Hi guys. I'm 21 from Canada (will be graduating soon from university and entering the workforce) and Ive been reading this forum on and off here and there...but finally decided to sign up now. I've read some of your guys' stories and thought I would just share my own.
To be honest, if you were to see me in person and have a brief 5 minute conversation with me...you'd probably think Im a normal guy. I dont have problems going out in public and talking to strangers or anything. That being said, I do consider myself as an introvert who is not particularily outgoing or social as those around me and terrible at public speaking. I've always been a pretty quiet, reserved guy...usually sticking to smaller groups. I may not have 500 friends on Facebook, but I do have a small bunch of good friends and even a very sweet girlfriend....which in my opinion, I am satisfied with. Growing up, I used to have very little friends because of how quiet I was, but I dont really feel like that is a problem now.
I never really thought of myself as having social issues until the last few years where I've had summer jobs here and there in the corporate world. I'm truly worried about entering the workforce because Ive realized that at work, you REALLY do have to get along with anyone and everyone around you. At school I've been lucky to be able to hang out with only those that I feel I am compatible with and almost ignoring everyone else. I've realized that there is only a small portion of people that I can hold a conversation with normally. With others, such as those who are really outgoing and social, I typically cant really hold a long conversation with or get to know them very well. I usually get along much better with geeky, awkward, or more down to earth people. Some people I just straight up dislike and will tend to ignore...which Im worried may come off as antisocial. These people are usually the talkative, social, overachieving, perhaps cocky and fake, party animal types. Problem is, the corporate world is filled with the latter and I feel very out of place when these people are around me. At work, I dont really talk much...mostly only when I need to. I find it very hard to find the right things to say sometimes, so I just keep quiet. It feels really awkward sometimes and Im not sure what to do. I'm just worried that I would come off as introverted and antisocial. I try to be friendly, yet I simply do not have much to say.
I'm not really sure what my problem is to be honest. Social awkwardness/phobia, shyness, anxiety...what is it? Perhaps a little bit of all, but not severely in any? How did you guys find the transition from school to the corporate world to be like and how did you best deal with it?
To be honest, if you were to see me in person and have a brief 5 minute conversation with me...you'd probably think Im a normal guy. I dont have problems going out in public and talking to strangers or anything. That being said, I do consider myself as an introvert who is not particularily outgoing or social as those around me and terrible at public speaking. I've always been a pretty quiet, reserved guy...usually sticking to smaller groups. I may not have 500 friends on Facebook, but I do have a small bunch of good friends and even a very sweet girlfriend....which in my opinion, I am satisfied with. Growing up, I used to have very little friends because of how quiet I was, but I dont really feel like that is a problem now.
I never really thought of myself as having social issues until the last few years where I've had summer jobs here and there in the corporate world. I'm truly worried about entering the workforce because Ive realized that at work, you REALLY do have to get along with anyone and everyone around you. At school I've been lucky to be able to hang out with only those that I feel I am compatible with and almost ignoring everyone else. I've realized that there is only a small portion of people that I can hold a conversation with normally. With others, such as those who are really outgoing and social, I typically cant really hold a long conversation with or get to know them very well. I usually get along much better with geeky, awkward, or more down to earth people. Some people I just straight up dislike and will tend to ignore...which Im worried may come off as antisocial. These people are usually the talkative, social, overachieving, perhaps cocky and fake, party animal types. Problem is, the corporate world is filled with the latter and I feel very out of place when these people are around me. At work, I dont really talk much...mostly only when I need to. I find it very hard to find the right things to say sometimes, so I just keep quiet. It feels really awkward sometimes and Im not sure what to do. I'm just worried that I would come off as introverted and antisocial. I try to be friendly, yet I simply do not have much to say.
I'm not really sure what my problem is to be honest. Social awkwardness/phobia, shyness, anxiety...what is it? Perhaps a little bit of all, but not severely in any? How did you guys find the transition from school to the corporate world to be like and how did you best deal with it?
