I'm getting worse at blogging regularly, but this month I have an excuse. The validity of my excuse is debatable, but I'm going to use it anyway. So there.
I've been crap lately because I started a new job a few weeks ago. I've moved on from a full time career in listening to people shout at me about car tax while I do colouring in (disclaimer: wasn't all bad - got to work with some lovely people, and I will hold the fragmented memories of nights out I've had with said people for a long time. And they let me do colouring in) to a more rewarding one where I have to use my brain in different ways.
My brain is not used to this. Until I get accustomed to it, I think I'll continue coming home every weeknight with the I.Q of a baked bean, attempting to put my dishes in the washing machine and staring into empty mugs which held tea that I have no memory of drinking. Or making, come to think of it. It's challenging and absorbing, and so far the days are flying by more quickly than I can blink (I have very dry eyes. Shut up, it's a thing). Also, I've discovered that I actually enjoy commuting with a flask of coffee and a load of podcasts to burn through at the ass crack of dawn. I found out that I don't really mind occasionally having to get up at 5am to pootle to the office for an early shift either. What's wrong with me?
My new work folk have made being a noob a nice experience for me, and I'm trying to return the favour by fucking as little shit up as possible. So, far, so good. I think. I mean, nothing's caught fire under my watch and no one has sustained minor injuries as a result of my work. Even if I am working in an office and the biggest injury I could probably inflict is a paper cut. It's been a good couple of years since I've been the office fresh(ish) meat. Here's what I've been reminded it's like to be the new guy in town:
1. You're so "helpful" that it's annoying.
Yes, you're eager to show willing and so grateful to have been given your new role that you offer to do EVERYTHING. You then need to ask those same people you've ever-so-kindly taken those jobs from (because you're a bloody saint, you are) to show you very... slowly... what to do from scratch, ultimately resulting in them doing all the work anyway but in half the speed they normally do it so that your blank little mind can keep up.
2. Offering to make tea for the first time = stress sweats.
Okay. So there are about 20 people in the room with me, and every one of them has made me a cup of tea or coffee at least once this week. I need to offer to make one for them soon, or they'll assume I'm a terrible, selfish person. But what if they all say yes at the same time? How will I remember who wants tea? Coffee? One sugar? Two sugar? None? Strong? Weak? What if I give them someone else's mug by accident and then they all tell me I'm wrong? *Gasp* what if no one tells me I'm wrong and I keep making them the wrong thing in the wrong mug forever and they secretly resent me more and more for the rest of my career until they want to stab me in the leg with a teaspoon? THIS IS SO STRESSFUL!!
Reality (realit-tea...haw haw)
Noob: "Who wants a drink?"
All of office bar the two people who drink only black coffee: "No, I'm good, thanks."
3. Novelty makes every nice thing about the job seem AMAZING!
We don't have to work weekends? Hells yes! There's a kettle within a few feet of my desk? Omg! I can eat food at my desk? Outside of my lunch break? Wow! And I get paid money to come here? My new colleagues aren't fascist, violent, fire breathing lizards from space? Shit, this job is THE BEST!!
4. You spend a good 50% of your brain power trying to rein in the clumsy.
These people don't know that you have a penchant for spilling tea up walls while you're stood still and for tripping over wires that aren't actually there. For all they know, you're a tight rope walking ballerina in your free time. Enjoy that while it lasts, and try not to chew on the wrong side of your biro again 'kay? We don't want another blue moustache.
5. You feel a sweet, sweet sense of relief that your new place of employment appreciates cake just as much as your previous job. Thank God. Thank God for cake. Cake is the best, isn't it? Mmm, cake. What was I writing about again? I don't care. I'm going to find some cake.
I've been crap lately because I started a new job a few weeks ago. I've moved on from a full time career in listening to people shout at me about car tax while I do colouring in (disclaimer: wasn't all bad - got to work with some lovely people, and I will hold the fragmented memories of nights out I've had with said people for a long time. And they let me do colouring in) to a more rewarding one where I have to use my brain in different ways.
My brain is not used to this. Until I get accustomed to it, I think I'll continue coming home every weeknight with the I.Q of a baked bean, attempting to put my dishes in the washing machine and staring into empty mugs which held tea that I have no memory of drinking. Or making, come to think of it. It's challenging and absorbing, and so far the days are flying by more quickly than I can blink (I have very dry eyes. Shut up, it's a thing). Also, I've discovered that I actually enjoy commuting with a flask of coffee and a load of podcasts to burn through at the ass crack of dawn. I found out that I don't really mind occasionally having to get up at 5am to pootle to the office for an early shift either. What's wrong with me?
My new work folk have made being a noob a nice experience for me, and I'm trying to return the favour by fucking as little shit up as possible. So, far, so good. I think. I mean, nothing's caught fire under my watch and no one has sustained minor injuries as a result of my work. Even if I am working in an office and the biggest injury I could probably inflict is a paper cut. It's been a good couple of years since I've been the office fresh(ish) meat. Here's what I've been reminded it's like to be the new guy in town:
How You Know You're the Office Noob
1. You're so "helpful" that it's annoying.
Yes, you're eager to show willing and so grateful to have been given your new role that you offer to do EVERYTHING. You then need to ask those same people you've ever-so-kindly taken those jobs from (because you're a bloody saint, you are) to show you very... slowly... what to do from scratch, ultimately resulting in them doing all the work anyway but in half the speed they normally do it so that your blank little mind can keep up.
"Wait, wait. Can you show me that again? I missed that part." Look how helpful I'm being!
2. Offering to make tea for the first time = stress sweats.
Okay. So there are about 20 people in the room with me, and every one of them has made me a cup of tea or coffee at least once this week. I need to offer to make one for them soon, or they'll assume I'm a terrible, selfish person. But what if they all say yes at the same time? How will I remember who wants tea? Coffee? One sugar? Two sugar? None? Strong? Weak? What if I give them someone else's mug by accident and then they all tell me I'm wrong? *Gasp* what if no one tells me I'm wrong and I keep making them the wrong thing in the wrong mug forever and they secretly resent me more and more for the rest of my career until they want to stab me in the leg with a teaspoon? THIS IS SO STRESSFUL!!
Reality (realit-tea...haw haw)
Noob: "Who wants a drink?"
All of office bar the two people who drink only black coffee: "No, I'm good, thanks."
3. Novelty makes every nice thing about the job seem AMAZING!
We don't have to work weekends? Hells yes! There's a kettle within a few feet of my desk? Omg! I can eat food at my desk? Outside of my lunch break? Wow! And I get paid money to come here? My new colleagues aren't fascist, violent, fire breathing lizards from space? Shit, this job is THE BEST!!
4. You spend a good 50% of your brain power trying to rein in the clumsy.
These people don't know that you have a penchant for spilling tea up walls while you're stood still and for tripping over wires that aren't actually there. For all they know, you're a tight rope walking ballerina in your free time. Enjoy that while it lasts, and try not to chew on the wrong side of your biro again 'kay? We don't want another blue moustache.
5. You feel a sweet, sweet sense of relief that your new place of employment appreciates cake just as much as your previous job. Thank God. Thank God for cake. Cake is the best, isn't it? Mmm, cake. What was I writing about again? I don't care. I'm going to find some cake.
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