I went in for the interview with the editor-in-chief yesterday afternoon and it went well—so well that I was given a salary offer and asked if I could start Monday. I accepted.

Today at 11:00, I met with the company’s human resources director to get briefed on the health plan, benefits, dress code, etc. She said she was happy I was hired because the editor and editor-in-chief had good things to say about me and they had been trying to fill the position for several weeks.

I couldn’t have done this without the help, encouragement and advice of friends and family. Thanks to Jimi and Michael for the camaraderie, internet access and free sandwiches during the past few weeks. Thanks to Andie for badgering me incessantly about getting a job and for writing me encouraging little notes when I had interviews. Thanks to Laura for her assertive advice about assertiveness. Thanks to Mom and Grandma and anyone else who laid down the prayers and apparently managed to convince God or whoever that I’m not a complete fuck-up. Thanks to Steve and Teresa for the freelance work while I was on the down-and-out. And extra special thanks to David Caruso; only he knows why.

In conclusion, and as sung by Elvis Costello:

Welcome to the workin’ week.
Oh I know it don’t thrill you, I hope it don’t kill you.
Welcome to the workin’ week.
You gotta do it till you’re through it so you better get to it.

This morning, I took a writing and editing/proofreading test for the managing editor job I applied for. The writing portion was basic: take portions of two press releases and write a news story.

The editing/proofreading part was heart-rending. It was a printout of four stories so riddled with errors that any editor would beat the writer senseless with his own stapler.

My testsheet was a web of red marks by the end. I was as clear and neat as possible and I hope I caught everything. I’m concerned about my performance correcting the lead story, which was something like eight nightmarish paragraphs of spelling, grammatical and style mistakes, which I painstakingly corrected.

By the time I got to the last paragraph, I realized what was actually the lead of the story had been craftily planted there by the testers. I fell into that trap. I ended up writing a note at the top of my paper explaining that I understood what needed to be done and described the new focus of a rewrite. Was that enough? I’ll know soon enough; I’m to expect a callback by the end of the week. If I pass, I move on to some more interviews. Here’s hopin’.

That was quick! This morning, I received the callback for the second interview for that managing editor position. I scheduled the follow-up interview for Monday morning, so I’ll be spending the weekend familiarizing myself with the magazine’s editorial style and content, and reviewing The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage.

On the subway down to Jimi’s, my iPod attempted to reassure me with the following random playlist:

Oh, yeah, so the job interview yesterday — I think I’m only now recovering from it. I get really keyed-up for interviews. I don’t think it shows; I like to think I present myself professionally and dynamically, meeting all the requirements, like making eye contact, exuding skill and confidence, supplying concise and informed answers, asking lots of questions, capitalizing on my experience, etc.

But afterwards, I feel like nothing more than laying around the couch like some sort of lobotomized lab cat.

Turns out this was a preliminary interview. If I pass, I get a callback in a week or so to take a writing and editing test, then interview with the editor-in-chief and human resources director.

The interview yesterday was with the editor of the magazine. I couldn’t get over how similar the publication and the workplace were to my previous job, which I think was a plus, because I knew exactly what would be expected of me at this job, and told the interviewer I was already experienced with all the tasks of a managing editor — writing, editing, serving as a middleman between production and editorial, checking bluelines, making and checking corrections in QuarkXPress, etc.

The only potential downside is that my background is writing, which is a small part of this job, about one feature and a few departments per issue. Because the staff at this magazine is large, they have many more writers than at my old job.

But I still think I’d make a fine managing editor. I emphasized that I’m up for the challenge and stressed that one of the chief reasons for my move was to step up my work life. I have nearly eight years solid work experience on trade publications and managing editor is the next logical station for me, I said.

I gave it my best shot and anxiously await that return phone call, all the while continuing to freelance and apply for other jobs, of course.

Walking back to Penn Station after the interview, I couldn’t help but think that a great benefit of getting this job would be that I could buy pants for $1.99 on my way to work.

That’s New York, baby.

I received a call-back today for one of the managing editor jobs I applied to. I have an interview Wednesday, which is exciting because it’s the first one. I’ll be spending part of the weekend coaching myself on tough interview questions and researching the magazine I’m applying to work for.

1. managing editor for a monthly commercial real estate magazine
2. assistant editor for a trade magazine covering retail environments
3. assistant editor for a national PR firm

1. editorial assistant for a major national bookstore chain
2. copy writer for a health plan group
3. copy editor for a leading women’s media company

1. managing editor for publications of a computer security industry association
2. proofreader for a trade press house
3. marketing assistant for a division of a major trade book publisher