Ka-ching!
I've just logged my worked hours into the payroll system for the first time! When did I get a job? Why, just last week. I've only done three shifts for my training, and then they will call me to fill in whenever one of the regulars get sick. I could never picture myself doing a cleaning job, but it's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. And the most important thing, for me at least, is that you're surrounded by nice co-workers you actually like. And so far, so good. When talking to my boss yesterday, he asked how I liked working there, and also told me that my colleagues were very pleased with me: eager to learn, not afraid to get my hands dirty (a figure of speech, seeing as an office and a high school isn't that filthy, thank God!) and most importantly, they thought I was a very nice girl, easy to talk to and good to be around. Aww, thank you!
Next shift I work - no clue when that'll be - I will be completely alone for the first time. For the last of my training shifts, I was left alone for about an hour, and that worked just fine. My only concern is how long it'll take to do all the cleaning single-handedly. Especially the school, cause all the classrooms need to be finished once the kids come in just before 8.30. And I'm nervous about cleaning the newspaper room cause it's never fully empty, and it feels like I am interrupting important work. But as things are looking now, that will be the shift I am least likely to do. Phew!
It's interesting to see how different people treat you, though. I read, not long ago, that everyone should work in retail at least once in their life, because maybe it would make them realize that those people who serve us every day are people with feelings just like you and me. Be polite! Well, I've worked in retail - flower shops - and yes, it did change me. I wasn't rude before, but I wasn't necessarily as polite as I could have been. Now I try to remember that wherever I go. Now I also think that most people would benefit from having a cleaning job too. It's a weird balance you have to maintain, because you're there doing your job, but you're not working with anyone else around you. Technically, you're invisible, except you're not. Now, I've been raised by TV-shows that portray a very clear difference between "us" and "them", so that's how I went into this job thinking - that no one would talk to me, or even acknowledge me. Now, there are some who won't even throw me a single glance, but the majority smile and say "good morning!". And quite a few were even as observant as to realize that I was new, so they'd come over and shake my hand, introduce themselves, and welcome me. That was really nice.
I also happen to work in a place where the stepfather of one of my closest friends is a journalist. It's kind of how I got the job, actually: my friend worked there for two weeks this summer and they asked her to come back, but she had gotten another job by then but asked me if I would be interested and if she could pass my number along to the boss. I admit, I never would've applied for the job, but since it was right there in front of me, I took it. Back to my friend's stepfather, I like that he stops in his steps when he sees me, just to chat for a while. Now, just cause he's my friend's family doesn't mean I know him - I'd met the guy ONCE before getting the job. But last week, he'd walked past me and waved, and then he came back again to talk about the game the previous night. I appreciated that. It's nice to know I have someone to talk to on every floor. He's on the first floor. And on the ground floor, I have the janitor, who is such a sweetheart! My first day on the job was his birthday, and the day after, he'd baked a little cake for his co-workers, and I was invited too, cause now I'm one of them. It made my day. On the second floor, there's a teacher - who I don't even know the name of - who immediately started a little bantering (and flirting, hehe) session with me. There are some people you just sense you can act that way with. On the third floor, there's the girl who runs the café. She's absolutely lovely! And on the fourth floor, there's no one. It's currently empty, waiting for new tenants.
Even though I will indeed be working alone, it's not like I'll be the only cleaner in the building. If I need something, I'll just go to another floor and ask one of my darling co-workers to talk me through whatever it is I'm wondering. So that's reassuring. They've all told me they think I'll do a great job, though. And I'm not really worried, but it's bound to take some time to get the hang of it. The only way to improve is by actually doing it. It's not something you can practice outside of work. And I also love that my friend, who got me the job, is being very supportive, telling me "It doesn't matter if you forget to do something; you can just do it the next day. No one will know the difference, there's not like an inspector following you around." She's absolutely right. The day before yesterday, I thought I was recleaning toilets that had already been cleaned (but I did it anyway, because those were my instructions), but then I realized that they were indeed "dirty" (no, they weren't), it was just hard to tell, because I don't think the high school kids wash their hands... Yup, that's how I check if a toilet has been used or not: Are there paper towels in the trash?
So finally, I have a job. And it happened at the perfect time. I bought that lamp, remember? Which is GORGEOUS, by the way. Also, I love that it gets me out of the house, and that it's flexible. My life is somewhat of a mess, so I need the flexibility and the stability (yes, it makes sense to me) that this job offers. Now, if my last wisdom tooth would just hurry up an break through, that would be nice. Cause this dull pain is really treading on my last nerve.
Next shift I work - no clue when that'll be - I will be completely alone for the first time. For the last of my training shifts, I was left alone for about an hour, and that worked just fine. My only concern is how long it'll take to do all the cleaning single-handedly. Especially the school, cause all the classrooms need to be finished once the kids come in just before 8.30. And I'm nervous about cleaning the newspaper room cause it's never fully empty, and it feels like I am interrupting important work. But as things are looking now, that will be the shift I am least likely to do. Phew!
It's interesting to see how different people treat you, though. I read, not long ago, that everyone should work in retail at least once in their life, because maybe it would make them realize that those people who serve us every day are people with feelings just like you and me. Be polite! Well, I've worked in retail - flower shops - and yes, it did change me. I wasn't rude before, but I wasn't necessarily as polite as I could have been. Now I try to remember that wherever I go. Now I also think that most people would benefit from having a cleaning job too. It's a weird balance you have to maintain, because you're there doing your job, but you're not working with anyone else around you. Technically, you're invisible, except you're not. Now, I've been raised by TV-shows that portray a very clear difference between "us" and "them", so that's how I went into this job thinking - that no one would talk to me, or even acknowledge me. Now, there are some who won't even throw me a single glance, but the majority smile and say "good morning!". And quite a few were even as observant as to realize that I was new, so they'd come over and shake my hand, introduce themselves, and welcome me. That was really nice.
I also happen to work in a place where the stepfather of one of my closest friends is a journalist. It's kind of how I got the job, actually: my friend worked there for two weeks this summer and they asked her to come back, but she had gotten another job by then but asked me if I would be interested and if she could pass my number along to the boss. I admit, I never would've applied for the job, but since it was right there in front of me, I took it. Back to my friend's stepfather, I like that he stops in his steps when he sees me, just to chat for a while. Now, just cause he's my friend's family doesn't mean I know him - I'd met the guy ONCE before getting the job. But last week, he'd walked past me and waved, and then he came back again to talk about the game the previous night. I appreciated that. It's nice to know I have someone to talk to on every floor. He's on the first floor. And on the ground floor, I have the janitor, who is such a sweetheart! My first day on the job was his birthday, and the day after, he'd baked a little cake for his co-workers, and I was invited too, cause now I'm one of them. It made my day. On the second floor, there's a teacher - who I don't even know the name of - who immediately started a little bantering (and flirting, hehe) session with me. There are some people you just sense you can act that way with. On the third floor, there's the girl who runs the café. She's absolutely lovely! And on the fourth floor, there's no one. It's currently empty, waiting for new tenants.
Even though I will indeed be working alone, it's not like I'll be the only cleaner in the building. If I need something, I'll just go to another floor and ask one of my darling co-workers to talk me through whatever it is I'm wondering. So that's reassuring. They've all told me they think I'll do a great job, though. And I'm not really worried, but it's bound to take some time to get the hang of it. The only way to improve is by actually doing it. It's not something you can practice outside of work. And I also love that my friend, who got me the job, is being very supportive, telling me "It doesn't matter if you forget to do something; you can just do it the next day. No one will know the difference, there's not like an inspector following you around." She's absolutely right. The day before yesterday, I thought I was recleaning toilets that had already been cleaned (but I did it anyway, because those were my instructions), but then I realized that they were indeed "dirty" (no, they weren't), it was just hard to tell, because I don't think the high school kids wash their hands... Yup, that's how I check if a toilet has been used or not: Are there paper towels in the trash?
So finally, I have a job. And it happened at the perfect time. I bought that lamp, remember? Which is GORGEOUS, by the way. Also, I love that it gets me out of the house, and that it's flexible. My life is somewhat of a mess, so I need the flexibility and the stability (yes, it makes sense to me) that this job offers. Now, if my last wisdom tooth would just hurry up an break through, that would be nice. Cause this dull pain is really treading on my last nerve.