It takes time. New job, new digs, new people, new environment. It takes time, but you pace your way through it. It’s the way it goes when you start a new job – the first week you rarely do that much.
It’s a well worn path. On your first day, you will go into the new office in the clothes you most likely wore to your interview. You don’t know what the place will be like. You have no real idea about the dress codes. You won’t know anybody. There is half a chance you wont have a computer, a system login, an email address or a door pass when you get to the new job.
It’s a bit of a rite of passage.
It’s expected in your first few days you’ll be a fish out of water. You may have a desk. You may not. If you’re in a place where they partake in the joyous practice of hot-desking, you may or may not have access to a locker. You may or may not have a work laptop. The stationery cupboard may or may not have the requisite items stocked in the shelves – and you need new ones each time – writing pad, pens, pencils, post it notes. It’s all a bit of a gamble when you walk into a new role.
So you walk into the new jobs reception area. You’ll meet the person who will become your best mate and ally within weeks – the person at the front desk. Normally, they will take your photo for your new work pass. You are prepared for this. More than likely, you’ll be wearing what you wore for the interview. You don’t know what the dress code is like. You can’t tell if you’re going to be over or under dressed, but it’s best to be well dressed that first day. First impressions and all that. By the end of the week you’ll have worked out what the dress code really is – whether it’s business, business casual or casual. In other words you’ll either be wearing a full face of make up and bemoaning the fact you don’t wear anything over an inch heel, or you’ll be in jeans, or a jeans substitute like everybody else. You will work it out, you’ve been at this game for a long time and you know how to do it.
You’ll also be meeting far too many people and will forget most of their names until you have a longer conversation with these people. You’ll politely ask what these people do, where they sit, get tidbits about their place in the organisation. Some of this will stick. Other bits wont. It will be a few weeks before you’re all au fait with who does what and the like.
The circles of familiarity will come. You’ll learn the names of the people who sit near you first. You’ll get chatting people while you’re getting a cup of tea. It’s okay. It takes time.
Of course, there are the office behaviours you’ll need to navigate. Where are the bins? Do they recycle? Do you need to take your pass to get to the loo? What’s the kitchen etiquette? It’s different in every office.
You'll also have to find what will be your coffee shop, the locations of the nearest ATMs, where the smokers go (so you can avoid the area) and where you can get lunch. I've found my coffee shop. $3 for decent Italian decaf just out the door. I'm happy.
So far, I've worked out the following:
Dress code: Business casual - though a little more formal if there are meetings on the other side. Free-for-all Friday.
Kitchen: Strictly clean up after yourself - one of the best office kitchens I've seen in a while. Well stocked with anything you may need including nutella.
Bathrooms: No need to take your pass - you don't have to go out the security doors. As there is more men than women, the women's loos tend to stay a bit cleaner.
Front Desk: Great, friendly woman with quite a few ear piercings. She's efficient and smiley. I like her already.
Lifts: You need to swipe your access card to get to the floor.
Atmosphere: Friendly and relaxed. Nobody bothers with time keeping as long as you're getting your work done.
At the end of week one I have:
It’s a well worn path. On your first day, you will go into the new office in the clothes you most likely wore to your interview. You don’t know what the place will be like. You have no real idea about the dress codes. You won’t know anybody. There is half a chance you wont have a computer, a system login, an email address or a door pass when you get to the new job.
It’s a bit of a rite of passage.
It’s expected in your first few days you’ll be a fish out of water. You may have a desk. You may not. If you’re in a place where they partake in the joyous practice of hot-desking, you may or may not have access to a locker. You may or may not have a work laptop. The stationery cupboard may or may not have the requisite items stocked in the shelves – and you need new ones each time – writing pad, pens, pencils, post it notes. It’s all a bit of a gamble when you walk into a new role.
So you walk into the new jobs reception area. You’ll meet the person who will become your best mate and ally within weeks – the person at the front desk. Normally, they will take your photo for your new work pass. You are prepared for this. More than likely, you’ll be wearing what you wore for the interview. You don’t know what the dress code is like. You can’t tell if you’re going to be over or under dressed, but it’s best to be well dressed that first day. First impressions and all that. By the end of the week you’ll have worked out what the dress code really is – whether it’s business, business casual or casual. In other words you’ll either be wearing a full face of make up and bemoaning the fact you don’t wear anything over an inch heel, or you’ll be in jeans, or a jeans substitute like everybody else. You will work it out, you’ve been at this game for a long time and you know how to do it.
You’ll also be meeting far too many people and will forget most of their names until you have a longer conversation with these people. You’ll politely ask what these people do, where they sit, get tidbits about their place in the organisation. Some of this will stick. Other bits wont. It will be a few weeks before you’re all au fait with who does what and the like.
The circles of familiarity will come. You’ll learn the names of the people who sit near you first. You’ll get chatting people while you’re getting a cup of tea. It’s okay. It takes time.
Of course, there are the office behaviours you’ll need to navigate. Where are the bins? Do they recycle? Do you need to take your pass to get to the loo? What’s the kitchen etiquette? It’s different in every office.
You'll also have to find what will be your coffee shop, the locations of the nearest ATMs, where the smokers go (so you can avoid the area) and where you can get lunch. I've found my coffee shop. $3 for decent Italian decaf just out the door. I'm happy.
So far, I've worked out the following:
Dress code: Business casual - though a little more formal if there are meetings on the other side. Free-for-all Friday.
Kitchen: Strictly clean up after yourself - one of the best office kitchens I've seen in a while. Well stocked with anything you may need including nutella.
Bathrooms: No need to take your pass - you don't have to go out the security doors. As there is more men than women, the women's loos tend to stay a bit cleaner.
Front Desk: Great, friendly woman with quite a few ear piercings. She's efficient and smiley. I like her already.
Lifts: You need to swipe your access card to get to the floor.
Atmosphere: Friendly and relaxed. Nobody bothers with time keeping as long as you're getting your work done.
At the end of week one I have:
- A laptop
- A login
- An email address
- An access pass
- Access to all but one of the systems I need
- My own desk with a window view of South Melbourne
- Nice workmates
- My sense of contentment
My colleague is great. We talk books, poetry, words and giggle at all things wrong.We both have a head for trivia and the strange. We'll get on well.
At 4.15 today he asked me,"Do you know what Poets Day is?'
"Of course. Piss off early, tomorrow's Saturday."
"Exactly. Pack up, let's go."
"Cool."
I think I'm going to like it here.
Today's Song:
