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I shut down my laptop for the final time after my last assignment submission, said my goodbyes to the lecture halls, the student union, and to my student flat and looked forward into the world of work, more specifically to the dynamic world of PR agency life with Nielsen McAllister.
Of course, it is no surprise that when my 6 am alarm clock rang out on the first morning of my newfound working life, the nerves were well and truly present. I slipped into my freshly purchased work attire and set off (an hour and a half early may I add for fear of being late) on my first ever commute. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed I entered the office for the first time and was introduced to my future work colleagues. Instantly, my nerves ceased because of how welcoming everyone was. After receiving a tour of the (gorgeous) office building, I was shown to my very own desk, set up on my computer and I was off!
Naturally, it takes a while to learn the ropes in any new job; since I have started, therefore, I have been diligently taking everything onboard, absorbing as much information as I possibly can and loving every second of it. But aside from this, I have also clocked some notable differences in my first week of working life, as I make the transition from student to office worker.
The most noteworthy observation, I think, has to be the amount of tea and coffee that is consumed in a day. This is not to say that caffeine was non-existent at university but, since being in an office, I feel like it is rapidly becoming my newfound best friend. More to the point, making said drinks is far more pleasurable in the office kitchen than that of halls of residence. In my first year alone, I shared a flat with 20 people (including 10 boys for the record), so you can imagine the horror that this entailed. You take your life in your own hands making a cup of tea in halls – those kitchens are a genuine health hazard.
Second observation is the number of mouth-watering snacks and treats which are passed around each day. Doughnuts, cakes, biscuits (to dunk in my fountain of tea) – you name it they are on offer. At university, although I had to resist the temptation to order an UberEATS whenever I couldn’t be bothered to cook, here it is a whole new ball game. Those sweet temptations as a mid-morning snack or as an afternoon nibble are just too good to turn down – looks like I might have to get back to the gym ASAP.
But I think what stands out to me the most about my first week in the office is how friendly and helpful everyone is. At uni, for much of the time you are sitting on a deathly silent floor of a library, surrounded by crowds of stressed students who are immersed in their own revision and exams. In the workplace I am amazed by how happy everyone is to help each other out; how easy it is to bounce ideas off one another and collaborate with people of all ages.
The transition from student life to work life can often be a shock for some, but for me, my first week at Nielsen McAllister has truly been fantastic. While I am consuming more caffeine than I ever thought I would and battling my inner self over which flavour doughnut to pick, I am loving every second of it. I cannot wait to grow with the support of this brilliant company and look forward to what the future brings in my working life.
So, here I am faced with my turn to write the next Nielsen McAllister blog, and like always it starts with a blank page. And that’s the problem...
Today, I was fortunate enough to have been invited to visit Derby’s Museum of Making, in the Silk Mill, just before its official opening, this Friday. And it made me cry a little.