Assistant Update - Day #3 at the end...(mrstjohnson)

ewww... that would be rough.  Maybe she just had a bad commute?  But then again, my first day on the job, I would NEVER act like that.  Good luck! 

Eww. Well, give her the benefit of the doubt. First impressions aren't always what they are cracked up to be. Maybe she will have a great quirky personality and be a breath of fresh air (positive thinking vibes!!!) 

Jewlieee

(positive thinking vibes!!!) 

Keep them coming.  She just walked into my office (the door was closed) without knocking and I was pumping (BF stuff).  Yeah, that's why I have the door closed, duh.  Her reaction was horrific...well, so would mine.  Next time knock!!!  Can you imagine!!???  I then had to answer about 30 questions about what I was doing.  It's going to be a long week!

 There's something called privacy--that's why you have an office of your own--so you can have some!  I don't know--if she walked in on you without knocking and didn't gracefully bow out (instead of standing there to ask questions about what I would think was a pretty straightforward procedure. ) then I think she's got some issues.  Even though they hired her for you, are you now in charge of her?  Like, are you allowed to fire her?  If the week continues in the same line as it has started I don't know if she'd even make it to the end of the week if I were in charge of her fate.  If she walked in and rather than saying hello and learning some about you before plopping her sh*t down at her desk, I would have been tempted to say 'Oh, look at all of that stuff you brought!  Sorry, do you want help taking that back out to your car?' 

ouch !!!! I feel for you really I do.      If you could pick your ideal assistant from a character on a tv show who would it be ????   Silly question I know but by using a tv character we can all get a giggle and mental picture...

I am torn between two.... the guy on the Macy's commercial , Gabriel .......oh my lawdy...... wouldn't he be fun to have file your papers and make appointments

OR if I wanted to really work I would want Garcia from Criminal Minds, she rocks on the computer and I am a cyber troglodyte  hee hee  hang in there and with any luck at the very worst the list will get a great story or three about your new girl Friday...

Bonita of Bwana

I don't know who my ideal person is, but I do I have some key characteristics:

- Excellent personality

- Hard worker

- Smart - not necessarily book smart, but smart enough to have good common sense

- Understand the programs we use

- Works well with people

I am not that picky, but I do need someone that isn't a weirdo.  Since this morning she has handed me a list of items she "needs" for her cube.  Literally, it is 50 items long including things like white boards, headset for her phone, etc. etc.  I told her that I am not sure how many of these things we can get right away since they have to be approved through the corporate office.  She didn't seem to like that answer.  Oh well.  This isn't office max and I have been more than able to work with just my computer, pad of paper and a pen for more than a month so deal.

Yes, Jessica, I do have the ability to fire her.  I am going to wait and see.  If she is good at her job, then I can work with that.  There are a lot of people here that need the work and I understand and can be flexible; however, if she can't contribute in a meaningful way then there's nothing else I can do. 

P.S. I showed her a picture of Charlie and her response was...oh, I am a cat person.  Yeah, whatever.

Holy CRAP Lisa!  I am an assistant and I would NEVER act like that!  Hoo-boy. 

For those of us NOT in your shoes, I will speak for all of us when I say we are looking forward to some interesting posts from you with all the stories you're going to have with this one...

Oye!  I am wondering what she dragged in and STILL needed 50 items in order to work.  I get the impression she was a current employee that they moved into this job?  Maybe I am assuming on that one, but she certainly sounds like the type of attitude that doesn't care and isn't happy to be there...  eek!

miranadobe

Oye!  I am wondering what she dragged in and STILL needed 50 items in order to work.  I get the impression she was a current employee that they moved into this job?  Maybe I am assuming on that one, but she certainly sounds like the type of attitude that doesn't care and isn't happy to be there...  eek!

Nope, she was a new hire.  I don't know what they were thinking!!!

I know what she brought in...about 20 pictures of unicorns.  Yep, that's right, unicorns in a corporate office.  I told her that she couldn't put all of them up...maybe just a few on her desk (she wanted to hang them on the walls).  She's not super young either.  She's in her mid forties I would imagine, so the unicorn thing is just the icing on the cake.  I have nothing against unicorns, but they really don't have a place in the office, that's all.  I honestly feel like I am in candid camera or this is somehow a big joke they are playing on me, but I know that's not it.  Oye!!

 Ok, when I read your OP I thought "well give her the benefit of the doubt", but as you typed more of what happened throughout today I'm thinking yeah, maybe she isn't going to work out so well. Common sense, never bust into someone's office when the door is closed..never! Not to mention, first day at work you definitely want to be polite as can be, especially to the person you are assisting! oy!

Yikes!!!!  That doesn't sound good, Lisa.

My last assistant was terrible.  I was so glad when I was promoted, & with my new title came a new, competent assistant.  Even though I didn't hire her, she fits my personality to a T.

mrstjohnson

P.S. I showed her a picture of Charlie and her response was...oh, I am a cat person.  Yeah, whatever.

She's fired isn't she.  I can tell.   

Edit - when I start in a new job, I knock at EVERY door politely and say, "Excuse me?", whether it's open or closed.  You soon get to know which doors you can walk through and which ones you need to knock.  But at first, you err on the side of courtesy, if you have an ounce of common sense and/or decency! 

Lisa, this just gets better and better.  Unicorns?  You should write all this down and send it to The Office producers.

I will enjoy reading your threads with a and  (popcorn would work better but there is no icon for that). 

mrstjohnson

miranadobe

Oye!  I am wondering what she dragged in and STILL needed 50 items in order to work.  I get the impression she was a current employee that they moved into this job?  Maybe I am assuming on that one, but she certainly sounds like the type of attitude that doesn't care and isn't happy to be there...  eek!

Nope, she was a new hire.  I don't know what they were thinking!!!

I know what she brought in...about 20 pictures of unicorns.  Yep, that's right, unicorns in a corporate office.  I told her that she couldn't put all of them up...maybe just a few on her desk (she wanted to hang them on the walls).  She's not super young either.  She's in her mid forties I would imagine, so the unicorn thing is just the icing on the cake.  I have nothing against unicorns, but they really don't have a place in the office, that's all.  I honestly feel like I am in candid camera or this is somehow a big joke they are playing on me, but I know that's not it.  Oye!!

OMG is her name Melissa, lol.  My friend is obsessed with unicorns.  Yes, she is very immature....