The Corporate Ladder

With only two people in my company, it would seem that I am forever doomed to the position of lackey. My boss, a 25 year veteran of the construction industry, will always cause my own experience in the field to look like child's play. Nevertheless, although there is only one person above me, there is a way for me to move up in standing: encourage my boss to contract out to other companies.

When my boss does this, for example on a big job where there is too much for us to do on our own, two things happen. On the one hand, my own slowness and inexperience become all the more obvious, as other veterans fly around doing perfect work. On the other, I become the number two guy on the project, becoming the go-to guy when Harold is off the site. The result is of course ridiculous. A veteran will approach me and ask, for example, if its OK if he knocks out a support on a wall so that he can do some other work. I have no idea, so I say "I really dont know." When the person misinterprets this as a request for more information, he'll say "I just want to get that board out of the way so I can do the work. Can I take it out?" And I will say "I really dont know. But Harold will be back any minute." The guy is confused and wanders off to do something else.

But other times I come out looking OK. For example, when the owner of the house told me that we left spaces between the roof trusses in order to fit in some dormers, then when the crane operator asks why there are spaces, I say, "That's where the trusses go." And if he says "Are you just framing the walls off the block?", I am doomed again.

Not too long ago Harold left the job site, and when I had finished my work, I took it upon myself to go around and let everyone know I was leaving. This seemed like a simple enough thing to do, even if it wasnt necessary. But even then I found myself overetended when I asked the heating and cooling guys if they were coming back the next week. They told me that they would be there for the next week and a few after that. Since I had no idea what they were doing, I just let it go at that. "Alright, I'm taking off."

But redemption came last week when I was loading some piles of broken brick into a trailer, and the head mason noticed my work. Seeing the trailer full to overflowing, he asked "Did you load all them brick?" and I said that I did. He made an appreciative face and nodded his approval. And I went off feeling great about myself. Too bad the trailer had already been full when I started putting the broken pieces on top. But hey - for once, I knew more than the veterans. Good thing he didnt ask me any more questions...