1 Year Work Anniversary: A Reflection on What I Have Learned

1 year, 365 days, 52 weeks, 12 months, 4 quarters: no matter how you look at it, 1 year is seemingly a long time that flies by in the “blink of an eye”. 1 year is 1/23 of my entire life and the passing of which reminds me that time stops for no one. Anniversaries of all kinds come and go, whether it be a graduation, a relationship, a birthday, and in this case, a work anniversary. Since this is the first job I took out of college, a 1-year work anniversary is new to me as I previously have been working part time during school and in the summer months. Let me say that again, 1 year! While that amount of time pales in comparison to some 30-year work anniversaries, it still blows my mind, nonetheless. I am going to share some of the key things I have learned in the past year about HR and the professional world in general.

1. It is okay to speak up – Coming into the workforce, I thought a job was strict rules never to be broken or even questioned. Initially, all “yes ma’am” and “yes sir’s” from me! Employers and managers generally have more experience than their employees, but at one point I realized how beneficial it is to have different personalities and experiences on a team in order to streamline processes, foster creativity, and to more effectively collaborate to get projects done. My “yes ma’am/sir” turned into an “I understand what you’re saying and love the idea, but what if we did __ instead to save time/boost engagement/get creative.”

2. You will never receive what you do not ask for – I know we often hear this as life advice, but it very well applies to our careers. You will never get a more flexible work schedule, a raise, a high-tech speaker for the office, or time off if you do not ask or pass it off as an unrealistic request! This does not go to say that all of our requests are always well deserved or earned, but if an appropriate request is within means, the worst anyone can say to you is no. I found that Friday afternoons were the slowest part of the week, with half of our clients following a 9/80 work schedule, and would often waste time from 3 pm – 5pm, daydreaming about Thai food or running errands. This eventually turned into a proposal to my boss that if I worked efficiently during the week and put in 9 hours Monday – Thursday instead of 8, all while completing every assigned task, I would be able to take half days on Friday. It was an easy yes. Who doesn’t love Fridays anyways?

3. Your co-workers become like family – oftentimes you hear of catty and very unhealthy work dynamics, but a healthy relationship with coworkers is possible! There will always be different opinions, personalities, and backgrounds in an organization, but with effective communication, transparency, and mutual respect, it is easier to grow to love those around us than to dislike. Not only does this allow for individual growth, but it allows for the growth of an organization as a whole. It may be the former athlete in me, but there is power in numbers. An organization where every employee is on board and working for the greater good of a company that cares for them paired with an innovative business structure? The potential of that organization is endless, for lack of better words. (Shout out to every co-worker I have been blessed to work with; you know who you are).

4. Like anything in life, you get what you give – I oftentimes would feel unfulfilled when completing what I saw as mundane tasks with little effort and no enthusiasm, and remote work helped literally 0% with that. I had to shift my mentality from a “have to” to a “get to.” I GET TO send invoices and reconcile our balance sheet. I GET to drive 4 hours for a client meeting and then 4 hours back. I GET TO widen my experience today. The mindset change has been everything! Oh, how blessed I am to have a job. Oh, how blessed I am to have THIS job.

5. Work for a boss that is as much of a foodie as you are – self-explanatory. Give us all the spicy food.

A year has come and gone, and quite frankly is not a long time (relatively speaking) but has given me an opportunity to grow and learn under a mentor that fosters a workplace full of autonomy and the freedom to learn, all while learning HR functions, time management, and about various industries. I am grateful for the opportunity to even have learned lessons and I am grateful for the opportunity to fail. I am grateful for my co-workers and boss that has turned into a family. Most of all, I am grateful for the chance that was taken on me 365 days ago, today. (Fun fact, My boss and I met for the first time ever on my first day of work – Happy Friendsaversary, Rya!)