Urgent help needed - starting back at work tomorrow after 13 years as a SAHM…..

[InaneIvy]

I suddenly have this terror that I might start talking nonsense or come across as totally inane and thick!

How do you do professional small talk as opposed to school gate small talk ( and not talk about DC)?!

Also worried I might be slow at picking things up and make a total fool of myself!

Really cropping myself now after looking forward to it.

Any tips?

*crapping. Probably won’t be able to type either!

I’ve no tips flower (I waffle when I feel out of my depth) but I’m hoping it goes great for you!

You’ll be grand 🌻

Just keep schtum for the first day pretty much and smile at everyone you meet. Good luck. X

Congratulations! Im sure you'll be just fine.
I went back to work after 6 years at home and I settled in quickly. I hadn't used MS Word or Excel in years which took awhile getting used to . It felt very strange but I loved it.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy your new role!

Don't worry! I bet you'll spend much of the first day being shown around, meeting colleagues and how to log in/how systems work etc. Just smile at everyone and you'll be grand. Good luck!

You don't need to say much the first few days. You can always talk shop going forward. You will have an induction period and get to know someone and just keep a distance and keep it smiley and professional.

I wouldn’t worry about school gate small talk and mentioning kids. Chances are others will also have similar going on. Just relax and enjoy the new environment. Good luck!

Good luck! You’ll be fine. Don’t overthink it. Small talk is small talk. Ask people about themselves - most folk love that.
Congratulations @InaneIvy and all the best on this new chapter 💐

@InaneIvy

*crapping. Probably won’t be able to type either!

That reminds me. On my first day my manager was talking me through the computer signing in and she had to tell me where the @ button was as I wasn't used to the keyboard! I have a mac at home so had an excuse but was hoping she didn't think I was so useless!

Yes, ask questions, smile and listen to whatever is said. Nobody expects you to remember everything. Good luck

Don’t forget you can shut and lock the loo door when you go (if you’re working away from home). If you’re WFH and in video meetings make sure your camera and mike are off if you nip to the loo.

Other than that I am sure it will be fine.

Keep quiet listen the friendly ones can be the office pain in the ass

OH and you'll catch every sniffle going

I did this. It is scary. I suggest being fairly quiet and watch and listen to the others. Be friendly and interested. It will be fine.

Thank you all. Definitely good advice to not say much! Been quite isolated for the last few years so it’s definitely going to be a baptism of fire. I generally talk shit so will have to reign myself in.

From what I see, over that time workplace culture has changed quite a lot and it seems much more 'normal' to talk about one's kids at least somewhat. You might well be positively surprised.
Might not be the case if you're working somewhere very 'young' but where I've been there's been quite a switch. People talk about their pets a fair amount too perhaps because they can be seen and heard when WFH!

I hope you had a lovely first day @InaneIvy

How did your first day go @InaneIvy ?

Op, as long as your colleagues are nice it's going to be utterly glorious and amazing (do be careful saying you've been a sham however people may immediately think of their life choices)

It's going to be like waking up again, being back in the beating heart of the world, fast moving, interesting etc... Plugged in.

And when that first pay cheque comes through 😍❤️...

Don't worry, don't say too much... See what the lay of the land is

I went back after 10yrs as a sahm, you'll be surprised how quickly you get right back into the swing of it and it'll be like you never stopped working!

I found new social situations very difficult until my very chatty MIL confessed that when she doesn’t know what to say, she just talks about the stuff she can see around her and usually that’s enough to start a bit of conversation going.

Game changer for the socially anxious (me).

I went back to work just over 4 years ago after 12 years out - I'm sure you'll be fine. Small talk flows naturally and quite easily I think, where's the kitchen, lottery, xmas meal, secret santa etc.

Hope it was OK today - bet you're exhausted now!