So, I'm starting a new job. Was at the last one for ten years, learned a lot, did a lot of interesting things but it was time for a change. Not much of a change, though, as the company that hired me had already hired three people I worked with before. Still, I would be doing new things, playing with new technologies and building new systems, second-guessing myself every step of the way.
This is the thing with new jobs, I usually get depressed the first week. Mostly I think it is because I can't hit the ground running: there are new tools to learn, new processes and everything that is easy and trivial for those who have been there for a while is not easy and trivial for me. So that makes me feel stupid and incompetent and sad.
This time it was different, though. I was greeted by people who made me feel like I belonged, I got a shiny new computer to play with, a monitor that is way bigger than I could possibly need and access to a very conveniently located espresso maker. Outside the office is a pretty square with lawns and trees and two blocks away more restaurants than I can shake a stick at (given there are about 14 restaurants on that street, I guess I am not good at shaking sticks).
As for the tools, processes and systems that normally make me feel stupid? A lesson I learned in my last job helped me deal with it: these are tools, processes and systems created and used by people just like me. If they can learn how it all works, so can I.
And I did get at 10% discount card at Target.
