Speak of the Sun, See Its Rays

I applied for the job just to see what would happen. I have no business development experience and no management experience, but I like to think I know a few things about blogs. SO I sent a resume in with a quick e-mail and forgot about it completely. I mean, come on. A blogging job in paradise?

I had visions of blogging in a thatched hut by the beach, laptop plugged into a nearby palm tree. One of my monkey assistants brough me fresh cups of strong Costa Rican coffee while another waxed my waiting surfboard.

I've been in paradise without a job, and it was actually hell. Paradise with a job -- with monkeys for admins -- could be pretty sweet.

I was at a bar this weekend with my friend Valaer, who said "What sucks about looking for a job is that it's committing yourself to at least another year in a box. And you don't want to think that you've already had your biggest adventure -- or your last one." We toasted, but it wasn't enough. I had to pour a little on the floor for that one. Then I came home from New York, sighed a deep sigh and wrote my most recent post.

Twenty-four hours after clicking "Publish" on that grey little missive, I got a phone call. Weblogsareus had decided they wanted to interview me ... in San Jose, Costa Rica. I asked for details on the position. Details were sketchy at best. I asked for links to sites the company had created in an e-mail. "I'm going to send it from my partner's account, just so you know," the guy said.

Here is the response I received:

We are a subsidiary of a much bigger organization that specializes in Web Hosting,
Software development and Communications. We Operate out of San Jose, Costa Rica and have our own office building where we Lease turn key call center solutions.

We provide computers, desks, telephones and web hosting for our tenants. We offer web marketing via 100’s of portal sites designed specifically to there businesses. We also maintain an IT-MARKETING-PROGRAMMING department to further market and stay technically advanced for our client’s needs and wants.

Our software development team is enriched with expertise in development of many business models. From call center solutions to accounting systems for cruise ship’s.

Also, we have a real-estate development arm where we buy land and build develop properties. www.Buildingzoneconstruction.com.

At this time I can not give out names of our clients websites due to obvious reasons, but I assure you that we are for real. If you would like to call me , I will be at X-XXX-XXX-XXXX to discuss further what our intentions are. Like I said, we would be more than happy to bring you down for a week to discuss and negotiate terms for our future agreement.

I told my friend Nate about it via IM, who had this to say:

nathan: the job sounds crazy. they have the internet in costa rica?!

nathan: "hi, i'm answering the monster.com ad for 'drug mule.'"

nathan: "qualifications desired: tight lips, flexible rectum."

It does look pretty sketchy. My mysterious benefactor doesn't have links to the Web companies he's referring to, or his own e-mail address. He did mention that he lived and worked in a sweet house with all kinds of satellite hookups.

But I've worked at startups before, and there's always at least one guy who's brilliant, forward-thinking, and terrible with details to get things going. Admittedly, the startups I worked for were doomed. Then again, most are.

It kind of feels like I'm being recruited to work on the island in 'Lost.'

Adventure is discomfort in an exotic location -- and adventure just called. I'm a little scared, but incredibly curious. At the very least, the interview process will make for a hell of a story. I've got to go. That's all there is to it.

I'll keep you posted ...

Labels: adventure, Costa Rica, WeblogsAreUs

posted by Jeff Simmermon @ 3:39 PM