The Subordinate

Meet Francis

He interviewed me on Friday at three in the afternoon, it was casual on a cáfe which is non-stereotypical. Perhaps it is an informal interview then jumping on to the more formal setting. I saw him standing by the underground station, as he said it was our meeting point.

I recognised him immediately from the the photo on his website, bald, tall and not much for the looks. You can tell from his height why he was chosen to join a national sports team (that sadly never made it into the Olympics) - he is four inches taller than the national average of male gen X-ers. He was a wearing a plain medium-shade grey t-shirt, a pair of straight cut jeans and a polished pair of black shoes. Understated. Simple. Trying not to impress.

Meanwhile, I was wearing a light blue shirt, no necktie, a pair of Diesel jeans, and a pair of brown shoes. Our fashion difference perhaps shows on our generational gap.

'Hi, I'm Joseph Batten-Higgs,' I extended my arm for a firm handshake. He led me to the way to the café.

This wasn't my first informal, yet super official interview. One of my school interviews were rather casual - typically for papermill schools. I also has those serious interviews that were brief and short, but from an elite university just making sure that you have good enough aptitude on a high pressure questioning.

I ordered my usual latte - the babysteps of any coffee drinker. After all, I was fresh out of university. Francis ordered for a cup of hot chocolate - pretty standard for a Friday afternoon, when one ought to be relaxing.

Naively, I thought... coffee for me on a Friday 3pm? I did it to look professional. To appear strong. Even though really, let's face it, an espresso would have been the true macho coffee drink.

Francis sat across me with his arms crossed, while observing me from a distance. I never had this kind of interaction of close examining me - never from law firms and a big four firm and never even from the gay bars I used to go to hang out with my then girlfriend.

'I hate lawyers.' He icily said.

I frowned a little, confused. At that moment, I didn't know whether to challenge him or to be respectful. I then remembered why would a guy like him - dare challenge an archeology graduate at Cambridge and law graduate Durham. We both attended private schools, only that mine was better as it is a boarding one, and some a prince from the continent had studied there.

'Then why did you call me for interview if you think you will just hate me for the subject I've recently studied?'

He was still for a while, and I was tempted to tweedle my thumbs.

'Good question. What are you as a person, without your degrees?'

Hearing his follow-up question was a relief for me.

'I am an outdoor man - trail running, and that I've developed a love for running through the hills of California. That's just something I've picked up on a summer school in Pasadena. With it comes marathon, when I realised I can share my hobbies by partaking in charities. I also volunteered on ocean cleaning drive in my friend's foundation based out in Ecuador.' 

Francis nodded, 'I was in the water polo national team.'

'I like you, you have a character and drive in life. Without your job, you wouldn't be boring like most people I've interviewed.'

I politely smiled, even when this could have been a job interview at Cravath, or Watkins, or HSBC.

'Why did you study law? The lawyers I met have no character. Why did you apply to my consultancy?'

'Firstly, it was my intention to be a barrister whilst my archeology degree was just out of academic passion. (Indiana Jones and King Solomon's Mines, to be precise. I actually never really liked Indiana Jones, until I had came across Big Bang Theory. Wondering, if a film degree would have done more justice than archaeology... something he would never need to know. And most importantly, the irrelevance of archaeology, would increase my probability of an Oxbridge admission). Law part, was the actual profession ambition.

Until I've done my mini pupilage, had I realised the court scene is not for me. So I have had an internship in a solicitor's firm in which litigation is not for me also.

I enjoyed my job in Standard Chartered, and thought that the experience I've had in the bank and financial services and my law internships would make me suited for consultancy. Though I know you specialise in mergers, I've had experiences in them in the bank and in the law firm.'

He nodded, and I realised his arms were no longer crossed but open.

'Can you start on Monday?' His tone was firm and decisive.

'I look forward to Monday,' taking a sip of my latte.

We shook hands to it.

'See you at the office, he handed me his business card for the address.' I placed it inside my wallet, and decided to read it later in his absence.

We walked towards the underground station, and he headed towards the flats nearby. I realised he lives in the area.