The one element of the move that has been (and like will be once everything is said and done) the most intense and stressful is the job search. The reason for this is because it has been the linchpin that has been necessary to start multiple other processes. We were not willing to put our house on the market until I got a job. We could not seriously start looking for an apartment without a job. My wife would not be able to get a green card without a job offer so I could prove the ability to sponsor her. Basically the whole future of the move hinged on receiving and accepting a job offer. That’s a massive amount of importance to put on one single task. All the others have a bit more leeway if this one is completed and completed within a certain time frame.
To add even more stress to this one task, there was the time factor that played into it. We designated spring break as the week to return to Chicago to complete the job search. The objective and hope was to attain an offer as a result of this trip, hopefully within a couple weeks. So it was imperative to set up as many interviews and networking meetings as possible. Since I would not be moving for another three months, one big concern was that offices would not be willing to make an offer that far ahead. Plus many would not know their potential workload with enough certainty to know if they would need someone. The upsides were that the economy in the US is picking up and I am at a level that is less dependent on monthly fluctuations of workload. The downside is that I am at a level where a specific need at that level is necessary.
So the weeks leading up to trip were some of the most stressful of my life. My goal was to have at least five interviews with a preference for seven and a minimum of three. With about a week left before, I only had two interviews and the pressure to get others was intense. I was working my network, checking job boards, tailoring cover letters, tweaking the CV. I had forgotten how much work a quality job search could take. In the end, I had four interviews at places ranging from the ideal job to something to get our feet on the ground.
The week in town was just as intense. Prepping myself for the interviews. The interviews themselves. We toured the potential schools for the kids. The time was also peppered other meetings with friends and others in the industry for the possibility of getting another lead for now or later. The entire week was focused on the job search. The only breaks were some meetings with friends and family and taking photos on my walks back from the day of meetings. The in between times were most often spent traveling from place to place either by train or on foot. One testament to the intensity of the week was that I did not have any Chicago style pizza. It had been a required food during every trip. Though I knew that if this were successful, I would be able to have it almost any time I wanted. Even during lunch during the week.
The end result was that that I received and accepted an offer in just over a week after returning to Montreal. It is in a slightly different field, but given my various experiences over the years, I have acquired the skills to do it well. I am very excited about it and to boot it is with my old firm.
The major relief was that all the other moving tasks could be started. But still there is much work to be done.
Postscript: One item I forgot to mention is how much all this stress affected my health. I had severe heartburn. I had trouble sleeping. My digestive system was turning over. I felt horrible. I don’t think I’ve ever had that degree of physical problems due to stress.
The Prodigal Chicagoan 