Bonding over shared experiences can be the start of a beautiful friendship
Over the summer, I started my first internship. It was overwhelming being in a 9-5 adult job with the immense responsibilities that came with it. I was stressed about making sure that everything I produced and presented was perfect, and was sometimes afraid to ask questions to senior management because I didn’t want to look incompetent or incapable. I was also new to this industry, unsure of whether I really fit in, and was crippled with a sense of impostor syndrome as I stepped into the office every day. Did I really belong here? Was I qualified enough for this role?
Lucky for me, I had a group of interns who I came in with who were also going through the same thing, and I didn’t realize how much their support and help meant to me until I looked back at my time at the company. I remember how awkward our first interactions were, but as we started getting involved in more projects and working closely together, it was truly heartwarming to have people who knew exactly what you were going through.
According to a survey conducted by Wildgoose in 2021, 57% of people say that having a best friend in the workplace makes work more enjoyable, 22% feel more productive having friends at work and 21% agree that friendship makes them more creative. I feel like having people my age to bounce ideas off of or to ask questions to makes work so much easier. You might even feel more comfortable asking your fellow interns a question before reaching out to your supervisor. I remember not knowing how to use a particular software, and was too nervous because I wasn’t sure who to ask for help. Luckily, one of my work besties was familiar with it and walked me through the steps without any judgment.
It is also great to have someone who you can talk to about anything and everything, especially when you spend the better part of your day in the office. My work besties knew everything that was going on in my life, from my relationship drama to what I had for dinner the night before. Being together for a huge amount of time helped me become closer to my work besties and it’s so interesting to find out what goes on in their life beyond their 9-5. Most importantly, work besties also know all about the office drama and who’s who, so it’s always fun to turn to them and talk about what’s going on in the office.
Work besties also know the day-to-day struggles of being in the office, which made it easier to form a bond together. There were days when I was frustrated with work, and trying to explain it to my friends outside of the office was hard because I would have to give a lot of backstory and context before delving into the problem. Work besties know the projects you’re working on and the struggles that come along with working for your particular company. Having work besties gave me a support system during my internship that could truly understand what I was going through, and could give me advice specific on my situation.
Honestly, my internship experience would have been so different if I didn’t have my work besties who had my back every single day. So, come into work with an open mind about forging friendships with your coworkers, and rely on them when you need them. And to my work besties, know how much I appreciate you and miss you all!