New Job, Who Dis: Reflecting on Day 1

Everyone knows that there is a routine process when it comes to starting a new job. It begins the moment you agree to take the job. First, there are the questions:

• Do you have to give a two weeks notice to your current job?
• When can you start?
• Do you have “a”, “b”, and “c” documents?

Then there is the build up of anxiety and panic leading up to your first day where you begin to question all of your qualifications, time off you’ll need to request ahead of time, planning new routines, etc. After this, there are two more mini processes: your first day ,and your first week.

I’m going to tell you about my first day.

Last Thursday, I started at my new job as an administrative assistant at a privately owned firm. I woke up at 6:40am, earlier than I’ve ever had to be awake for any of the jobs I’ve had. I mentally prepared myself as I examined my new dress while waiting for my flat iron to heat up. I did my hair, then my makeup, and finally my outfit. If getting myself to the job was half the battle, then I was really close to that halfway mark. Finally I leave my house as my mother wished me luck on my way out the door and all I could think was that I was going to need more than luck to get me through the nausea I was feeling. As I started my drive, the nerves began to give way- driving always calms my nerves until someone cuts me off, that is. 8:43am I arrive thinking “shit I’m so early I’m going to look like a lame ass.” I get buzzed into our building, walk up the stairs, take a deep breath, and open the door to see what? Not my new boss. Not a hoard of people in the office but “T,” the woman who‘d been doing my job prior to my arrival. I introduced myself and asked her to excuse any of my behavior that may seem on edge as I was nervous to which she replied, “Don’t be nervous, this is not an office to be nervous about. These people spend most of their afternoons drinking.,” (Which turned out to be very true). Her statement only made me more nervous and curious about what I’d gotten myself into taking this new job. As the morning dragged on and I began to fill out my employment forms (Confidentiality Agreement, Non-Compete, I-9, W-4, etc.) my new boss comes in talking at a million miles a minute, ends in a question to which I responded with a smile and a nod. I had no idea what he said, but I said yes. I was left to meet staff on my own, try to understand this new job for which I’d had practically no training. “T,’ who had been training was sick for my first day and had gone home so there I sat at that HUGE desk alone with my adult costume on until the time came for lunch where I was able to have my first normal seeming moment of the day listening to my new coworkers laugh about their jobs, discuss their weekend plans, and ask me questions about myself not pertaining to my professional background which was a relief. I slipped back into my adult costume after lunch and eventually made it through the rest of the first workday with the help of my new coworkers. I had survived.

Everyday from here foreward will just be surviving until I’ve got a good grasp on my new workworld. I expect that I will be able to grow with this company while being able to simultaneously discover and develop my skillsets as a professional. Surviving Day 1 means that I will survive Day 2, Day 3, etc. Eventually, soon, I will do more than simply survive.