Well I have been meaning to do this for a while now.

Some of you know me, some of you may not. I am the evilThumper, One of the newer Stardock Employees here at the compound. I started in September after much admiring the stories of Cari_elf, a long time friend of mine.

Everytime I heard about this company I really drooled. I am a career tech head. I have had way to many jobs to want to admit too, always found myself in bad luck and bad situations. I honestly have had at least one job a year, sometimes more, for every year of my professional career. Admittidly, a few where my fault, but most of the time I managed to find myself the lowest man on the totem pole when layoffs and cutbacks came round. So I would pack my little office depot box, drive to my wife's office and break the news to her. That night we would have the typical 'reworking' budget discussion. I would spend about one-two weeks feelin sorry for myself and then dust myself off and get going on a new job. It was never too long, right before the breaking point something always came a long. And like a hungry dog I took the first bit of meat thrown my way.

My forte, most of the time, was network and systems administration, with some programming and project management. So when I say some crappy jobs, I mean it. I seemed to end up in places with big ideas but sticker shock when it came to implementing them. So my days were long, frustrating and I used more duct tape and chewing gum then you could believe. 80 hours was the regular, it sucked. Long long nights sweet talking server into one more day of operation, long days trying to convince bean counters and manager concerned with their bonuses that they needed to spend some money, etc.

So after quite a fun ride through all this, my last job came to a close. It was a mutual decision. The main boss had quit, I was informed to find a new job, so I offered the Director my noticed and he told me to leave at that point. No loss, was a good company, but I was a contractor and sick of being treated as such.

So after swearing several blood oaths to not be in support and not be a contractor ever again, my phone rings. Its the Cari_Elf. She has the words I have been waiting several years to hear. Thumper....get me your resume....NOW.

Very excitedly I whipped off the most recent polished copy and a shiney cover letter and sent it off to her. Silence followed for a while, a few calls from overseas contractors trying to do 3 month placements in the area. I told them what they could do with that type of job and they were actually insulted that I would not even consider it. I am really no fan of headhunters, all that aside I tend to rely on Monster, has a 75% hit ratio with me and jobs.

So then it happens. I get an email from one of the Stardock High rollers, asking me to come in for an interview. Almost in a panic attack I quickly reply I could be there in 30 minutes if I have to. They gave me a bit more time    

So I come into the Stardock compound, suit and tie, resume in a menela folder, ready to roll. Then it begins, one of the most stressful interview of my life. Not because they were mean or anything of the like. I WANTED THIS. I was not sure what they wanted from me, but I played every angle and card I had. Honestly, I thought I borked it. I really did. But after a full hour and a half, they walked me around the office. This could be a good sign, I remember myself thinking. And I remember my wife wishing the best but warning not to get too optimistic, because she did not want me to fall to hard if it did not work out.

There was one person I had not met yet. They wanted me to talk to this guy in web dev. But he was gone. I was leaving in 4 days for a vacation in VA with family, I was full ready to pay for a plane ticket back on anyday they needed, but again. They were nice and let me have my time.

I come back and the phone rings, its the guy from WebDev. We talk for around 20 minutes about various things and he invites me back to talk more in person. Another good sign I thought. Again cautiosly I enter the compound, shaking babies and kissing hands. A politician to the T.

We begin to talk about Dev and stuff, then our conversation turns to my experience in project management, etc. Then the first big shocker happens. The person talking to me informs me I am interviewing for a management position. A MANAGER! AT STARDOCK. I was floored. I tried to switch gears as fast as I could but wow is all I could say. The interview proceeds and I leave with a good feeling. The last thing I hear is that he wanted to discuss things with Frogboy.

Then it happens again, an email from Frogboy with an invite to come in and chat with the man himself. I knew this would be the last interview I was to have at stardock. This would be it, make or break time. I would either be called back, or given a Dear John letter after.

Once again, on with the suit, this time to talk to the big man. I meet Frogboy and we discuss a few things, and then the words were said that I can still hear and knocked me straight to the ground. When do you want to Start?

WOW. I tried to start the next day LOL, but I was asked to give the tech guy a few days to get ready, (computer and such). I grabbed Cari_elf gave her a huge hug and took her out to lunch. I still have a ton to thank her, but that seemed appropriate at the time.

I called my wife, and she said, ..........what? I had done it, a goal I set in High school for myself. I was working for a video games and computer technology company. I was finally working with people I can relate too. People like me, more or less .

it has been almost 3 months to the day, I smile as big as I did on day one going through these doors, every day. I work with some of the most intelligent and skilled people I will ever meet.

I guess a friend of mine was right...........I fall up.

-Thumper

Next: Day one and on at Stardock. The Wincustomize 2007 project.