The first day at work can make you feel so excited. Whether you’re coming from unemployment or an old job, it can all seem like old rags while the new job seems like a fairy tale come true. Hmm, I remember mine; the optimism, the hope that you would make a million on payday, buying a new outfit, handbag, and shoes just to make the best first impression and smiling all day long just to seem sweet and welcoming to everyone. Your future is shining bright like a diamond and you’re looking forward to ditching your old colleagues.
Even as you walk in, there is a swag to your step, because you are excited and sure that you will outshine everyone. A new tie, shining shoes, new cologne, you also ironed your outfit so well. Surely no one can stop you.
You are walking around the office, meeting new people, and being shown your desk. You got lost trying to find your way to the bathroom, the janitor had to help you find your way back. Then there are also the ghastly stares and whispers every time you pass by another office. Some of your colleagues are too nice, and others are too curious about your previous job and why you left.
Maybe you did the most with the lipstick, hair-do, and outfit because first impressions matter. These guys don’t know that you look like a homeless person when you are home alone. You have fooled them with your well-manicured fingernails and white shirt.
You are also smiling so much, by the end of the day your jaw hurts. You look like a ray of sunshine but your colleagues are not buying it, they know the gloves will eventually come off. They probably even have a bet on how long you can keep up the bright smiles and positive responses because you look so fresh-faced like you can never be stressed by work (evil laugh).
Then there is the onboarding process, where someone keeps telling you to do things you have no idea how to do.
You have to take in so much information as someone is explaining your tasks and you are pretending you understand it all. Even though you’re asking follow-up questions.
Though if we are being honest, you are exhausted and just want to go home but you can’t so you act like you really care about filing systems.
Then there are the skills you lied about on your CV, and now everyone is giving you those tasks. You act like you are excited...
But this is how you really feel.
Then there are the colleagues- it’s too early to commit to after-work plans and besties but you are acting otherwise.
This is what your co-worker is thinking about you, but you just don’t know it yet.
Well, newbie, the first day at work is finally over, you made it!
