It was already really hot when I left the apartment at 7:30am. It’s just such a difference from normal SD weather, and you really notice it – especially at such an early hour.
I had a few things to take care of at work this morning, and then read my book until it was time to train the girl who will be replacing me. She’s a doll, and very smart, so it was fun and easy.
The first thing I did was teach her our expense report system. I really enjoy doing that particular job. It’s a great system (and she agreed) and it’s actually fun! It does all the math for you, there’s minimal data input, and you just pull all the charges from AM EX and match it up to the receipts you get.
Since expense reports are due tomorrow, I figured this was a good start to her training. First, I showed her how to do it all, she took good notes, and I made a bunch of entries. Then, I let her sit at the wheel and she finished it herself. We didn't get to submit it, because there are a few charges that still didn't come through, so we figured we'd wait and see if they're listed tomorrow.
Next, I explained to her about all the PowerPoint presentations I have to do. She is less experienced in PowerPoint that I was (and I was very inexperienced), but I told her that you never have to create slides. You just receive them via email from different people in the firm and incorporate them into a template document. The only complicated thing is that everything has to be updated every quarter, so you can’t go back and use the same document from last quarter, even if everything is exactly the same. You constantly have to create new documents to keep everything up-to-date.
There are certain people in the firm whose entire job is updating all the documents quarterly. It seems like they just finish updating the last document (there are lots and lots) and it’s time to start all over again. I think if I had that job I’d find it endlessly frustrating, because you’re never really done!
I showed her where on the network you find the documents and tomorrow I’ll show her how to update one of them with new slides, and then let her do it, too. The most complicated part is that, because of some problems with the newest version of PowerPoint, when you import slides from one document to another a lot of the formatting gets messed up. Fonts change, colors change, layout can even change. So, you have to go through each slide and make sure it looks like the document you took it from.
I told her that I’ve been very lucky, because there’s always someone in the group to ask for help. That’s one thing about this firm – they’re all very supportive and helpful.
After that, I took her into my boss’ office and gave her the “low down” on him. I said that basically after 4 months I figured out that he’s a really nice guy, but doesn’t always have the best “bedside manner.” He can be rather brusque, condescending and critical, but – on the other hand – he’s very easy-going, likes to gab, and backs down easily when confronted (as I found out lately).
She really appreciated that input. I think she must have heard things about him, because she seemed to already know about his flaws. I know he has a reputation in the office as being difficult, because things were said to me when I first interviewed four months ago, and people in the department have said things to me over the past few months, leading me to believe that he’s not a “firm favorite.”
I told her that she just has to take everything he says with a grain of salt, and not get offended. She has to know that it’s him and not her. She told me she’s not really sensitive, which will serve her well. Basically, working for him is easy, because he’s very laid back (which he told her himself). He usually knows about projects weeks in advance, so there’s very little last-minute, rush-rush work. There aren't a lot of fires to put out (as Jimmy likes to say!).
She’s supposed to train with me every day from 12-3, but today I had to leave at 2:00pm, because HR had set up an appointment with me in another department to interview for another long-term temp job. One of the girls in the department is leaving the firm, and another is going on vacation for 3 weeks (both starting the second week in June), so they need someone to replace them BOTH for 3 weeks, and then stay when the one girl returns, until they replace the second girl. It could be another few months – at least through July.
I’m happy about it, because it means I’ll get to stay with the firm longer. The girl I’m training is officially starting July 1st, but she’ll be devoting more and more time to the new job, and I’ll definitely be done training her in a few weeks, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to start this new job the first week in June (while the 2 girls are still there) and then I’ll be on my own starting the second week in June. Shadowing them for a week will make it much easier for me when I'm on my own.
The party’s pretty much over, because this new job is much more complicated than the one I have now. I know I’ve been bored, and the days drag on and on, but I’ve kind of gotten spoiled and I DO have a lot more Dick Francis mysteries to read!
This job is less about supporting an executive working with clients, and more about supporting a group that works behind the scenes – tech guys, consultants on special in-house projects, and all the support staff of the firm. It entails taking hand-written minutes at meetings (something I’ve never done before), maintaining spreadsheets, and updating data. There’s also a lot of stuff I AM used to doing – like expense reports (whee!), scheduling meetings, ordering food, and completing timesheets.
The good news is, I’ll have them to train me, but that means I’ll get trained in the morning, and train the new girl in the afternoon, which means it’s going to get pretty hectic. I always get really nervous when I start something new, until I get going and realize it’s not so hard. Know what I mean? It’s always daunting until you’ve done it a few times.
Both girls I’m replacing told me they’re making a manual of their jobs and will have step-by-step instructions for each function of the job, which really gave me more confidence. Between their training and the manuals I’ll have, there should be no problem. There’s also another girl in the office who had the same job for years, so she’s a good resource if I have any questions. In all, it should be fine, but I always get nervous about change. Who doesn’t?
Today I just met with the two girls I’m replacing, and they gave me the thumbs up. So, tomorrow I have to meet with one of the bosses. They told me it’s just a formality, because they definitely want me to take the job. I actually think they’re pretty lucky I’m around, because otherwise they’d have to hire a temp who doesn’t know anything about the firm, and I think that definitely gives me a leg up on anyone else they might have hired. I already know a lot of the systems, I know where everything is and who most of the key people are, and that makes it much easier for me to transition than it would be for a new temp.
When I got home, I was exhausted. I went to bed late last night, and had a pretty busy day (considering), so I immediately took a nap. I was going to watch Dr. Phil, but there was an explosion at a hotel they’re building downtown, so Dr. Phil wasn’t on – it was an hour of news about the explosion.
I woke up a little before 8:00pm. Eric heated up NUTRISYSTEM entrées for us both and we watched DANCING WITH THE STARS. It’s getting very exciting. I’m pretty positive Kristi Yamaguchi is going to win (I’m voting for her online), but they all put on a great show tonight. With DWTS over tomorrow, and AMERICAN IDOL over this week, I’m really losing reality shows every week. I know there’s always a new show right behind it, but I kind of feel let down when a show ends. I know, I’m weird.
There wasn’t anything I wanted to watch after DWTS, so I came out and worked on the computer, paying bills and blogging.
I won’t start my training with the new group until Wednesday, so tomorrow I’ll just have my meeting in the morning and then train my replacement from 12-3. She’s sweet and fun, so I don’t mind it at all. I just hope I enjoy being trained as much as I’m enjoying doing the training!