Feature

Truth is he divides opinions even today did we evolve, didn't we? The question remains, at least as far as our physical entities are concerned.

But speaking figuratively, evolving is all we do. (no this is not a science lecture)

We humans change everyday, adapting ourselves to different situations each minute. It is one of our greatest inherent traits.

As a baby, we act a certain way. That changes as we grow older and older. Transition becomes the way to do things as nothing remains static. We are expected to be a certain way at school, a different way at college, and another totally different way as members of the workforce.

It can become a tad stressful acclimatising ourselves to each role, but truth is the changes don't need to be hectic.

Moving into our first job after nearly twenty years of being a student is perhaps the pinnacle of all evolution.

One moment you are carefree with no responsibilities and then wham you are hit with a ton of work and people (family included) now expect so much more from you.

It is an expectation that many struggle to deal with and caught up in an environment that may be totally different from what you are used to in school and college, many struggle to adapt.

But as aforementioned it doesn't really have to be that way.

“If you come down to basics, your student life and job life isn't entirely different,' says Anika, a fresh graduate.

“Yes, people treat you differently and there is more expectation on you but at the end of the day you get paid for it!” she continues.

Which would, in this case, be the all-popular response. For while you pay to be a student, you are paid to be a member of the workforce.

“But for a serious student, work life isn't really that different you keep doing the same things that you did in school,” concludes Anika.

“Not always,” argues Adnan, a young professional in the pharmaceutical industry. “There are a lot of challenges that need to be addressed. For one a job is so much of a more formal institution. You have to dress impeccably gone are the days of just throwing something on and rushing to class!”

“Plus, there is office decorum to maintain. A lot of jokes are off limit and if you are too effervescent, you may have to reign yourself in a bit. Same goes for those who are quiet…if you aren't vocal you won't be heard.”

Too much trouble?

“Not if you find a good mix in your job,” says Safwan a newly joined Territory Office (TO) of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB).

Safwan professed himself initially wary as he moved towards the end of his academic career and started to speculate on a prospective career in the real workplace.

But at BATB he instantly felt at home.

“When I got into BATB, I was shocked at how informal everyone was and how deeply everyone had a team spirit built into them,” recalls Safwan.

“Well, sure, I am at the bottom of the food chain but its amazing how much everyone wants to help. Anything, from how to get a morning cup of tea to how to manage people, its all there.”

So is this the perfect place to work at?

“Close enough,” says Rezwan, “but like Darwin's natural selection not all of us are evolved (read good) enough for BATB! It's a matter of finding the right balance for yourself and with a bit of luck and some more of application, it really shouldn't be that hard.”