I worked in the office on the weekend. I called Lynda on Saturday evening to brief her about my lunch with Gareth. I told her that Gareth and his girlfriend broke up. She said she remembers her–she was young and shy. She said Gareth will find somebody else in Ottawa.
She asked how long our lunch was. I said he arrived in my office around 11:45 AM and he left around 2:30 PM. Wow! She said that was a long lunch. I hope you accomplished something.
It was indeed very beneficial for me as I learned a great deal about the federal procurement system. Plus he spoke to me about his company.
Lynda said I hope you are going to be here on the weekend. It is our turn to entertain my sorority sisters and their husbands.
I said I will be there for sure. How many folks are you expected to entertain?
She said you never remember anything, do you? I spoke to you more than once about deciding to participate in the program that is known as “Who’s coming for dinner?”
I said please explain to me one more time. I promise to remember it this time.
She said all we need to know is that there will be two couples at our place for dinner, but we don’t know their names. That’s why we call it “Who’s coming for dinner?”
The following week we are going out to somebody’s house and they won’t know we are one of the two couples, either.
I said it sounds like fun. I said have you guessed who those two couples could be at our place. She said I have an idea but I am not sure.
Before we hung up I told her she got me excited about the weekend. I was already looking forward to it.
Monday I had a couple of meetings in the morning. In the afternoon I decided to make some cold calls to keep myself busy.
I heard from Gareth on Tuesday morning. He informed me that he had a meeting on Monday with the lady who’s responsible for placing consultants in various companies and departments. Once she browsed my resumé, she said she wasn’t sure if she would come across any senior opportunity to match my qualifications. But she will keep an eye out for opportunities for sure. He also said she may decide to meet with me for coffee some time to get to know me.
I thanked Gareth.
Gill called me on Friday and asked me to meet for coffee for 15 minutes somewhere on Baseline/Merivale before she goes to see her client who expressed interest in my background. She insisted I bring my current references.
Gill also told me that she is meeting with the director of strategic planning in Canada Post and his name is Ron Keating. She informed me that she had been trying for months to get connected with Keating. She kept sending resumés of senior consultants, but he never got back to her. She said the exception was when she sent him my resumé; he got back to her right away. She continued by saying that she doesn’t understand most of the things that I have in my resumé. However, Keating wants to check my references before he decides to see me, which could take a few days.
On another note, she said Gareth told her all about my accomplishments in the bank where he and I both worked.
She left as soon as she finished her coffee.
I went home on Friday and decided not to mention to Lynda about my meeting with Gill. I wasn’t sure if anything was going to come of it. I didn’t like to give Lynda false hope.
As usual Adam was busy with his school and friends, but I managed to spend some quality time with Lynda.
I told Lynda that I would be going to Fredericton in a couple of weeks to attend a company picnic, which was a way of thanking the employees for a profitable year.
Lynda said I hope you get to see Gord and his girls when you’re in Fredericton.
I said I will do my best to find some time. It also depends on how busy they would be.
Driving back to Ottawa on Sunday afternoon was always an opportunity for me to plan what I should be doing the following week. While I was hopeful that something would come along, I was not sure about the overall effect of the contract on my efforts to promote the company.
I heard from Gill in the middle of the week. She said that Keating would like to meet with me on Thursday morning at 8:00.
I asked Gill if she got any feedback on my experience or anything like that.
She said no, he didn’t mention anything. But if he wanted to see me that is indeed very positive feedback for me and I could not ask for anything more.
Gill also told me that Canada Post is located in the Nortel building which was at the intersection of Baseline and Merivale.
I got there a few minutes early just to look around. When I told my name to the receptionist, she gave me the impression that she was expecting me.
Once I got in Ron’s office, he offered me coffee. We grabbed coffee and came back to his office. I sat across from his desk. He started browsing my resumé and said you have an interesting resumé, Mir.
I said my wife and I are immigrants and it doesn’t matter to us where we live as long as we make a living.
He asked what attracted me to Fredericton.
I said that wasn’t by choice.
He said please explain it to me.
I said I worked for somebody in Toronto who decided to accept a very high position with the Government of New Brunswick. He called me and said he needed me. I always felt like I owed him because of the way he had treated me while I was working for him.
Ron said it’s funny. That’s what happened to him, too. He said he worked for the guy in Nortel and when he accepted a position with Canada Post, he called him and here he was.
I said loyalty means something to both of us.
He said you’re right.
He continued browsing my resumé and said I am totally impressed with your experience. I spoke to your reference at Citibank and he said he would hire you back without any hesitation.
I said he has always been too kind to me. I had no experience whatsoever with strategic planning but he took the risk of hiring me. Luckily, it worked out alright.
Ron said I am struggling here in Canada Post to come up with some meaningful approach to strategic planning. I think you can help me.
I said I want you to understand that I don’t have any experience working in the post office.
He said I would get somebody to work with you who have the relevant experience, but I am looking for a leader to head up the team.
I said are you sure I have the skills you are looking for, Ron.
He said after listening to your reference, I am totally confident that you can help me. Furthermore, he said, your reference also told me that you are very good working with clients. I need that here badly.
I said don’t you need to talk to my other references, Ron.
He said I made up my mind and I would like you to come on board as soon as you can.
I said in that case, I can be there on Monday.
He got up and shook hands with me and took me out to introduce to some people. Then he showed me my office (a cubicle) which was located just outside of his office.
He walked with me to the elevators to say goodbye.
As soon as I got back to my office, Gill called and asked me how it went. I said everything seemed to be alright as I am starting to work there on Monday.
She said I didn’t hear from Keating. Instead of calling him, I would rather wait to hear from him.
I said he appeared to be a very busy man. I am sure he will get back to you.
She asked if anything came up about my per diem rate.
I said I stayed away from that kind of question as I feel that’s your area of expertise. Ron didn’t mention anything either.
She said to be totally honest with you; I never placed any consultant like you. You have so much experience and wonderful references.
I said let’s see what Ron comes up with before we start worrying and we hung up.
I was going over the conversation that I had with Ron in my mind. He appeared to be a reasonable man but I wouldn’t know for sure until I started asking all kinds of questions.
Gill called around 5:00 to let me know that she heard from Ron.
I said what’s the good word?
She said she was pleasantly surprised to hear how much he wanted to pay me per diem, which never happened to her before. She said the question that I need to ask you is what you did to poor Ron. He never stopped telling me how wonderful you were. I said please don’t believe anything he said as he has no idea about me yet. He’s only going by what he heard from my reference at Citibank.
She said don’t be that modest, Mir.
Before we hung up I told Gill that I would give her a call Monday afternoon just to keep her posted.
