The most obvious cues to me at first were the ones demanding professionalism. It wasn’t long after I joined that I was told to be less ‘whimsical’ in my email ‘Heyoos’ and my hopeful sign-offs–and soon after other things of the sort.
I have to admit I’m pretty uncomfortable and unfamiliar with representing myself as a ‘professional.’ I have only ever had my ‘personal touch’ be encouraged before now, and so it’s pretty strange being told all of a sudden that there are more things to consider in order to be considered considerate in the working world.
I know everyone at my site wants to help me grow, and I know it’s important to know how to be able to do both–and I know I’m definitely not an expert in all this–and so I know the only right thing to do is to take this change in culture in as a learning experience.
But I also know I am pretty stubborn, so my heart might not be won over for a while.
I have started to see the benefits of being able to change my type of professionalism already though–while some of the people I’m interviewing want to hear about my family as I hear about theirs, many of them get a little quieter if I stretch in my chair.
I can’t always know before the interview starts what will make my interviewee most comfortable, but I have found listening to them talk first, before I really talk too much goes a long way in deciding whether or not to use contractions, and whether or not to smile too much.
