The Firm

I have entered a world where I have clients, not customers. I work for something called The Firm instead of the company. Supposedly, I am in the "elite" 1 percent of those that apply to the firm...I got hired. In this case, I was told that I have joined an organization that is harder to get into than the ivy league schools. WOW. I should be impressed. Unfortunately, I know enough about my hiring process as well as having taken enough statistics to realize that any information can be "tailored" to meet a specific goal...in this case, it espouses the eliteness of the firm. Since my employment started, I have been corrected slightly under a million tims for my use of customer vs. client. I have experienced something akin to being in a sorority...everyone give you that knowing look. I have had doors open that I thought woudl take months, but was told that "the firm supports individaul development as well as personal development." I have run into people at the gym that work for THE FIRM...they now approach me as if I have suddenly come alive. I feel like Abby McDeere: "Somewhere, inside, in the dark, the firm is listening." I find this new world quite interesting. I have access to things that are absolutely amazing (discounts on pretty much everything, travel booking, online course, etc). I have never worked in an environment that considers image important. I worked government..enough said. While I like the thought of taking pride in yourself and how you present yourself each day, I find the level of attention paid to it quite humorous. Sometimes I push the dress code with my lack of formal apparal (a sweater over a button down collared shirt instead of a blazer)...which results in some VERY disapproving looks. This thirtysomething is WAY out of her realm of comfort. I keep thinking how perfect this position would have been for me directly out of college...when I did consider image a vital part of a job. Now, I find it all very comical. I better watch out though...you never know what THE FIRM knows and when they are watching...