How hard could it be to give a urine sample for a drug screen? I figured I'd go to the Lab when it opened at 8:00AM, pee in the jar, and be at work by 9:00, no one the wiser I was getting closer to a better job.

I'd kept myself clean of caffeine and alcohol for 48 hours prior, even though I was in Montreal, celebrating a successful visa interview with my husband, whom I hadn't seen for 10 months.

But the test demanded a "split sample," meaning two large vials and I couldn't "give enough"! So I was given three hours and a seat in the waiting room next to the water cooler. I was knocking them back like there was no tomorrow, all the while with a whopper sinus headache and a couple of 222's in my purse I dared not take.

I called my boss and said I was delayed. Two hours later, I filled the jar to overflowing, and we're talking Starbuck's grande size. Afterwards, I popped the 222's and pushed my bloated body into the car to drive to work. I felt sick all day long.

Good jobs in New Jersey? Absolutely. But never let anyone tell you it's impossible to get a hangover from drinking a gallon of water!

LOL!!! I had to take a piss test a few weeks ago myself. In my case they had me waiting for 2 hours before I was even called in and by then I was jumping up and down cuz I "had to go". So I gave the nice lady all the piss she could handle and more!

That scares me. Those are the same symptoms that girl had who died after drinking all that water for the Wii. The winner was sick too after, but she was fine the next day.

You don't have to drink so much water that you'll die. Just enough to have a good, long, piss.

Yes, drinking H2O can be risky behaviour, but I did it for the money!

I just noticed she said it was a sinus headache, not from the water. The girl who died kept complaining that her head hurt. The headache got my attention.

Water kills, drink booze!

Yeah beer makes you piss too!

JerseyGirl, is it just me or have NJ wages jumped up a lot suddenly? I am starting a new job on Monday and during the job search I noticed that the salaries employers were offering were wayyyy more than I made until today. I think it may be a Wall Street effect.

Gupt, here's the deal: women make higher salaries in New Jersey than any other State. So get a sex change.

Actually, my sense is that there is competition over certain skillsets between NJ companies and the financials in manhattan. The NJ companies are finally starting to offer the big money and compete for talent. I am very pleased I decided to make this change now... only wish I had done this sooner!

After 911, many financial orgs moved across the Hudson River to places like Weehawkin, NJ. So it's not so much the case that NJ is competing for talent that would ordinarilly commute to The City. In my opinion, The City is spreading out to Jersey.

Salaries in Jersey are still below those in New York, where people have to pay tax to work there, no matter where they reside. But the closer you get to the Lincoln Tunnel, the more likely you are to see some cabbage.

(No facts; I'm making this up.)

My observations line up with that as well. However, I'll add one more region to that - Somerset County. There are an amazing number of very well paying (100k+) jobs out there in IT and pharma.

I had to take one of these tests for a job and failed. The lady said to fill it to the line and I went over.

So I hear this is common in the States... mandatory drug testing for jobs? C'est bizarre. I don't know anyone here in Toronto who has ever had to take a drug test for a job.

Drug screens are fairly common in Jersey. I never had one in Toronto, but can say that there is extensive background checking in both countries for jobs in the financial sector. They check your university degrees, since people are prone to lie about these. And your credit history, since you cannot have been bankrupt if you're in a position where you give financial advice or even write about financial products.

In Toronto, they generally hire you first, and the criminal, credit, and education checks take place during the first month of your employment, often by private detective agencies based in the States. There's rarely a problem.

In Jersey, the month of checking (and drug screens) takes place before you're allowed to enter the building for your first day on the job. There have been so many problems and deal breakers that headhunters recommend you don't give notice at your current job until all the tests are complete. Did you hear of the girl who tested positive for heroin after eating a poppy seed bagel?

Very interesting. Yeah, I work on Bay St. but in I.T. and I know they do criminal checks on advisors and traders though not normally on I.T. staff. Which is kind of screwed up since depending on your position, you'd have access to very very confidential information and client accounts...

My husband has had to take lots of drug tests for jobs before in VA.

Gee, I can't wait until I need to piss in a cup for a job.

It depends on the job and your position. I've never had a drug test for a position, but they don't normally worry about grad students getting high.