Liz's job log: 4
Liz Rawlins
- December 2008.
The story so far... Liz recently graduated from the University of Glamorgan with a degree in journalism. Aged 21 she is living in Barry, South Wales and working for a local insurance company. New job, new life… The last few weeks have been very busy indeed both in and out of work. I think I’m finally getting the hang of what I’m doing, and more importantly I’m enjoying it. I’ve realised this 8-5 nonsense (oh yes 8, not 9) is not as hard as I first thought. I’m also beginning to find the right balance between my social life and my work life, which I must admit hasn’t been easy due to my non-existent full-time job experience. I was lucky enough to be taken out for welcome drinks at the end of my first week on my new team and I really enjoyed it! Last week also saw the first of many Christmas parties that the company organises - I of course always make every effort to attend, it would be rude not to. So this week I follow on from my thoughts in my last blog on making friends with people in the workplace. I feel I may have been too hasty. ‘Tis the season to be jolly… Now, forget the cliché of the office Christmas party - no photocopying of bottoms or anything - I actually think the best ever time to start a new job is at Christmas. With it being the season to be jolly, there are a number of parties you must attend - you can't not attend by the way, or you will look anti-social -and with these parties comes the obligatory drinks. This is the part I love. Don’t worry that’s not an admission of a drinking problem or anything but yes, I do enjoy the odd tipple with work colleagues… Reason number 1 You get to know people better than you would in the office, regardless of whether you sit next to them for eight hours a day. Reason number 2 You know those questions you’ve wanted to ask about a certain someone/subject/decision made? (I could go on) - well now is the perfect time to get them answered. Reason number 3 People are much more themselves outside of work and easier to talk to. It doesn’t even matter if when you’re not in work, you talk about work. Reason number 4 You are more yourself. Reason number 5 You can learn a lot about the job - reasons people started working there/are still there/don’t want to be there - it all comes out. Easy on the eggnog… Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting you go out and get ridiculously drunk with your new work colleagues (as I may or may not have done on the nights previously mentioned), but I do think that it’s kind of fun to go out and have a chat outside of the work environment. Obviously it is not wise to ask too much or to give away too much - you have to play your cards right as you do have to return to work the next day - it’s best not to make the mistake of saying something that really should have stayed in your head! By starting with my new team so near to the Christmas period there have been a number of chances to socialise (and a lot more to come!) and I think this has helped boost my confidence in the office - for a start, conversation is far easier and less forced. It has also been a really good opportunity for me to meet other people who I may not have noticed before. There are people I have instantly connected with, mostly the girls on my team, and there are those who have taken a bit longer, but that welcome drink certainly helped things along the following week. I love making new friends in work - a job is such a massive part of your life, regardless of whether it’s going to be a career or not, so I always try to make the most of it, and although meeting new people is scary it is essential. Best of all, starting a new job just before the festive period is a nice introduction - relaxed hours, afternoons off for Christmas shopping, Christmas parties, half days, competitions, dress up, secret Santa… and you never know, if your really lucky, a kiss under the mistletoe with that special office someone - but make sure you don’t regret it the following Monday… Liz's previous posts
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