I was nauseous after my meeting with Vera, our new boss. I circled the office looking busy, but really looking for my trusted friend Alex who was working on his slides when I edged up close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy first meeting with Vera was brutal Alex. She kept asking me insane questions, like \u2018What do you expect the shortfall will be end-of-month Brian?\u2019 And she wanted the low down on some of the clients I\u2019ve never even met.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alex was in work mode, hidden in a quiet dark office space, as he likes it. I know the spot well, we\u2019ve had many convos here, away from the mob of contract employees they keep hiring and letting go at Williams Insurance. He\u2019s my goto for office gossip, the kind that can cost your job if you don\u2019t stay alert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Focused on his screen, mumbling \u201c48,500 should be right<\/em>\u2026, huh, I think she\u2019s testing you Brian. Like finding out who\u2019s the apex analyst in finance.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut she frowned when we wrapped up, she wasn\u2019t happy with my half-answers. She looked right through me like I didn\u2019t know my arse from a hole in the ground. I\u2019m screwed.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking up from his screen, \u201cIt\u2019s your first meeting with Vera and she knows you\u2019re a junior analyst. Like I said, just testing the waters. It\u2019s what I would do if I were her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat would you do if you were me, <\/em>Alex? I mean, what do I do? She asked me to attend a meeting with shareholders, take notes for her. Am I now her notetaker? I\u2019m on a short lease. Gawd.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n More mumbling, \u201c168,000 year end\u2026<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n I pause, waiting for something, some glimmer of hope. Rolling his chair back exposing his leather shoes and ready-for-golf-with-clients wardrobe, finally switching his focus to me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBrian, build trust with her. Stay calm, do her notes and add your insights. Your insights have been well regarded by everyone. I\u2019m golfing with her tomorrow, I\u2019ll put in a good word for you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I was nauseous after my meeting with Vera, our new boss. I circled the office looking busy, but really looking for my trusted friend Alex who was working on his slides when I edged up close. \u201cMy first meeting with … Continue reading