THE REALITY OF WORKING A 9-5 JOB.

The reality of a 9-5 job. Too often while we are at college or university, we are just encouraged to meet the goals of getting a job, rarely are we ever prepped for handling the reality of a 9-5 corporate job.

And I honestly think this is problematic and damagining. Now, as a recent graduate I want to discuss the reality of having a 9-5 job, in doing this I hope you can gain a clearer picture of the corporate world!

So, for all my recent graduates, current students or just for people who are interested in learning about the reality of 9-5 jobs, let’s get into the 9 things I have learned about my corporate job.

I think it’s important to say that every 9-5 job is different to if you work a 9-5 job and you don’t understand or believe some of the comments I am about to make then just don’t get angry. 

Also this video is coming from a recent graduate. I haven’t been in the game for 30 years so let’s also keep that in mind but other than that let’s get going. 

You Will Get Tired. 

I remember when my older sister started her 9-5 job, she would come home absolutely shattered, and would often once she got her the first thing she would do is sleep. I honestly thought she was lazy, I mean, sitting at a desk for 8 hours couldn’t be that draining, right? Boy! Was I wrong! 

Jobs can be extremely draining, and can have a physical and mental toll on you.

Especially, if you are a fresh graduate and you are not used to waking up early, concentrating for longer than two hours straight or constantly being forced to think, come up with solutions, create and produce.

All these things at the end of the day can make you extremely tired. 

But be happy to know, you will probably get used to working and not get too tired, or like some people, you will find coping mechanisms like coffee, to overcome tiredness, I don’t recommend this, but it is what some people do.

You Will Develop A Core Relationships With Your Coworkers. 

This point is debatable, and probably mainly relates to roles where teamwork is the core element of the job. But, good or bad you will build relationships with your core workers.

Personally, I think if you build positive relationships with your coworkers it can support your output and progression at work so much. 

In a more general sense, you will learn alot and I mean a lot about your co-workers, and if you open up they will learn a-lot about you.

Time With Your Loved Ones Is Reduced. 

Keep in mind this is coming from somebody who currently lives at home with their family, I hardly get to spend intimate time with my family, in the morning I am rushing to work and when I get home I am content or trying to go to sleep early because I am tired. 

Within popular Hollywood movies, you often see the working family, you see the rushed school runs or the tired parents trying to make dinners and sometimes failing to spend time with their children.

Honestly, this is the reality of many households, your work can really distance you from your loved ones. 

With that being said, it has become so important for me to schedule and be intentional about making time for family and friends.

Little things like, cooking together during the weekdays, or having movie nights or day trips every weekend, ensures you are keeping up those relationships.

Office Politics.

Now this one really surprised me, and i think depending on the sector, the industry and time spent at your company, the severity of office politics varies.

But, office politics is real, and grown adults still act like they are in reception or kindergarten, having playground ‘fights’.

In the real corporate world, executives in family based companies are often married to one another or dating, colleagues are constantly trying to walk over another to gain a position and some colleagues actually enjoy drama. 

I found issues like this very odd, because you often see it in movies, but I never thought i would deal with it in real life.

And in all truth and honesty I would encourage people to stay clear of any drama, and just focus on your job role and excelling and what you have been tasked to do!

Office drama is a headache not worth entertaining.

Check out my top advice for recent graduates!

You May Be A Loner At Work.

Cliques, friendship groups and personal relationships are a common thing within the corporate world and as a new graduate entering such environments, it can be difficult.

Often people are not accepting and do not want change, in some circumstances you may be replacing somebody who various people liked.

Such reasons may leave you ostracised from social circles in your workplace.

I also think it is important to talk about, lack of diversity in the workplace, so whether for whatever reason you end up being the only black, female or person with disabilities at your work, it can feel isolating, like really isolating.

It’s something I see constantly at different companies, and it’s if you end up being in that position it can be extremely difficult, and you can be constantly misunderstood. 

I hope companies that lack diversity, do away with models of tokenism because it’s honestly damaging mentally for the person who has to be the ‘token’.

You Are Reminded of The Reality of Capitalism.

Now, if you have the opportunity to have a role where you can view the expenditure of the company, when you compare it to what you earn your mind will be blown.

And it doesn’t even matter if you actually earn a lot, the margin between those who ‘own’ the company and those who work for the company is always huge! 

Most people who want to work a 9-5 job do not really care about this, but I think it’s really interesting.

If this is something off putting for you, there are opportunities in companies, to invest in shares and ‘own’ aspects of companies, definitely look into such opportunities before and during your working career.

People Will Take Advantage of You. 

Now especially if you are a graduate or new to the corporate world, people within your workplace may take advantage of you, this is just a honest truth about 9-5 jobs.

Whether that is giving you their workload or forcing you to take on extra tasks or giving you the task nobody wants to do.

It happens, and there is a fine line between working hard to prove yourself and being walked over, and you will have to measure that line and ensure you are not being walked over.

Your Job Can Be Absorbing.

The general consensus is that once you get home your work life ends, this is not necessarily true.

When you first start out, you are anxious about work, you worry about meeting deadlines and your worry about your progress.

And if you work in a sector where you are dealing with people and their lives, you can come home feeling anxious about what will happen.

Whether you are a family lawyer, doctor, support worker or care workers, work issues can stay on your mind and follow you home. 

I think it takes time as a professional to learn how to detach!

I think this point will resonate with people who are passionate about their work, maybe for people who do not care too much about what they are doing at work (this is not a bad thing) detached will be easy.

Nonetheless, I thought it was a point that should not be neglected, it’s a reality of a 9-5 job.

You Need to Start Thinking About Your Health More. 

When I was at university or college, I constantly was on my feet, I walked everywhere!

To lectures, to meals with friends, to my job. I obviously had to sit down for long hours on days where I had a full day of lectures and seminars, but apart from those days, I kept active. 

If you have desk jobs, where you are sitting down for a lot of hours, it’s important to know, this isn’t healthy, and humans were not made to sit down for most of the day.

Its very important you find ways to keep active, so whether that’s taking quick walks around the office every hour or choosing to bike or walk home if you live local. Any form of activeness can go a long way!

So that’s all my points! The reality of a 9-5 jobs, unpacked.

Do not forget to check out my Youtube video on this too! Hope you enjoyed and keep elevating your knowledge.