bzarcher | (no subject)

Okay. The interview went, I think, rather well.

Issues/Complaints
-4/30 start date, followed by 2 months of training. Miss a day of training for any reason that doesn't have a doctor's excuse, and you're fired. This may be typical, it may be not, but eep. The start date is fine, but the attendance policy seems a bit strict. But, I can deal with that.
-Where I was told 6-months on contract to full time hire, then another 6-8 months of help desk before I could get promoted out to where I really wanted to go, the person I spoke with gave me the impression it would be 12 months on contract (unless I did an exceptional job), and at that time I could compete for other positions with internal Progressive candidates. I'm gonna talk to the TekSystems guy tomorrow and qualify / get explanation on this. If it's really going to mostly be 12 months of pure contract, I'd like to know that for sure.
-Almost purely supporting their propreitary software as sold to other insurance agents/companies. I was told it was going to be more of doing Windows/Software + Proprietary software support. This may have just been a communication error, but still.
-When I asked about continuing ed./additional technical training, should I be hired full time, all she did was talk about training on new versions of their software.

Good points
-Seems like a very friendly work environment.
-All the calls I listened into, the clients were polite, if not always in a good mood.
-10-7 is quite an acceptable work shift, and would keep me away from rush hour.
-I wouldn't have to work weekends for 6 months, and even then it would be a rotation, so I'd not have to work every weekend.
-I'd get my own cube, not shuffled around the call centre from day to day.
-Even though they only seem to train their own stuff, they do seem to give really thorough training in it.
-If I take it, at the end of the 12 months in the help desk, it sounds like there are a lot of positions I can move into, though she mostly highlighted ones involving the proprietary software support stuff. (However, it does not seem limited to those PSS positions.)
-While TekSystems benefits and 401k would not be terribly great, she mentioned that the Progressive ones would be quite good, if I got hired.
-A lot of people seem to like working there.

All in all, I think I am gonna see what happens with Nationwide. If they come through, I think Nationwide is still my 1st choice between the 2.. But if I get an offer from Progressive and not from Nationwide, I'll take this and probably do well.

Feeling worn out and exhausted. Yawn.