Starting a new job can be intimidating.
For a transfer student applying to an organization at a school you haven’t fully acclimated to, it could be especially daunting. In such a new environment, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by new social surroundings and professional endeavors.
Typically being a graphic designer, the production manager is usually not involved in writing or journalism; my courses have operated separately from my colleagues, so cooperating in a journalistic space with so many talented writers, editors and producers can lead you to feel somewhat detached from the organization.
So evidently when I started my job at the Good Five Cent Cigar, I felt as out of place as possible; my first few weeks consisted of biding time silently in my office doing my job and praying I didn’t get my new coworkers out too late on Wednesday nights.
My coworkers, of whom I was terrified of annoying or aggravating in any way, ended up being the best part of the job and I quickly found the pressure of the job dissipating with each passing week.
What started as one of the more intimidating and alienating experiences in my college career, ended as one of the most inviting and involving. So in the interest of the organization in general, my coworkers and especially myself: I have some overall takeaways from my experience at the Cigar that I think would lend itself useful to anybody questioning getting involved.
Be involved: As creatives in our fields, be it writing or design; it is pivotal that students leave college with a professional portfolio or with meaningful work experience. Working at the Cigar has ensured I have achieved proficiency in design softwares and accrued countless pieces for my portfolio.
Make connections: People that you work with aren’t simply there to help you get the job done. I have met countless interesting, kind and smart people at the Good Five Cent Cigar. Whether it be for a professional or social sense, the Cigar has provided me with connections that could last a lifetime.
Take chances: I lied on my resume saying I was fluent with Adobe Indesign. Truth be told, I had used the program only a few times prior to my time at the Cigar and I wanted to learn the skill and expand my portfolio. Even though I put my reputation in danger to do so, I ended up with a new asset to my career in the long run.
While it was daunting starting this job at the Good Five Cent Cigar, it pales in comparison to the fear I feel when thinking about what would have been had I never joined this organization.
Thank you to my peers of the past semesters for cooperating, spending time and bonding with me during this journey. I am more than grateful for the impact the paper has had on my college experience.
Good luck to the oncoming board of editors, as well as Sullivan Cummins, who is taking my job in the coming semester.
This being said if anyone is hiring please let me know.
-Nils