Now that I’m into week 5 at the new job and my personal belongings have caught up with me, I’m ready to tackle a blog post again. It sounds simple, but let me tell you, starting a new job is exhausting! I hadn’t done it since 2000 and had forgotten that feeling that comes around at 2 or 3 every afternoon for the first couple weeks, the one where you want to put your head down on your keyboard and close your eyes for a minute, even though you’re in a cubicle and everyone will see you sleeping at your desk.
I was pretty frustrated by the fatigue until I started listing in my mind all the things I’ve been trying to learn:
- workflow diagrams
- SQL
- Web Services
- Unix
- travel tips
- Interwise
- the correct way to fill out an expense report
- where the supplies are
- how to set/un-set the office alarm
- Oracle
- Powerpoint animation
and, oh yeah, Verde.
This is in addition to all the random observation the brain is doing half-subconsciously: what’s the best way to get in touch with my manager? does she prefer e-mail, IM, or dropping by the office? is that Hebrew I’m hearing over there? is it OK to pop my head up out of my cubicle to ask my neighbor a question? what does this button on my laptop do? should I just eat my lunch at my desk, or at that small table in the kitchen?
I’ve answered a lot of the questions and am making progress on the big stuff, but I definitely have a newfound empathy for new employees. If you’ve gone one at your place of work, take them to lunch or bring them some chocolate!