Office Blog
I fell for mags in my final year of uni. I was hired as a student reporter for UNSW’s Blitz, where I could regularly be found popping bubble wrap, flinging miscellaneous objects at the overhead fan (then ducking for cover) and smacking my seat in order to expel the “butt dust” that had gathered there. I later volunteered at FBI radio and ACP. Not long after, I was hired as a copy editor and thus my foray into publishing began. I dig writing, singing, guitar playing and laughing at Mum and Dad.
Office Blog
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28 Nov, 2008
It’s never easy being the new kid on the block. You don’t immediately know what you should and shouldn’t reveal about yourself, which sandwich spots make the best toasties and which ergonomic swivel chair squeaks the least. All these elements were brought to my attention recently in my first few weeks here at Cleo.
I liken the first day of a new job to the first day of kindergarten, bar the fact that your Mum no longer chooses your outfit or makes your lunch. In light of my “new girl” status, I’ve devised a checklist as a way to gauge my progress and the swiftness with which I convince my new co-workers that I’m a keeper.
1. Your fellow work mates start calling you some abbreviation of your actual name. In my case, it’s “Smalls”.
2. You’ve “moved in” and your surrounding desk areas are littered with photos, memorabilia, your coffee mug and the like, for that personal touch.
3. Your lunchbox has now attained a regular spot in the fridge.
4. The person sitting next to you is familiar with your peeing frequency and can predict your next squirt, almost to the minute.
5. You can drop the odd swear word when talking to colleagues.
6. You finally feel comfortable when asking to borrow sanitary items.
7. You’ve established which snacks you favour from the workplace vending machine.
8. People tell you you look like crap (rather than “tired”) when you walk into work the morning after a big night out.
9. You have a favourite IT guy.
10. The person beside you says, “Hey, it’s your favourite song”, when your least favourite song comes on the radio.
There you have it. Feel free to share your first day jitters. The simple act of putting them out there might even lessen them a little.
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