DO you still remember your first day at work, either in your first job or succeeding?
I remember mine very well. It's deeply embedded in my mind because it was embarrassing.
It was my first job and my first day. I was waiting outside waiting for the bank to open. I didn't know if I were to go inside when it was still closed or do I knock.
It was windy, and I was wearing a knee-length skirt. Just when an office guy passed by, the wind blew, and I had that Marilyn Monroe moment. What made it more mortifying was that the same guy outside was an officemate. When I met the whole team, he couldn't help but say, "Ikaw man tong sa gawas, no?" Short of saying, "Ikaw man tong napalid ang skirt."
In this same company, and still on that first day, while discussing with my boss, he said, "Di ba puti man ka when I interviewed you?" I was shocked and was about to say something but held back. A politically incorrect comment but at that time, it was acceptable. People were not too particular about those things then. I had to explain to him that it was because of all the campaigning as mandated by my father, which turned out well. My brother won.
What a first day. Good thing it did not bother me a bit. I laughed it off. Looking back, it was a blooper kind of day.
I don't think I would have had the same reaction had this incident happened when I gained much work experience. As years go by, you become more outspoken, regardless if you are a new hire or not. You have grown to know your work persona.
The first days at work are always exciting and terrifying at the same time. You are terrified for fear of the unknown. You don't know what you're getting into. I don't mean work per se. Work will always be the same one way or the other.
It's the culture, the people you deal with, the different characters, and the different personalities. These are the work factors that you need to adjust and work with. The human element is the most challenging yet motivating aspect of any workplace. They make you stay and would make you hesitate to leave.
How about you? How was your first day? I would love to hear about your first day at work stories.
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