Starting a graduate job during a global pandemic

Going into my final year at university I had no idea what I wanted to do afterwards. What I did know was I didn't want to go down the road of what my degree was all about.

After many, many rejections and failed interviews, I got offered a job. One where I had no idea what I was going to be doing or what it would be like. I had very little knowledge of the industry.

I was buzzing. It was time to go into the big bad world. I had no expectations whatsoever which was key to hitting the ground running. I kept an open mind, allowing flexibility in adapting to the new surroundings. I was grateful to be working on site too. Many of my fellow graduates were working from home (I would later experience for a brief period that working from home in my role was not to my liking).

Okay, enough of me rambling. How did the pandemic affect the job? Other than the obvious social distancing measures in meeting rooms (on the very rare occasion I'm in one, most meetings are on Teams) and everyone being spaced out in the office I could not see much change in a pre-pandemic world.  

The pandemic has affected the social aspect of work a lot. We sit spaced out at lunchtimes and we haven't had the chance to socialise outside of work. This is particularly hard for myself and the other graduates on site. It means you only get to know the work version of someone. You don't get to see the relaxed and social side of your colleagues. You can't get to know the person.

Training courses have been postponed to a year later than originally planned. Potential trips to other sites have also been put on hold for the foreseeable. A change of scenery at some point would be refreshing.

As we (hopefully) near the end of the pandemic, I am interested to see whether we keep some of the norms from the last year (at home and in the workplace) or whether society returns to the pre-pandemic ways.