Back to Work - What's it like?

The calendar said it had been 19 years since I held traditional paid full time work. Those years were filled with family and friends, part-time work, volunteer experiences and elected roles but along the way I yearned to be back at work. Eventually, I tick that box and the goal was achieved,  I was offered and accepted a full time role in my field of interest!

Everyone asked me "What was I going to do before I started back to work?" - was I going to start or finish projects at home, was I going to travel, was I going to visit old and new friends However, I wasn't going to intentionally do any of those things, I was going to wake up every day knowing that the schedule and rhythm of these days was of my own making and that would soon change.

The morning arrived when it was time to head to work.  With an office dress code of  'dress for the day', I selected a casual dress and sweater.  I wanted to look like I had never left the office but not be over or under dressed.  At the office I was overwhelmed by the many people welcoming me and asking about my story. I met men whose wives had gone back to work or were thinking about returning, women who had taken a break and colleagues whose moms were balancing kids, parents, family, other commitments and work like me.

My returnship status -contractor- meant I wouldn't be attending the same training as new employees but I was welcomed by my new colleagues. They were excited to greet me, give me a tour, and go out to lunch.  I got to know the technology help desk well and did my best to try to remember everyone's name.  At the time, I didn't know that other members of my department had joined the company months before me so being new was not new to this group; I later learned that I shared many of the same new experiences with them.

In the first weeks my spare moments were used to read the company website, learn more about my department, other employees, processes and walk to other parts of the building to learn my way around. Like every new experience there is something new to learn every day.

"But what is it like to be back?" everyone asked.  In many ways it felt like there hadn't been a time when I wasn't employed.  I use my skills and knowledge to get work done, add value where I can and come up to speed with new vocabulary and a new company. Feeling strong about being at work, I dive into new tasks and projects.  Some days go well and at other times something doesn't go as planned.  Most often than not the stumbling block is technological. More often than not it is something is fixed with a quick call to the help desk and I learn that the other new employees are having similar learning experiences.  I remind myself that I am like all new employees and we are experiencing transition using the skills I have acquired in my various experiences helps me get through the good and the bad. However, for me, focusing on one thing all day makes doing the job easier than the multitasking I experienced at home.  As we say to one another in our blog group -"we've got this" when we use each other as resources to find answers, share experiences and most importantly look at things from a new perspective.  It's good to be back.


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