Gainfully Employed

The long version:
So James has been working at this posh hotel in downtown Portland since a few weeks after we got married (in Spring 2005). He quickly was promoted from Personal Concierge to Front Desk Supervisor and, although the tips and fringe benefits are great (we've eaten at some fancy restaurants that we never would have been able to afford without the complimentary gift certificates), he has pretty much hated his job for about two years now. He applied for some other job, mostly in professional office settings, but with most of his job history reading "hotel and mission to Brazil," he didn't get any nibbles. Great for the self esteem and continuing to work at the hotel just kept the punches coming.

Fast forward to Summer 2007. He read about a company that needed a Spanish or Portuguese speaker for an international manufacturing company. Since he's been studying International Studies, Business and Economics for the last three years, and would just pee his pants to have this job, he put in his application. They interviewed him, were impressed, made good noises, and never called back. He called them periodically throughout the next month, and they gave him something that to me looked a lot like The Run Around. In the end, they told him that the position had been eliminated, but "if we get anything else, we'll call you." Yeah, right.

At the same time as all this is going on, a Sales position opens up at the hotel. Thinking to at least advance in the industry where he has experience, James puts his name in for the job. They interview, seem impressed, sound promising, and hire externally. Their reasoning? "James, you have so much potential for great things that we know you'll probably leave us eventually for bigger and better things anyway. So we're hiring someone who will stick around." Sigh.

Ok, now fast forward to October, 2007. The hotel finally recognizes James's great work ethic and determination and offer him a promotion, titled "Facilities Coordinator." The pay isn't much greater, but the experience will open doors to greater things, so he starts to get excited about it. They want an answer by Monday.

Thursday evening, he gets an email from . . . guess who? The international company! They have an urgent to fill position, at almost twice his current salary, with an overwhelming benefit package, and they want HIM!

Hmm . . . tough decision. His boss at the hotel was disappointed, but says if the affordable health benefits, travel to Europe and South America, tuition reimbursement, and business casual atmosphere ever get stifling or blase, he always has a place at the hotel.