Job interview

I think I choose employers who have different/unusual types of interviews.

For example, when I interviewed to teach at the school where I worked for 10 years, I was asked to "audition" as a teacher, meaning I had to plan two lessons to teach to kids I had never met, while those considering me for employment observed. It was fun and scary all at once. I guess I did okay, since I got the job.

Well, now that I've started my job search, I've entered a new type of job interview. This weekend, I interviewed with a small out-of-hospital birth practice in a small town. The woman interviewing me picked me up at the airport, drove me around town, took me for a short hike, and then arranged for me to meet her co-workers and students, as well as some other folks in town, by hosting a potluck dinner and teaching event at her house that night. The teaching event was to practice putting in IVs, so we each took turns practicing. We went over how to put in a "bleb" of lidocaine (like a TB test) to make the IV hurt less. It really works! But feels funny, too. Anyway, I put one IV into an experienced nurse, and felt very awkward about it . . . it was my second one ever. Then it was my turn to get one. I learned that my forearms have really difficult-to-find veins, so she had to try my wrists, and the first one blew out, leaving me with an impressive bruise! Good to know what our patients feel, right?

The next day was the actual "interview." The same woman (the owner, and a midwife) took me out to breakfast with her office manager, who is a midwife wanna-be, and apparently pretty good at catching babies all by herself if necessary! We had a great meal, and they had a long list of questions for me. It was fun! One of the questions was about how I act after 30 hours of no sleep - basically they wanted to know if I was a bitch to coworkers. Ha! I hope not! (Guess it's good question, but what am I going to answer? Yep. When I'm tired, I rage around the office! Right!) They wanted to know about teamwork, cooperation, how I feel about LMs, my perfect job, etc. Overall, terrific questions, which allowed for a fantastic conversation.

Then we headed back to their office, where I got to see the clinic in action. I did attend two visits with one of the midwives - we saw a 4 week postpartum mom, with her baby and husband. What a fun & cute family! We then saw a 22 week prenatal visit of a pretty strange couple, who really didn't have much to say. I had fun, anyway, and it was nice to see this midwife in action, since I hadn't had a chance to chat with her much yet.

After one more spin around town, we stopped for sandwiches and then headed for the airport. Overall, it was a pretty fun interview! And really, it was my first official interview since 1998.

Will I leave my current city to move to this small city? That is a tough question. The job is pretty perfect. Everyone there was so nice, and seem like great people to work with. The practice is well established, growing, and running well. It's pretty much the perfect job! But leaving my life here seems like a huge move. There's no easy answer for this one . . . and either way, I don't get what I want!

I got another e-mail today asking for a phone conversation later in the week in another small town far from home. I guess this is really happening . . . who knows what the next 6 months will bring!

What kind of midwife do I want to be? Who do I want to work with? How far from home am I willing to move? These questions are milling around in my head . . . fortunately, I don't have to answer them now.

Okay, gotta go study. Three exams to take in the next week!