Friday, September 22, 2006

Have job, bring on house, dadhood!

For the first time in my life I've felt like someone's really put some faith in me. In a series of acceptances and counter-offers I have sealed a deal that will take the "what do I do with myself" question out of my blogging for, hopefully, a long time.

Government employment involves bands or levels which you slowly move through. Well, all 3 jobs I've been looking at were pitched around the same level. One was the most glamorous sounding but was a little more junior than the others which, given that role involved moving to Canberra, made it a quantum downshift back into life when money was a constant worry.

Another was a bit of an unknown in that it involved high levels of advocacy and responsibility, so I was inclined towards the third, with a team I know and like doing work similar to that which has kept me busy the past 12 months.

The 'bit of an unknown' made their intentions known by offering me the higher responsibility of the next band up the Government scale. That's potentially years of working, clawing and waiting for those of you unfamiliar with progress in the public sector. They added family-friendly terms, extra leave and room for flexibility. In a permanent contract. For once in my career I felt genuinely wanted, and yes, flattery will get you everywhere when low self-esteem is creeping up on someone who feels they have outgrown their level of responsibility.

In a huge flap, bumping backwards and forwards and giving the prospective employers, and my wife (ok and yes my cats as well!) hell, I worked my demons and doubts to the surface, scraped them off, and stepped up for a new, scary, and exciting challenge.

Regular programming to resume shortly. Apologies in advance for any creeping legalisms that enter my posts. As always I won't be talking about the detail of what I do or where I do it, but all I can say is, think Kavenagh QC meets Travolta in A Civil Action.

As for Canby, well, it's not out of the long-term question, but I'll be aiming to go there in a leadership role, if and when the timing is right. For now, I'm redirecting that energy I've been pouring into the job pages towards planning for the exciting world of fatherhood.

Now, for some new cufflinks...

14 comments:

Daniel said...

Congrats! That must take a load off the sagging shoulders. You and your family deserve every good thing that life can offer!

Take care.

Kerryn Goldsworthy said...

That's great, A. Esq., congratulations.

So there'll be enough salmon, then?

phil said...

Well done and best wishes.

Boysenberry said...

Congratulations, from one who has just left the public circus. :)

Armagnac Esq said...

Thanks all.

ANd yes, there'll be plenty of salmonses. And I will take every day of my leave!!

I'm gonna need it...

Armagnac Esq said...

Hmmm, interesting...

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!!!

Zoe said...

Nice one, 'nac.

Anonymous said...

About time you got a job, you reprobate. Any more time unemployed and you would have ended up on Today Tonight.

Unknown said...

I was in the APS for 23 years with no regrets. When I left at AS07 level, I went to work for large corporate businesses many of which had me shaking my head at all the people who constantly complain about the inefficiency etc. of the public service: these businesses were more bureaucratic and wasteful than anything I'd ever seen in the APS.

Yes, I do have one regret: APS salaries are the same wherever you work in Oz. If I had my time again I would move to a city where the housing costs were cheaper giving me effectively a pay rise.

Armagnac Esq said...

Ron, I've had that issue in relation to moving to Canberra, as is required for many good APS jobs. Comparable homes seem to be about 10-15% more there, both in rentals and sales.

Anonymous said...

I'd never even thought of it that way - WTF am I a Canberran Pube?!!

*depresses*

Nim said...

Gratz indeed!

I posted something on my blog when i was at a school that would not let me post comments on yours about all the good things i thought about Canberra. I love the place!

cristy said...

A very belated congratulations!

I didn't get the chance to read blogs when I was in South Africa and then my bloglines didn't pick up any updates from your blog since it went beta until today when I suddenly had 26 posts come up.

It sounds like everything worked out perfectly. I am sorry that you are not moving to Canberra, but it does seem to be the right job for you.