no 'I' in team" philosophy. And those are not just words to them. I love the product I sell, but if not for the people I work with on a daily basis, this would all just be a job. I've come to appreciate the fact that it's important to be part of something special. Offering a service to the healthcare community is important to everyone I work for and with, and that keeps me working hard.
While any sales job comes with stress (to make the numbers, to forge new relationships, etc.), the negative things my old job offered on a daily basis are so not missed. Business schools should take a lesson from the way Resource Systems (that's the company I work for) manages the company. And I mean that. I'm glad I took the call last year in Nashville and was open to my father's advice.
It's funny, in the year I have been with the company, the recruitment phone has stopped ringing. I understand, it's probably the economy that has a lot to do with that. Temptation is always a sin, and I'm glad I'm not being offered the proverbial apple. Otherwise, I would have to ignore my father, and politely respond, "I'm not interested."
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