I can’t believe we’ve made it here! You survived writing your CV and the excruciating job interview and got yourself a job. You want to know what talent is? You. That’s who.

Now, a new job is terrifying.

You’re having to meet lots of new people all at once (for me, meeting just one new person is exhausting)

 and you’re having to learn a completely new position – all while dealing with that crushing anxiety.

Your main aim at first should be to do your job. You probably won’t be good at it. Most likely, you’ll be actually, quite bad at it.

But, as long as you’re trying – you’ll be fine. You need to just do your best and LISTEN to criticism. Your co-workers are going to get annoyed at you and tell you what you’re doing wrong – you need to realise this isn’t them attacking you

but rather them trying to improve you. Listen, take in and learn.

Keep doing this and before you know it, you’ll be an expert.

Your secondary aim should be to make friends.

Why? Because you can get through any job if you have friends. You could be dealing with the worst shift EVER but with friends it can be HILARIOUS.

So, talk, laugh, get to know one another and make friends! Before you know it, you’ll be excited to go to work just to catch up and getting to the point where you’ll once again be bad at your job (please refer back to our first aim).

Finally, you need to breathe and think of these survival tips:

1. Think of the money.
2. Realise you’re not going to be perfect.
3. Think of the money.
4. Take it one shift at time.
5. Think of the money.
6. Try and enjoy it.
7. THINK. OF. THE. MONEY.

You need to find what motivates you, it might not even be the money – maybe it’s the experience or getting out the house or feeling like you’re doing something with your day or even your life. Whatever it is, let it motivate you. Because there is going to be times where you’ll feel like going to work is the last thing you want to do. Especially in the beginning where you feel overwhelmed and alone and asking yourself “did I really want this job?”.

My advice is to stick it out for as long as you can. You can only truly know what you want when it’s no longer a debate. There will be no doubt. Stick to it, work and I’m sure you’ll end up loving your new job.