::W.O.R.K::

JOB = LIFE - DREAMS?

or

LIFE = JOB + DREAMS?

It's been roughly 2 weeks since I officially started work! Somehow things are not all that you think it will be..

Some things i've learnt..

1. You are frequently flooded by emails... I haven't read alot of my mail.. sometimes you can even see people "shoot arrows" aka "point fingers" at each other, all through email! It takes some experience to be subtle yet sarcastic enough, especially when your boss is cc-ed in the mail too...

2. It's fun to email your lunch kakis and friends who work elsewhere and talk crap (when you're free that is).. and I've discovered i have a msn-like chatting tool on my computer! gasp* but i can only message my colleagues...

3. You are pretty much at the mercy of your company policies and what management decides... And if your boss gives your direct manager pressure, you will get it at the end of the day.

4. Lunch time is always the highlight of the day, and even though I totally don't feel hungry, I just wanna get out of the office and eventually end up eating lunch! And then you look forward to the end of the day after lunch..

5. You cannot function without the daily dose of coffee, tea, coke or whatever it is you drink.. for me it's 2 cups of coffee/day usually.. otherwise I'll end up looking totally listless and sleepy...

6. The office is perpetually freezing... as are all offices and shopping centres in Singapore.. it's crazy.

7. The boss' needs are of number 1 importance.. If he needs to get something done, somehow everyone will suddenly and enthusiastically offer you assistance to get the job done.

8. If your boss likes you, be assured that your colleagues will treat you nicely. and vice versa.

9. You won't even realise who works on the same level as you, unless you took notice or were introduced to the person.

10. You are dead tired at the end of each day, even if you've accomplished nothing much at work. It just drains the life out of you, and if you don't plan any social events after work to keep you occupied, work will take over your life!

Which is why I'm glad to be able to go out for drinks with frens after work or go for dinner etc.. It breaks the monotony of work.. I'm feeling a bit of pressure now cos of lots of things to learn, especially the more technical knowledge which i will be expected to know in time.. plus there are some tests that we have to take to ensure we know the products well..

Clients are also not easy to handle, and i've been observing the way my managers and colleagues respond and talk to them.. It's really not easy! Lots of tact and careful selection of words are needed to ensure that things are put across as nicely as possible..

For now, I'm happy with how things are going so far, but probably less so on how much I'm learning on my own in terms of the many readings that I'm supposed to do but have not done.. It takes alot of discipline to read up on things and keep up with everything.. I hope i'll find an optimum pace to get things done soon! Need to be less blur and more efficient at work too.. wish me luck!