Changing jobs can be a daunting thing – a new role, with a new team, in a new organisation in a new office so it’s not surprising that it’s a big decision to leave your job and to move somewhere else.
If you read my >> 2018: New Year New Beginnings << post, you’ll already know that at the beginning of the year I started a new job and it felt like the first day at school again but I can quite easily say it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Changing jobs can be hard, I’d been at my last company for over two years so you build up friendships, relationships and a huge amount of knowledge during that time and suddenly you’re the new kid on the block.
On my last day:
Before I finished at my previous job, I’m not sure that it ever really sunk in that I was leaving. It’s weird that after over two years of going to the same office to work with the same colleagues, you’re suddenly going to wake up in the morning and travel to a new office, to work with new colleagues. My notice period felt like a lifetime but I think that’s pretty normal right? The last couple of weeks were spent working on a handover document and there were a lot of mixed emotions on my final day. I went for lunch with some of my work friends and was given a lovely leaving gift with lots of my favourite things (they knew me so well). Of course, I was a little bit sad to be leaving but mostly excited about my new job and the new opportunities that would bring me.
Home:
After my last day at my old job, I took two weeks off before I started my new job and there were two reasons for this. Firstly, I was studying for an exam and so those two weeks ensured that I could focus entirely on my exam and revision cramming. Secondly, it meant that that I had some time for myself to realign and reset before starting my new job. This was hugely valuable and I highly recommend that everyone (where possible) takes a little bit of time for themselves before starting a new job. I loved being able to cook up delicious lunches at home which I wouldn’t be able to do in an office and was able to plan my first-day-in-my-new-job outfit! Priorities, eh? In case you’re wondering, I wore >> this Warehouse dress << on my first day which has since gone into the sale. Typical!
First day:
Most people asked me if I was nervous on my first day and I can honestly say that I was genuinely excited, rather than nervous. I’d already met a few different members of my new team during the various interview stages and had received some very welcoming emails from them before I started which helped me to feel comfortable so I didn’t feel nervous at all.
Of course, I turned up super early on my first day and decided to search for a Cafe Nero to grab a coffee first. This turned out to be not my best idea because once I’d found the Cafe Nero, I’d lost my ‘early’ start and it was time to get to the office. Read: doh! I’ve since found the Neros that’s actually closest to my new office, it was tucked away!
I had a really lovely welcoming lunch with some members of my new team and was able to hit the ground running straight away with emails, projects and building new relationships with the business areas I support. Fast forward a few months now and I’m well and truly settled in. I’ve been exploring my new office location in the City of London and with the help of some of my new team, I’m starting to find some of the best lunch spots.
Looking back at the last couple of months, I can honestly say that while change can sometimes seem daunting, it can also be the best decision you’ll ever make.
Are you thinking about changing jobs?
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