Getting Oriented to Agency Life...

And so it was that RC the GREMLIN fully embraced his Special Agent assignment: Finding a way for the newest batch of interns to understand the expectations – behavior-wise of living the agency life.

Let’s listen in for WHAT. HAPPENS. NEXT…–The Gang.

We’ll begin at the beginning.

[Note: There’s a handy short video that summarizes the points. Get it here.]

FADE IN:

INT. HL AGENCY – WEBSTER ST

It’s the first week of an INTERN SUMMER like no other…

RC THE GREMLIN
Yup! This week a large group of INTERNS are getting the feel for AGENCY LIFE… Six years POST-COVID, this agency is still operating on a hybrid schedule with many folks WORKING FROM HOME.

That being said, the folks who make their way in are ON TASK.

…There’s lots of creative being … created.

We shoot onsite — studio upstairs and… in our parking lot where you’ll see many up and coming Toyotas.

Working onsite is about collaborative efforts too… meeting rooms occupied by teams (with and without clients)…

That’s why there’s sign-up near the doors — to know who has booked the room.

This is the point where RC is showing the various conference rooms from the row behind FINANCE to the BOARD ROOM to the little rooms near the kitchen.

RC THE GREMLIN
Pro TIP #1… Alway defer to the bosses. That’s right. Go to the HL web page and memorize the picture of TREY and JAY and… then work your way to next level…

Pro-Tip !

To do a throwback… even before TREY & JAY were born, it was traditional to stand when an adult walked into the room. You need that kind of mindset.

Greet and offer a seat.

AWARENESS is job one!

Then RC walks through the workstation zones.

RC THE GREMLIN
Now, the cool thing… NO CUBICLES… Such a 90s and before thing.

Open office NO cubicles!!

Offices are MORE OPEN. That being said… You need to be even more aware … as the song goes, VOICES CARRY.

You don’t want to be a distraction for folks getting things done, so be aware of your surroundings and … voice level and even WHAT you’re talking about.

Pitching an idea or sharing an observation?? We love that you’re excited and thinking, but READ THE ROOM.

It may be more appropriate to step outside to share your thoughts– NO WORRIES! The trains won’t mind.

Train don’t care…

RC has opened the lobby door just as a ginormous freight train chugs by. Waving towards it, he shuts and continues his tour.

To the KITCHEN they go.

…This is a SHARED SPACE. Again, AWARENESS is job one.

RC THE GREMLIN
The joys of JACK LONDON SQUARE… It is a beautiful location… But food-wise, can be challenging. In the years pre-and-post COVID, many eateries have come and gone.

Points out the window.

RC THE GREMLIN
The ORANGE BURRITO TRUCK is a regular. And ask the guys, they’ll tell you where the sandwiches can be had… Lots of folks leverage DOOR DASH & UBER EATS…

Which reminds me of another Pro TIP:

Pro-Tip !

YOU ORDER IT, YOU ANSWER THE DOOR!!

There is NO office manager or receptionist… or dedicated door person.

No receptionist…

A lot of times, the boys upstairs in IT get stuck answering the door — dropping what they are doing to scramble down the stairs … for a lunch drop off…

…How wrong is that? Well, IT gets hungry too.

You’re lucky they don’t say THANK-YOU and settle in.

And Seriously… Why make IT angry?

RC shows how to BUZZ someone in.

Then back to the KITCHEN.

Kitchen view -right side…

RC THE GREMLIN
Where was I… Oh yeah… part of the limited offsite selection is that management has decided to keep the fridge stocked with beverages…

The counter has an assortment of snacks…

We are brewing the best in LOCAL COFFEE from PEERLESS down the street.

He’s giving an orientation of what’s what and where’s where, including the second fridge.

Check it out. The LEFT FRIDGE is company provided beverages ONLY.

Beverage Fridge…

That RIGHT one? Lunch boxes and leftovers and … on the door, there is ALMOND MILK AND OAT MILK for your coffee. Note there are little creamers are on the counter. So please choose wisely if you need to refrigerate you food.

Pointing to the AIRPOTS of Coffee.

Coffee Zone…

RC THE GREMLIN
We try to keep two going… Making a pot is SIMPLE — filters are above the machine, the pouches are in the cabinet below. Scissors in the drawer. The guys will tell you we run 3 pots a day as folks switch up in the afternoon. BE AWARE if the airpot is spouting AIR.

Points to the KEURIG…

RC THE GREMLIN
For ONE-OFFs and DECAF. We have ample supplies of tea bags too. HOT WATER from the FILTERED WATER Spout in the sink or from the COFFEE MAKER.

RC now walks to the long table in the middle of the kitchen.

Fill the lows…

RC THE GREMLIN
See this? FORKS, SPOONS, KNIVES, SPORKS along with NAPKINS, two sizes of paper plates, several sizes of cups… The company PROVIDES these… and, wait for it… AWARENESS is job one. This is where you can set a GREAT EXAMPLE for your co-workers:

Plates & Cups stash…

FILL THE LOWS…

Fill the Lows…

Points to the PANTRY’s paper product and utensil side as well as the under counter storage of paper plates / cups.

RC THE GREMLIN
Notice I said LOWS not OUTS… Let’s not wait until the containers are empty and you can’t remember what goes where. If it is close to being out, FILL IT.

[BREAK TIME]

This is where the TOUR stops to refuel… coffee, beverages, snacks and gathers in the chairs at the kitchen counter or middle table.

Gathering spot…

RC THE GREMLIN
Snack and observe my friends…

[5-minutes later]

RC THE GREMLIN
Okay… time keeps on ticking… into the future, so let’s get back at it.

He shows the picture on the left fridge and then points to the ORANGE SEAT cushion.

RC THE GREMLIN
Same rule applies about FILLING LOWS. We have a person who sets us up for the week with beverages and snacks– leaving us a local stash for refilling. PLEASE be PROACTIVE: