Never, never, never be rude to a secretary (or receptionist). ALWAYS be nice to the secretary. No matter if it is at a company you work for or one you are visiting. The secretary can make or break you.
Need to cut through red tape? Who do you think manages most of it? Your paperwork can go through quickly or can sit on a desk for a few days... or even get "lost".
Back in university, I needed a paper signed by several faculty. I knew some didn't like each other and some were only in at certain times of the day. I asked the department secretary for advice on who to approach and when - rather than give me that info, she said "just leave it with me, come back this afternoon". Saved me a lot of time (she really did not need to do this, but we were friendly), and every one of the faculty would sign anything she told them to.
I've also seen a guy destroy himself. I was working and we were doing interviews. I walked in to the CEO's office - he was just finishing an interview with a candidate. Never found out how it went - the CEO's secretary walked in and told him "if you hire the guy that just left, I quit.". The CEO gave her a questioning look, but she simply put up a hand to indicate "not saying any more". CEO tore the guys resume in half and theatrically put it in the garbage. Secretary walked back to her desk. I never did find out what he had said or done to her, but he trashed his interview before it even started.
Need to cut through red tape? Who do you think manages most of it? Your paperwork can go through quickly or can sit on a desk for a few days... or even get "lost".
Back in university, I needed a paper signed by several faculty. I knew some didn't like each other and some were only in at certain times of the day. I asked the department secretary for advice on who to approach and when - rather than give me that info, she said "just leave it with me, come back this afternoon". Saved me a lot of time (she really did not need to do this, but we were friendly), and every one of the faculty would sign anything she told them to.
I've also seen a guy destroy himself. I was working and we were doing interviews. I walked in to the CEO's office - he was just finishing an interview with a candidate. Never found out how it went - the CEO's secretary walked in and told him "if you hire the guy that just left, I quit.". The CEO gave her a questioning look, but she simply put up a hand to indicate "not saying any more". CEO tore the guys resume in half and theatrically put it in the garbage. Secretary walked back to her desk. I never did find out what he had said or done to her, but he trashed his interview before it even started.