Like everyone, even I was advised or rather warned to not make friends at my first job. People told me that it is not possible to make friends at work because of office politics, competition, jealousy and whatnot. And TBH, I carried a similar judgement with me in my professional life but gradually I realised that such preconceived notions about office friendships were not really helpful. I worked with a bunch of super hard-working and intelligent ladies who always got each other’s backs. For me, they made life a little less burdensome while I stayed away from home. So here’s me sharing my experience to let you know that sometimes you might find the best bunch at your workplace ONLY!
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I was absolutely sure that I had passed the age where we make friends. Those fun days of making random memories had to come to an end as soon as I finished college, at least that’s what I thought. There were many people who advised me to not trust my colleagues blindly and that too when I was going to work in a completely new place, away from home. TBH, I too had accepted that I may no longer find understanding people and confide in them. I prepared myself to lead a life full of responsibilities and monotony. Little did I know that life had surprises for me at work way more than I had even dreamt of. My all-women team broke every little preconceived notion I had about office friendships, From a work wife to the friend who gave the best hugs, I found one of the best bunch of friends during my first job. Also, since, I was staying away from home, it was quite natural to feel lonely at times, but would my office friends let me feel that way for very long? No chance!
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I remember one of my colleagues cum friends dropping at my place unannounced, only to turn my boring Sunday into one of the most memorable ones. I got office friends who shared food with me on the days when I did not carry a tiffin. Work was always our priority but trust me, when it came to having fun together, we made sure to make it a hell of an experience. From ordering mouth-watering meals during lunch breaks, to randomly having a pizza party, who would have thought work could be so much fun? Not me, at least!
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And, well, where do I even start talking about my work bestie? Not even in my wildest dreams would I have thought of finding one of the best people in my life rn, that too at a WORKPLACE! In no time, I developed an unbreakable bond with my work bestie or better known as my work wife. From sharing about my very questionable love life to having the most mature discussions, we made uncountable memories in a very short span of time.
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Also Read: International Friendship Day: 10 Reasons Why Office Friendships Are Tighter Than Others
Not exactly friend, but even at moments my boss gave me the much-needed comfort I wanted in a whole new place. Also, she treated us to some of the best desserts!
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Even professionally, I experienced working with the most supportive group of colleagues. Never did I feel that there were efforts made to pull me down or discourage me from doing well in my career. Conversations around work and career were always empowering, and well on the side, the love life sucked for each one of us. So that too made us bond really tight!
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So my best bunch of office friends did help me break the notion that “You don’t make friends at work”. However, I still will not carry high expectations in all the jobs that I do but at the same, will definitely not believe that office friendships are shallow or fake!