In my first job, I was an auditor. Being one, it means behaving like a nomad in the office. By nomad, I mean not having a fixed working desk to call my own. We had a common area to use when we worked from the office. The reason for being a nomad is because we're expected to be out at clients' offices most of the time.
In my second job, I had a desk of my own but then it was in a really weird arrangement. It's actually a very long stretch of tables put together and we sat next to each other at arm's length, with no separators. That to me was already a big improvement to my nomad days so I was fine with it. Plus I sat next to a very nice lady and we always chatted and worked together. So the arrangement worked for me.
Then I moved on and this time, I had more decent desk space. That company was an open-concept office, so there were no cubicles installed. Everyone and see everybody, near or far. With that job, over time, I got to move into a room. I was excited! I guess anyone being offered a room of his or her own for the very first time would be excited. But not long after I moved into that room did I realise that it gets rather lonely. Back then with the open concept, whenever anyone wanted to take a break from work, they can just turn around and have a chat with a colleague or talk about lunch plans while working. In the room, it was just me, the computer and the four walls. So, I often got out and talked to my colleagues because I wasn't used to the isolation though I liked the privacy.
I left that job and moved on where I was entitled to a room but they had run out of them. So I was seated at a shared cubicle. This time, I didn't quite mind it because I got to enjoy the company of colleagues again!
Now, in my current job, I have a similar seating arrangement with shared cubicles. But come Monday, I'll be shifting into a personal cubicle. Again, I like the privacy of my own space and I get lots and lots of space with it too. I also like the fact that there's a window behind me. But I am quite sad about the part where I would feel isolated again. Sometimes I wonder if the benefits of having your own space outweigh having easy access to friends around you. After all, they are the ones who make life more interesting at work.
Perhaps it just takes some adjusting to, and making more effort to get out of my own space and be with the others. It's just that it seems a bit weird to hang around people's workstations, doesn't it?
In my second job, I had a desk of my own but then it was in a really weird arrangement. It's actually a very long stretch of tables put together and we sat next to each other at arm's length, with no separators. That to me was already a big improvement to my nomad days so I was fine with it. Plus I sat next to a very nice lady and we always chatted and worked together. So the arrangement worked for me.
Then I moved on and this time, I had more decent desk space. That company was an open-concept office, so there were no cubicles installed. Everyone and see everybody, near or far. With that job, over time, I got to move into a room. I was excited! I guess anyone being offered a room of his or her own for the very first time would be excited. But not long after I moved into that room did I realise that it gets rather lonely. Back then with the open concept, whenever anyone wanted to take a break from work, they can just turn around and have a chat with a colleague or talk about lunch plans while working. In the room, it was just me, the computer and the four walls. So, I often got out and talked to my colleagues because I wasn't used to the isolation though I liked the privacy.
I left that job and moved on where I was entitled to a room but they had run out of them. So I was seated at a shared cubicle. This time, I didn't quite mind it because I got to enjoy the company of colleagues again!
Now, in my current job, I have a similar seating arrangement with shared cubicles. But come Monday, I'll be shifting into a personal cubicle. Again, I like the privacy of my own space and I get lots and lots of space with it too. I also like the fact that there's a window behind me. But I am quite sad about the part where I would feel isolated again. Sometimes I wonder if the benefits of having your own space outweigh having easy access to friends around you. After all, they are the ones who make life more interesting at work.
Perhaps it just takes some adjusting to, and making more effort to get out of my own space and be with the others. It's just that it seems a bit weird to hang around people's workstations, doesn't it?
3 comments:
Me own space.. but i love to yak.. so i hear yer.. :)
i love the space and privacy too. hopefully the yaks can still remain. working on it ;)
Hi E, if it's a promotion...congrats. All the very best. Take care
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