When the VP of Northwestern Sales, Charles Miner, comes to Dunder Mifflin in the fifth season, Michael Scott is for through a loop. Miner wasn't this poised and fun guy Michael met earlier. He was a stricter version of Toby.
The Office fans know that Michael decided to leave Dunder Mifflin after meeting Charles but Jim didn't the same luxury. Charles was an intimidating force and didn't like Jim from the start. As smart and suave as Jim typically is, he crumbled around Charles and became one of the most cringe-worthy characters in his presence.
Jim's Tuxedo
Jim never had a chance to be on Charles' good side. On Charles' first day at Dunder Mifflin, Jim was wearing a full tuxedo to prank Dwight. A day earlier, Dwight sent an email to the staff preaching about office professionalism, so Jim took his words to the extreme and wore a tux. But when Jim explained the prank to Charles, no giggles were shared. No smiles appeared. It was tense and made Jim look like the office's bad seed.
The Horrific Soccer Game
Seeing how intimidating Charles was, Jim did everything he could to get on his good side. He found out that Charles was a huge soccer fan and planted the seed that he lived and died for soccer. Stanley also followed along with kissing up. With so many soccer "fans," the office decided to play a little pick-up soccer game in the parking lot.
But when Charles kicks the ball towards Jim, he ducks to get out of the way, and the ball slams Phyllis in the face. Everyone rushes to her aid as Charles scolds Jim in front of everyone. "Why did you duck, Jim!?" It was obvious Jim wasn't the soccer fan he claimed.
The Company Picnic
Charles Miner eventually left the Scranton branch after Michael Scott was rehired but he made a comeback at the company picnic. It's obvious Charles did not leave on good terms because as soon as he saw Jim and Pam, he made a sly remark about them resting from their rest.
Things get even more awkward when the Scranton branch played corporate in a "friendly" volleyball game. Charles and Jim were both at the net spiking and blocking each other. And even though Charles was no longer at their office, his presence still made Jim uncomfortable.
"You Two Are Morons."
When the Michael Scott Paper Company begins to steal the Scranton branch's clients, Dunder Mifflin goes into crisis management. David Wallace shows up to talk strategy with their top salesman and Charles.
Up until this point, Charles' second in command was Dwight. Dwight helped Charles in every aspect and proved to be good company in the office. But during their meeting with David Wallace, Dwight's true colors came out when he began to talk about nonsense. Embarrassed, Charles stopped listening to Dwight and called both him and Jim morons.
What's A Rundown?
With Charles in the office, Jim tries to keep his nose to the ground and remain focused on work, but it's hard to do when he feels Charles' eyes on him all the time.
In one scene, Charles asks Jim for a "rundown." The look on Jim's face proves that he has no idea what a rundown is but proceeds to make odd jokes about the rundown and giving it to Charles in a timely matter. In the meantime, Jim begins researching and asking people what a rundown was. By the end of the episode, Jim was at a loss, made something up, and faxed it to his dad so that it looked like he was faxing it to the distributors.
The Party Planning Committee Meeting
One of the most awkward scenes in Charles Miner history is when he walked in on a Party Planning Committee meeting.
Charles asked what they were doing and Michael insisted that they were coming up with "some great ideas." When Charles asked what great idea Jim had, he read his note that said "two-way petting zoo." Charles was at a loss at Jim's response and left the room abruptly.
David & Jim Vs. Charles & Dwight
When David Wallace came to the Scranton branch to discuss the battle between Dunder Mifflin and the Micahel Scott Paper Company, he asked for a meeting with Charles and Jim. However, Charles told Jim to stay seated and whispered to David that Jim was a "disappointment" and that Dwight was his second-hand man. David was shocked to hear this, so he invited both of them to join. Charles awkwardly says "Dwight, come on in... Also, Jim..." It was obvious that Charles did not want Jim to be part of the meeting.
Eyes Up Front
When Charles hosts one of his first conference room meetings without Michael around, Jim and Dwight are up to their usual antics. Sitting side by side, they threw digs at one another while Charles was speaking.
Instead of calling out both men, Charles only reprimands Jim: "Okay, Jim Halpert. Eyes up front," he says. It was then that Dwight knew he had the upper hand.
The Pointless Title
Jim is so cringeworthy around Charles that it's hard to watch. Nothing he says sounds right and his sense of humor doesn't match Charles'. His entire shtick is a disaster. Jim knew he had to make it better, so he apologized to Charles and let him know that he's "a great number two for the office."
Perplexed, Charles wasn't aware there was a number two in the office... Jim digs himself into a hole when he claims the position was actually made up for Dwight but then Michael gave him the title instead. When Charles finds out there are no responsibilities attached to being a "number two," he asks Jim if he wanted to keep the "made-up title." The entire conversation is unbearable to watch.
Two Weeks Notice
When Michael gives Dunder Mifflin his two weeks notice, he does absolutely nothing to help himself, the person covering his position, or the company. If viewers thought Michael was lazy before, he was even lazier when he was on his way out the door.
When Michael decided that he was going to create his own company, he pulls Jim into his office and asks if he'd like to join him. Charles sees the two speaking privately and interrupts. He essentially tells Jim to get back to work or else he would be leaving with Michael.