Welcome to the Ultimate Coffee Date! This is legit the longest break I’ve ever taken from my blog since I started it! :O But the break was much-needed and I should be getting back into the swing of things shortly. There has been a lottttt that’s happened since my last post (which is, coincidentally, last month’s coffee date), so come along with me for a maaaaasive life update! :P I’ll get to all my backlogged posts someday this year (hopefully)!
Ultimate Coffee Date: May 2019
Thanks for sniping this photo of me, Ricardo! :P
If we were having coffee/tea today, I’d…tell you that I took my boards 2 weeks ago and finally finished up on all my job interviews this week!
(Spoiler alert: they all went well!)
I received a preliminary pass on my boards (final result to appear somewhere in June, but hopefully the preliminary results are not wrong) and have job offers from almost everywhere I’ve interviewed so far (one is technically still unofficial and another is potentially pending, but the rest are a go)! :]!!!
Although I was stressed about scheduling/traveling to and from interviews, the interviews themselves have actually been super fun, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet/talk with so many amazing people who may become my potential-future coworkers! The (very first-world) problem I have now is deciding between said offers. I am definitely not complaining and am super super grateful and ecstatic to have so many, but trying to decide on one has been monumentally difficult, due mostly in part to the fact that everyone I’ve met at all of them have been so, so awesome.
If we were having coffee/tea today, I’d…tell you that my very last salsa performance with the RU Salsa Club went super well! :]! I’ve had the same dance partner for the past 3 years–this year’s been my favorite song and favorite dance, so I’m glad we stuck with it throughout! :P
Also, now that I’m fairly certain I’ve passed my boards, I can plan my cross-country road trip without guilt! (So excited!! <3) I have…41 destinations plopped onto my game plan so far and plan to make it back to CA somewhere in September. :P
I’ll be passing through/making pit stops in…DC, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. If there are any must-sees you wanna let me know about or you live in one of these states and are free somewhere this summer/want to meet up, let me know! :P Maybe we can make it happen!
If we were having coffee/tea today, I’d…tell you I’m still mulling at the moment to figure which job would be the best fit for me. If it were up to me, I’d combine them into one job and life would be amazing, but alas. Hopefully I’ll figure it out somewhere in the next two weeks or so.
If anyone has any life advice to give on choosing their first job, things to consider regarding what to look out for, what to especially look for, retirement stuff, etc., I’d welcome any/all of it!
This may well be me for the remainder of the year, hahaha.
See past ultimate coffee dates here!
(Link-up with Coco @ Got 2 Run 4 Me & Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner!)
- If you have any advice to offer on what you looked for in your first real-life job, tips on saving for life/retirement, please send em’ my way! I suppose residency is technically my first real-life job but it doesn’t feel truly like real-life to me, haha.
- What questions did you wish you’d asked your employer/what do you wish you’d known prior to starting there? I keep wondering if there’s anything I’ve forgotten to ask about, but lately, I’ve felt pretty questioned out.
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Huge congrats to you for passing your board exams! It’s such an exciting time for you. Good luck with all the interviews and the drive across country. That is ambitious!
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Thanks so much! I just need to pick a place now! x_x
wow Farrah congratulations! I know it’s just prelims now but I’m certain the result won’t be different in June. And congrats on having so many choices! My first job was so long ago so I can’t even say what I would have done differently, but I think if I could give any advise it would be to not necessarily go for money (though you should be paid well of course), but go for where you can see yourself for the longer term. And if you like to travel then make sure you are somewhere near an airport. And if you prefer the city then make sure it’s in a city you can see yourself living in. All this probably doesn’t really help you decide LOL! But I know that when I came to the Netherlands, it was my dream to live and work overseas and though my first choice was Paris, I knew that if I was in the Netherlands that would be a good base for me for travelling and further seeing the world. I also researched what the country and culture was like before I decided. So, for example if you are a liberal or a socialist (haha!) then don’t take the job in the most conservative of places. Logical, I guess!
Good luck deciding and enjoy your epic trip!
Thanks so much! Everything you mentioned is definitely super helpful! Almost all the jobs I applied to are in the bay area, so hopefully it won’t be too hard to travel! :P Agreed on political climate, haha. I don’t think I can live somewhere that’s super super conservative (at least not in the long-long-term). I’m probably going to be moving back into my parents’ place for the time being just so I can save up some money and hopefully get a house–not entirely sure where I want to end up in the long-long-term but I guess I have time to figure that part out at least! :]!
Fantastic!! Congrats on your boards and on having options on your job choice! I would agree with Renee’s advice to not decide based on money alone. Quality of life is huge – what does each location offer? Which position do you think could provide you with longer-term prospects? I’m always a fan of pros & cons lists. Ultimately, go with your instincts!
Best of luck deciding!
Thanks so much! I’m making epic pro/con lists right now and I guess the plus side is that they all have mostly pros, so I feel like I can’t really go wrong, but it’s just making it hard to narrow down to just one, haha. I wish my gut could choose something for me but it’s pretty undecided right now too! x_x
Congrats on all the offers! That is a “good” problem to have, but I know that it can be overwhelming trying to pick the “best” one!!
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Very true! Hopefully I’ll figure something out soon!
Wow, HUGE congrats to you!!!! The world is your oyster (sorry for the bad cliche’ LOL), and you’re on the way to much success ;-)
hahaha, thank you so much! Cliches are totally fine! :]!
You’re welcome!
:D
Congrats on passing your boards Farrah! That has to feel amazing. And the road trip sounds like the perfect “reward”! I hope you have lots of time to relax and enjoy. In Arizona we loved visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. Of course the hiking is AZ is amazing too.
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Thanks so much! I’m really looking forward to exploring AZ more–I’m gonna have to check that place out! I think I’ll be passing by! :] Thank you for the suggestion!
Oh, I’d love to meet up with you in DC. Deborah’s here too, so we could have a real coffee date — or something more interesting. ;-) I think the world of work is so different now. I’ve had the same employer for 20+ years and lucked into a firm that grew with me. Starting out I’d look for a position where you’d have good mentoring and opportunities to grow and learn.
Ooo, that’d be awesome! I’ll be in DC from 6/28-6/30 if you and Deborah are free somewhere in between that timespan! My brother’s gonna be hanging out with me and I need to drop him off at the DC airport somewhere on the 30th (I’ll doublecheck when with him, haha), but hopefully we can work something out! :]!
It’s been so long since I interviewed for a job (I was self employed for a long time).
CO, UT, AZ — all so beautiful! I absolutely loved Sedona (it’s magical!).Every one knows about Red Rocks in NV, but Valley of Fire is really awesome too.
Congrats on passing your boards! That’s awesome! And having your pick of jobs — I only had 2 offers when I graduated from college.
Thanks so much! :]!
I got to spend a half-day in Sedona a few years back and absolutely loved it there so I’m definitely planning on going back there! I’ll definitely have to check out Valley of Fire too! :]! Thanks for the suggestion!
Congrats on your preliminary results, and I’m glad the interviews have all gone well. That’s awesome you have so many to choose from – I’m sure it is tough to narrow it down to the best fit though!! And it sounds like you have such a fun road trip coming up. I’m in KY, but right outside Cincinnati, OH so if you are going anywhere near me, let me know! I’d love to meet. :)
-Lauren
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Thanks so much! :] I’m having a hard time, but I’m trying to talk with a bunch of people so I can hopefully come to a decision soon. :P
I’ll probably be driving from Lexington to Toledo on 7/8 and Cincinnati looks like it’s along the way! If you happen to be free that day, it’d be super awesome to meet up! :]
That’s such great news – congratulations!
That road trip sounds like a lot of fun and you’re going to visit so many beautiful states.
Thanks so much! :] I’m super excited!
Congrats on passing! Such an accomplishment!! As far as the job goes, I would say find one that you are the most excited about. I chose location over money for my job and have yet to regret that decision! Have fun on your epic road trip! If you are passing through Modesto, California it would be fun to meet up!!
Thanks so much! I’m hoping I’ll come to a decision sometime in the next two weeks, but currently still mulling! :P (I’m excited about all of them. :'( Great problem to have, but I’m at a standstill, hahah.)
The last leg of my trip is from socal to norcal and has the most leeway, so I can probably swing by there! (This’ll likely be around early September though, haha! :P )