Update on Curt

Curt didn't get the job.

It was pretty obvious from the lack of communication that it just wasn't going to happen. In this case, silence was NOT golden. Curt did eventually get some feedback on the whole endgame and this is what he told me:

His recruiter went back to the company with his counteroffer which consisted of his same salary requirement, but a reduced (but minimum) amount for relocation of 6,000 dollars. He conceded the vacation and the mileage for his car and any temporary living expenses.

The relocation amount seems like a lot, but probably wouldn't cover his expenses of packing, storage and moving even with his plan to liquidate many of his treasured belongings (including his piano that he learned to play on). But Curt was willing to make some sacrifices in order to relocate.

The company flat out rejected the counteroffer.

In fact,the hiring manager for the position (Curt's would-be boss) told the recruiter, "If you want this deal to go through, you need to pay Curt's relocation demands out of your commission." Stunned by this, the recruiter was left sputtering. To which the hiring manager allegedly replied, "Ha, ha. Hit you right between the eyes with THAT one, didn't I?"

Evidently the negotiations didn't stop there, and the recruiter went to the HR manager. After a few more rounds (and after repeated phone attempts to speak with the hiring manager were met with silence) the HR manager finally informed the recruiter that, "The hiring manager had more time to think and decided that Curt was not aggressive enough. And because of the aggressive personalities involved in the business, it wouldn't be a good fit. So the offer was removed."

The recruiter gets some credit here for immediately replying, "I find it ironic that you site Curt's lack of aggressiveness as a reason not to hire him, when it is his aggressiveness on the relocation package that appears to be the major sticking point."

Evidently the HR manager conceded that this was an excellent point. But his hands were tied and that was that.

After having a beer with Curt, he admits he's ok with the way things turned out. He's disappointed, to be sure, but he has closure and that feels much better than being up in the air. Of course he's also a bit raw about it all, and feels majorly dicked around. The time from initial contact about this opportunity to offer on the table was less than two weeks total. Everything moved incredibly quickly and seemed really positve, only to completely unravel at the end over something fairly paltry. And part of him feels that he may have dodged a bullet, given the way things played out. But he also says he can't help but feel that he somehow fumbled the ball on the 1-yard line. He keeps doing 'instant replay' to see if his knee was down or not...

Curt is now trying to immerse himself back in his current job and east-coast life, knowing that he is going to have it all for awhile longer.