I should have written this around 8 years back when it was happening with me but you know, corporate life, flaunting titles, carrying smart leather bags, makeup, presentations, late sittings, etc. all this was too much to handle, hence completely forgot about all this and got involved in much bigger title battles and forgot about the core which was the initial phase of the corporate life. Hence after a journey of 8 years, I am attempting to try my hand on writing about what all types of fears we go through when we start our corporate life.
Just came out of college, ardent, full of enthusiasm and immense energy who think what the hell is impossible, I can handle anything and everything, I hold the record of making a hybrid engine in my engineering project, or I was the one who got bashed by the seniors all the time still was their personal favourite, then there would be some teachers pet, some Divas, some handsome dude’s who was always been busy in making records in basketball or cricket or in tech fests. Those hands which were quite to swift while chit-chatting on Facebook messenger or on Orkut (I am from 2008-12 batch hence Orkut was the mainstream stay that time) who have begged their parents and actually fooled them to give them laptops (Applicable on B.Tech students, MBA wale to laptop le kar hi Duniya me aate hai I guess) so that they can study and score well are now been awarded with Big desktops and in some cases, laptop is also an option (i was the lucky one, I got one big bulky dell laptop) and those hands which were quite too fast while doing MCQs in the selection tests are now been expected to understand the entire organization structure, departments and work in freaking 3 days only and then on the top of it you have to present the same also to the CEOs and COOs damm. Such injustice no.
But much before that, the frightfulness which we feel when we have to say hi, hello to our peers on the very first day of our corporate job, trust me that’s the worst kind of feeling. The fear of being an extra-ordinary student (yeah.. disclaimer for my college buddies not in marks, percentage but overall), being always very vocal, quick and witty and what if I will fumble, what if I will not be able to hold my handbag properly, should i carry my documents in a plastic folder or that big bulky file with a 3-sided zipper, will that look extra kya? should I Tie my hair, naaaa I look good with open hair and side parting, Kajal or no kajal, Eyeliner would be perfect and it will look professional. Handshake Karu? it’s a mechanical firm with loads and loads of guys will they get offended if I will offer my hand first. Crazy trail of thoughts you see and it’s not only with girls it’s with guys too, minus the kajal, eyeliner part.
But you know all this anxiety, that adrenaline rush genuinely helps to become more confident and extra careful about our first impression and helps us to improve us. When I see the freshers sometime while interviewing them, or taking induction on their first day of the job when I see that inquisitiveness in the eyes or the round of questions, trust me I love that. because it’s not only the questions, or the nervousness it also shows how serious you are about your role, your job and how much ready you are or you are trying hard to take this new responsibility.
And believe me, there is no need to get afraid of anything, the person sitting on the other side of the table who is welcoming is definitely noticing you, your appearance, your behaviour but if the person is rational and mature they will not Judge you because right in the past they were on that side of the table and there was somebody else sitting on this side who has made them feel comfortable on the very first day of their corporate life. But when I recall all this I feel so good about myself and about my fellow colleagues that how we have cope up from all this and are been able to survive in the corporate life for the past 8 years.
prernaawasthi1991 