The combination of a mood disorder (e.g. depression) with certain types of personality disorder (e.g. avoidance) makes upward mobility far more difficult and chance-dependent than it otherwise would be.

It sounds as if the social "skills" this fellow honed in bullying you now serve him well in at least a certain vocational context.

Clayden, what do you think will help you survive in the short term?

Related: Long June 2015 Atlantic article - Why It Pays to Be a Jerk