the one thing i don’t feel comfortable with in starting a new job is the awkwardness of trying to feel my way around new people, obviously because i have already established relationships with my former colleagues and peers and it took some time for that to happen.  to be thrust into a new and uncharted environment is something that i don’t really dread, but it gives me that feeling of "here we go again," and trying to project the best image possible around people who, i just realized, are maybe doing and feeling the exact same thing.

one thing i am thankful for though is i was going into the new job with a former colleague.  from the same department at that, going to the same department as well.  so on holy monday, i started my four-day orientation with the new company i’ll be working for.  naturally, chille (my former collague) and i were seated together in the conference room since we were about the only two people out of two hundred plus new hires who knew each other, much less came from the same former employers.  the four-day orientation was a typical one, with different topics discussed each day such as the company’s history, products, policies, security (which was the most hilarious topic because i noticed that when this topic is up in any company orientation, a certain ex-military or ex-policeman turned security chief with a heavy provincial accent always gives the talk with audiences laughing their asses off whenever the speaker mentions an english word or phrase bearing that heavy provincial accent with the speaker having no idea why–get my drift?), corporate image, and compensation among others.  there were topics that had the whole class in one room, and there were others wherein rank & file staff and officers were in separate rooms.  chille and i didn’t mingle that much, as we realized that we were the only two people assigned to the department we’re headed to, basing on the attendance sheets we sign everyday.  but still, we had some casual conversations with the other officers and talked about both their and our experiences with our former employers.  the fourth day of the orientation resumed on monday after the holy week then we were formally endorsed to our respective units.  imagine that, just starting with the company, then three days into being formally an employee, i took my first holiday vacation!

i have always believed that in everything that is new, don’t expect anything.  yet i guess each one of us has that feeling of what’s going to be like whenever we start our first full day of work.  yet with all the things going through my mind while feeling a bit nervous as i was walking towards the front door of the office, it was all suddenly turned upside down as my boss’ secretary rushed out to greet me upon learning that i was already outside.  i was warmly welcomed and showed into the office premises on the way to a training room where the operations orientation will be held.  i felt as if the world came to a standstill as i felt employees’ eyes all gazed at me as i walked through the hallway.  i tried my best not to blush and be as normal as i can be as i continued to walk towards the stairs and up towards the training room.  at that point, i noticed that my boss’ secretary kept referring to me as "sir" which i’m not used to, coming from a casual organization such as a US based call center.  being polite, i just kept silent as she explained that my boss is out on vacation leave for the entire week and has left her in charge of what i’ll be doing for the rest of the week.  to summarize the entire training session i had for the week, it was comprised of the operations of the center and the department i’m assigned to, as well as procedures and the different sub-departments i’ll be working with.

what stood out though, was how almost everyone i have met so far during the week was very, very, very, and i mean very nice and accomodating.  my boss even dropped by the office just to welcome me to the department and even asked meng, one of the officers who i’ll be working with in the makati site to come to the greenhills site just to meet me.  i was also introduced to the different teams, including the team leaders on the site.  i still have to meet the team i’ll be handling which was over at the makati site sometime next week.  i was given my own temporary cubicle since i’ll be working off two different sites (possibly three) so most likely, i’ll be having an office in each of the two or three sites.  one of the IT personnel helped me configure my PC and advised me that my office phone will be installed in a couple of days.  the administrative assistant also issued me the supplies i’ll be using and had me sign off on some documents formalizing the allocation of the workstation in my name.  everyone i talked to always had the line, "sir, if you need help or assistance in anything just let me know" at the end of our conversations.

for the first time in a very long time, i felt at ease whenever i came into the office this past week.  everyone has been nice without the hint of they’re just being nice because i’m new, or because i belong to upper management.   they don’t feel awkward at all and they talk to me in a natural way.  though it’s also a call center, something about this one is very different.  and i mean that in a very good way.  i can’t quite put my finger as to what it is, but i’ll find out.  i think this company’s tag line really does mean what it says, unlike other companies i have worked for.  as for being addressed as "sir," well, i guess that’s something i could get used to.