TMT: Hard Work and Miracles (the big promotion novel)

This could be a really long drawn out story, because it was quite the drama saga Matt and our family went through, but i'll try and keep it short with bullet points in a time line format. As is, it's going to be lengthy.

May-
The first week in May, Fisher Investments sent out an e-mail company wide for people interested in the Investment Counselor position to apply. This was somewhat unprecedented, there are numerous qualifiers that one needs in order to normally apply. Matt applied not really thinking too much about it since he didn't have a lot of the credentials that candidates normally need.

The second week in May he found out he was accepted into the Bridge Program, basically a "try-out" 6-8 week class to prepare you to potentially interview for the Investment Counselor position (an I.C. is kind of similar to a Financial Adviser type role, currently Matt is at the associate or entry level and the I.C. position is an analyst position) He was chosen with 6 others company wide. Matt felt extremely lucky and blessed to have been chosen for the class since he knew of others that applied that had more experience, education and tenure with the company.   


The third week he started his class, the program had three parts: The actual class- with trainers that worked with all students together talking about Fisher investment philosophy, current events effecting the market and answering questions. They also had to study and read three different investment books written by Ken Fisher. Second, "Mock" calls- where you schedule a time to have a pretend phone call with a pretend client, the client was usually a current I.C. who would then give you a score on how well you did with your call, most calls last up to an hour. Lastly, The Presentation- a memorized, almost word for word 8 page presentation that they give all students to give one by one in front of a panel of General Vice Presidents, Team Leaders and Hiring Managers. The presentations are the last week of the class. On top of all this extra work he was expected to keep up on his already full work load for his normal job, so basically 2 full time jobs at the same time. 


The class started and Matt began what seemed like to him a 6 week version of "Finals week" he experienced in College. 


June-
Matt had a mid-term review with his class trainers. They told him he was on-pace for the class. They talked about his strengths and some weaknesses he needed to work on. He felt good about the class and was learning A LOT. Amazingly he was able to keep up on his normal work too.  


The last week of June was the end of the class and preparation for the presentation. If you remember, we were out of town a TON then. Matt had to fly back and forth for just the weekend for everything because just could NOT miss work. He unbelievably stayed on top of his work still and had time to study while on vacation.


July-
The first week Matt had to give his presentation. He was really, REALLY nervous for it. He normally gives great presentations and doesn't have problems memorizing but this was the big presentation to get him a career job. He practiced and practiced and practiced. He practiced on anyone that would listen, mostly me. He also had to write his own bit at the end and prepare for a Q&A with the panel as well. 
He gave the presentation and he said he did well on the memorized part, average on the part he wrote and not so well on the Q&A. I also made him some baked goods to bring along for the presentation, we figured it couldn't hurt. I mean, who doesn't like some good banana bread at a morning presentation. Not to mention all the prayers and prayers and prayers he and everyone else in the family were saying.

When it comes to deciding if they will interview or not they look at all 3 previously discussed components.
Luckily he got an interview, they originally scheduled it for Friday then rescheduled for Monday.

He interviewed with two potential Team Leaders (managers) of groups or teams that he could be hired into. He felt good about one just so/so on the the other.

Then it was sit and wait, and wait, and wait to hear back. Meanwhile all his other class mates are hearing back, some yes's, some no's, more yes's, some starting their new position the following Monday. Matt got more and more nervous as the week went on... it was torture. We prayed and prayed and prayed. There weren't a set amount of spots, so it didn't matter if others were hired but it didn't bode well when people got no's.

We waited an entire week to hear back, most people heard the next day. He was asked to meet with one of the GVP's last Monday. The GVP sat him down and said he was really sorry he hadn't gotten to him sooner he'd just been really busy. He asked him a few questions in the short minutes he was there and finally ended with, "well we'd like to bring you on as an Investment Counselor starting mid-August." It was a 5 minute meeting and those are all the details he knows, he doesn't know whose team he will be on or who his new boss will be. At that point it didn't matter. He worked so hard, I mean really, REALLY hard to get this position and it was a miracle that he even made it that far let alone get the job.

In Elder David A. Bednars talk discussing Tender Mercies he says "A loving Savior was sending me a most personal and timely message of comfort and reassurance...  Some may count this experience as simply a nice coincidence, but I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them.  I have reflected repeatedly upon the phrase “the tender mercies of the Lord.” Through personal study, observation, pondering, and prayer, I believe I have come to better understand that the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ." 


I can assure you all that our family has felt every bit of the Lord's guiding had through this entire experience, from being actually chosen to participate in the class, to getting good reviews, to Matt staying on top of his work, his health (the absence of stress migraines or sickness which is a BIG one), to giving a good presentation and interview. Matt has told me that he literally felt the power of prayer and the Spirit blessing him with all the above support that Elder Bednar spoke about, he was specifically told through the Spirit that he was being prayed for and that he need not be anxious. Matt and our family feel so blessed to have received this promotion, in fact I am still in shock a bit that it all happened. I had complete confidence in him, but at the same time to get a position like this the way he did it was almost unheard of not to mention crazy. He still has a long way to go before he'll be comfortable and a whopper of a test or two to take, but with continued prayer, hard work, miracles and tender mercies we know that our Father in Heaven will guide Matt and our family through it all. 


Whew, life... crazy and amazing isn't it?