5 things working in an office will teach you

LinkedIn recently told me that I had just celebrated 3 years of working at my current job.

Wow.

3 whole years.

I can still remember starting here all that time ago; how excited I was to just have a job that paid me a consistent wage. It gave me something to do during the months of not studying.

Looking back on these last 3 years, I realise that working here has taught me many valuable lessons, and while I may not want to work in this kind of role for the rest of my life, I will still hold on to everything this job has taught me in my future endeavours.

Thus, a compiled list of 5 things that working in an office will teach you.

---

1. You can never have enough pens (or note pads)

I don't know what it is about office environments (especially small ones), but pens seem to grow legs and wander away from your desk (usually when you're not there to catch them in the act). It may seem a little overboard to purchase those huge packets of pens from Officeworks, but it's always good to have back-ups hidden in your drawer, just in case the office thief is on the prowl for another pen.

On a similar train of thought, note pads/sticky notes seem to go missing as well, although they're usually easier to find. I've purchased packets of notepads from Kmart and Aliexpress, all with printed covers, so I can easily track them down in they have been 'misplaced'. You won't believe how much you write down throughout the day, especially working in an admin role like I do.

2. Comfort > style

This admittedly took me a while to figure out. It can relate to many things, but in this instance it relates to shoes.

At the start of my office career, I loved throwing on a nice pair of stilettos or heeled boots, only to end up taking them off halfway through the day and limping from the car to my bedroom, feet covered in blisters.

Now, I have invested in solid flats. My patent leather Tony Bianco loafers are my go-to most days, but I have recently taken a liking to my tan Marco Gianni loafers; I'm not saying they feature the same level of cushioning as the likes of SuperSoft, but they are very close to it. They're stylish enough to still be business-professional, but so comfortable that I could (potentially) run a marathon in them.

There are many items on my desk that have my name clearly printed on them; namely my stapler and scissors that used to get nicked all the time. This is mainly due to the fact that I am constantly using these items during the workday, and having to wander around finding them is such a hassle. Putting my name on things ensures I can find them easily.

CHECK OUT: SHOES EVERY WOMAN MUST HAVE IN THEIR CLOSET!

TOP TIPS FOR STYLISHLY COMFORTABLY 

1. Completely flat shoes don't have any arch support, potentially leading to knee, hip and back issues. Buy shoes with a slight heel. 

2. If possibly, invest in leather shoes. They last a lot longer than suede/canvas, are easier to clean and look more professional. 

3. You don't need 30 pairs of work shoes. Invest in a few good pairs that will last you AND still be comfortable after a few years. 

3. Everyone has a phone voice

If there is one thing that TERRIFIED me when it came to working in an office, it's answering the phone. It took me a good 6 months to grow the balls to answer the phone.

Now, after 3 years, I have developed such a good phone voice that people can hardly recognise me over the phone; even clients that are family friends of mine say they don't realise it's me they are speaking to.

The one key thing about developing a phone voice is that it HAS to be confident, loud and clear, especially when dealing with elderly clients like I tend to do. Speaking softly over the phone will only result in people thinking they can walk all over you, or people telling you to 'speak up' because they can't hear you.

4. Possession is 9 tenths of the law

I suppose you can do this in the comfort of your own home, but there is something about kicking back in a bar with your workmates with a beer in hand (or wine in my case), letting go the week's frustrations, that really excites me. Maybe I just don't get out enough, but having that kind of relationship with your workmates is ideal, and I think all young professionals should do this once in a while.

I bring in my own pens that are completely different from the ones we buy at work so that I know if someone has taken mine.

I have 2 mugs here that are solely mine (as I think everyone should), as well as tea that I bring in from home to enjoy (and hide in my lunch bag because it's too expensive to share).

Writing on items in permanent marker does the job, but you can also consider using a label maker or customising certain things for an added flair. 

5. After-work drinks are NOT as common as once thought

Admittedly, I don't work Friday's, which is when this practice usually occurs, so it's void in my case. But speaking to my friends who work in similar types of places, they also don't partake in after-work drinks. Apparently it's not as common these days? Or at least not as common as the TV shows and movies want us to believe.

I think it's a good practice to get into. Not trying to encourage alcoholism or anything, but laughing over a few drinks after a trying week with your work mates can be a nice therapeutic moment for some people.

If you want to bring this practice into your workplace, consider starting once a month; some people might struggle giving up their regular Friday nights every week, but once a month isn't too much to ask for.

---

What has your job taught you?