24 Nov 2019

Agh, the world of full-time work. It’s undeniably a daunting world if you’ve grown accustomed to a flexible schedule, loose rules and downtime for days.

But change is the spice of life, and this new world will give you tonnes of experience, stories, skills and money baby!!!

1. This isn’t casual work

I mean, duh?!?!?! But, this may still be a bit of a rude awakening.

Say goodbye to the days of swapping shifts with workmates because you'd rather marathon FRIENDS all day instead. 

Compared to your casual counterparts, full-time work comes with a lot more responsibility and a lot more hours, something that takes a while to adjust to.

A plus is that, if you scored the classic 9-5, Monday to Friday full-time position, your weekends are left free and you'll finally understand why Fridays are such a big deal.

2. Say goodbye to your sleep-ins

Speaking on behalf of most full-time jobs that come with a 9-5 structure, your sleep-ins will become non-existant. :(((

Speaking of sleep, you may be tired... all the time. Well, at least when you first get the job. You probably aren't used to working so dang much and doing the same task. Unlike school, you can't exactly doze off on autopilot either. At first, you may be too tired to see friends or to exercise but after a little bit, you'll get used to the 40-hour working week and get back into the swing of things.

3. You'll earn lots of mulla

Here is the fun part. MONEEEYYYY.

You'll probably be earning more money than you ever have before and oh man is it a fun feeling watching your bank balance grow and grow and grow. 

But hold your horses!... My friend worked full-time for a year during her gap year and quickly became drunk with the power of earning a gnarly weekly income. She would buy things she didn't need and clothes she never wore. After a year of working Monday to Friday, her 'treat yo'self' attitude led her to disappointment as she only had $70 left in her bank account...All I'm saying is, don't get too carried away by all the dosh you're going to earn.

4. You may feel way out of your depth

If the only other job you had before this was at a fast-food restaurant or a clothes store where, majority of the time, you're just told what to do, your newfound responsibility may be quite overwhelming. You may feel bombarded with new information and feel frazzled by all the tasks that lay on your shoulders. Remember that everyone went through a point of not knowing what the heck they're doing.

Don't be afraid to ask questions! It'll all get easier after a little bit but until then, accept feedback, learn from mistakes and wing it.

5. You'll make new friends

You're going to be spending a solid chunk of your week with the same people and it's inevitable that you'll become close with some of them. You'll rant about your morning commute and how proud you are of your meal prep for the week. You'll have inside jokes and shared experiences of copping the same trials and tribulations. There'll be workplace gossip and drama. It's all good fun.

6. You'll become more productive

Since you spend so long working, your time off becomes more precious.

You deserve to spend days chillin' like a villain, binging Netflix and vegging out but for the most part, you'll probably be inspired to go out with friends more, get outside, exercise, and do all the hobbies that make you happy. You'll find that you're more productive with your time off in fear of wasting it.

7. It may not be your dream job...but that's okay

To be honest, this may not be your dream job. This may be a job you snatched up that is a means to an end. Perhaps you need to save $$$ for a traveling trip or a new car or you're using it as a stepping stone to get to a job you do want.

Who knows, you might fall in love with it. You might meet people that can hire you in a field closer to your dream. You might pick up a tonne of valuable skills. You might despise it.

It's all an experience. You get out what you put in.