Flashback a couple decades, to the September day when this IT pilot fish learns he’s been laid off from his first full-time job out of college.

“I was able to find some contract work, but kept up a full press on my job search,” says fish.

“Shortly after being laid off, I had an interview with a big pharmaceutical company for a position that combined some of my diverse skills — IBM mainframe and C. The combination was fairly unique and I thought the interview went well, but then I didn’t hear anything.”

That doesn’t really worry fish — he still has his contract work.

Two months pass, and fish finally hears back from the pharma: They want him to come in for a second interview. It goes well, and at the end of the interview, the hiring manager asks when fish can start.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here