started new role and a current employee is making me uncomfortable

[USERNAME213]

Just that really. I started a great new role a month or so ago. My boss is great. One of the girls on the team is clearly quite ambitious - nothing wrong with that - but she keeps asking me leading questions in front of my boss to trip me up, and always with a look on her face like she's Jeremy bloody paxman or something. It's hard to explain but for example - she's asked me several times since I've joined in a loud voice why I left my old job (i just wanted a new challenge) and the other day when my boss' boss asked me if I was settling in ok, before I even had a chance to reply she said - "don't worry! I'm getting all he gossip for you!" Which made me seriously annoyed. How can I shut her down? It's just her general demeanour around me screams - I don't like you. I'd just like to come in each day and not deal with her insecurities.

Anyone who asks the same question like that would just get "we discussed this last week don't you remember?" Also if not relevant to the meeting "why don't we talk about that after the meeting, as it doesn't really apply here"

If people answer questions on my behalf I usually make a crack like "and I said all that without moving my lips"

The last line is great - I'm bad a delivering things like that as I am afraid of people thinking I'm being to sarcy as I don't have "the way" of saying it!

I would think the boss knows all about the 'ways' of this colleague if she has been at the organisation for a while. I wouldn't worry about it too much and I would just rise above it. Just answer the questions that your boss has asked you after the silly woman has put her twopence in. She will look silly and you will look mature and rational. Don't over think it and focus on letting your work and not office politics do the talking for you.

Just let her make an arse of herself, I wouldn't bother with comebacks unless they are incredibly neutral.people will see her for what she is and you will get credit for not jumping in.

Don't worry. I work with one of these and we've all got her measure. It is irritating though. She's tried to stitch me up a few times.