Let’s be honest—nothing really prepares you for your first job. College may give you degrees, but it doesn’t teach you how to survive eight hours in formalwear or how to respond to an email with “Please find attached” while sounding like you know what you’re doing.
When I landed my first corporate job, I thought I was ready. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t. But what unfolded was a chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly wholesome ride I’ll never forget.
Day One: The Great Icebreaker Struggle
You walk into the office, clutching your bag and your dignity. You meet your new team—just a handful of unfamiliar faces with name tags, and the kind of posture that says “I have meetings.” You, meanwhile, are silently observing all around
The ice took a bit to break, but once it did? Oh boy.
From awkward small talk to non-stop banter during breaks, the few people I started with slowly turned into my people. We went from “Hey, do you know where the HR cabin is?” to late-night walks, complaining about life in general and coffees. The kind of conversations that start with work and somehow end at existential crises and food cravings.
The Cafeteria: Where Bonds Are Brewed (Along with the Coffee)
Ah yes, the cafeteria. The sacred land where calories and gossip are consumed in equal measure. It wasn’t just about the food (which ranged from surprisingly edible to “why is this glowing?”), but the vibe.
Breaks became unofficial team therapy sessions. We’d analyze work and process like movie critics, rank samosas, and gossip about the mystery person on the floor who never talked to anyone but always had perfect charm.
The coffee machine? Our holy shrine. A place of waiting, whispering, and pretending we weren’t eavesdropping on the team’s drama.
Team Outings: From Colleagues to Karaoke Companions
Team outings were a whole different energy. Suddenly, people who once only talked about deadlines were challenging each other to bowling matches, planning murder mystery games, and bonding over roadside chai at 1 AM. It was during those outings that I realized: behind every formal email signature is a human being who’s just as tired and caffeine-addicted as you.
Going on weekend trips to nearby location, stop mid-way for chai, pulling each others legs..it was how the bond for life started
Culture Shock: Now With More Acronyms
Corporate culture has its quirks. The never-ending acronyms (what even is “EOD-TAT”?!), the magical skill of talking for 45 minutes in a meeting without deciding anything, and the art of using “looping you in” like a secret spell.
But it also taught me how to work with different kinds of people, how to take feedback without crying (okay, sometimes after crying), and how to celebrate tiny victories—like finding something new or surviving Monday.
In the End…
My first job wasn’t perfect. There were stressful days, confusing tasks, and at least few mental breakdowns triggered by Excel. But there were also friendships, laughter, growth, and those 11 PM walks where you realize—hey, this is kinda cool.
So here’s to first jobs: the chaos, the coffee, the cafeteria friendships, and the group chats that still exist long after we’ve moved on.
Because no matter where your career takes you, you never forget your first.
