we'll see, i guess

remember that job i applied for back in july? the one with the border patrol? well... i got it! hmmm, sort of...

i received an e-mail this afternoon at 1:30 pst which said they were offering me the job if i accepted before closing of today's business day! uhhh, what?

first off, this is the first indication i've had that i was on the short list for the position.

then ... the e-mail came from minneapolis so, uhhh ... closing as to which time zone: cst or pst? isn't it a little strange they would offer me the job with a nebulous either 90 minute or 230 minute deadline?

and then, by e-mail?

and ... they were offering me the job without even interviewing me? without once even talking to me?

i know it's been awhile since i worked for the feds and it's been a couple of years since i worked at all, but still ...

so i busily sent a return e-mail accepting their offer, saying i was happily awaiting my reporting date, and letting them know i had prior commitments for next week. an hour later i received another e-mail which stated they had to do the background check before i could report in and that it would probably take at least 3 months.

hmmm. i suppose it must have been like a 'bid' situation rather than an application, but it still feels like a strange way to do business. not that i'm not happy -- heavens, i'm delighted. just a little mystified.