The winds of change have blown, and I am changing jobs. I will be joining the Interaction Design team of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It was quite a process to get from the application stage to receiving an offer. I endured a total of six interviews. This was, by far, the most thorough interviewing process I’ve ever experienced.

I originally applied last October, and after a 1-hr interview it was determined I wasn’t a fit. I was disappointed, but I shrugged it off and carried on my way. At about the beginning of March, I received an email from the Church asking about my application. I explained I had applied several months ago, but they were interested in talking again. I had a phone interview with another one of their lead designers which was followed by a long wait (i.e. a couple weeks). During that quiet period, I began to assume the worst. Another job opportunity popped up out of the blue. I interviewed a couple times with a software company and they extended me a generous offer. Just hours before I received that offer, I received an email from the Church inviting me to come in for another interview. Life started getting real complicated.

I interviewed on April 9th for about an hour and a half with a few people at the Church. I made it a point to communicate my urgency since I had another offer on the table, and they were very cooperative. I had another phone interview a couple days later (April 11th) and was then scheduled to come in for the all-day interview. This prospect was rather terrifying. I was pretty nervous, but the process came and went quickly. Anticipating the all-day was actually worse than the day itself. Everyone there was very nice and just as goofy as I. Part of me enjoyed the challenge of being quizzed on my knowledge of Web design, as well as my ability to think creatively and analytically. My contact at the Church told me I might even enjoy the experience, and, surprisingly, I did.

Unfortunately the boss of the bosses was out of town, so he wasn’t present to interview me at the end of the all-day. I went in to see him on Monday morning (April 16th) at the Church Office Building. We met for about an hour and a half and I endured more brainteasers, design flow questions, and other inquiries. At long last, I finished my sixth and final interview.

Within a couple days, I had accepted an offer from the Church. My first day is likely to be April 30th and my boss will be the Galactic Network Interwebster. Yeah, I know, way cool. I greatly look forward to benefiting from his stellar tutelage. More than anything else, I’m looking forward to having deeper purpose to the work I do. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wields the restored truth of God, and has brought immense happiness to me and my family. Nearly 13 million people in 160 countries have joined the Church in the last 177 years because there are tangible truths and beautiful benefits. I recommend learning of them yourself.

Preparing to leave American Express is going to be a difficult road. Amex is a fabulous employer and I work with a talented, friendly group. Job changes are often difficult, and I believe this will be more so because I am not running from a bad situation. I’m simply pursuing a new opportunity.

I’m sure plenty of updates are to follow as I start drinking from the fire hose of new experience.