Friend starting an office job - need ideas for a treat bag

[QuestionableMouse]

She's had a really rough few years and has finally found a good job but is really nervous about starting! Looking for ideas to put in a little gift bag to make her first week a bit nicer/easier.

Have so far:

Latte pouches
Squeezy Squash
Biscuit packs
Mints
Small notepad
Pens
Sticky pads

I have no idea on the office supplies or culture unfortunately!

Thank you!

Nail file
Lip balm

Do you know if she'll have her own desk or will she be hot desking? There's no point buying pen pots or anything she needs to keep in/on a desk if she's hot desking.

How often will she be going into the office? If she's working from home she may have that stuff already. I had a fancy pen pot (then went back to a mug), it just sits there on my desk full of pens I don't use as I use the same one pen until it runs out😂. So it's just clutter now. The pen I use fits nicely in my notebook so when I go into the office I chuck my notebook in my laptop bag and don't worry about hunting for a pen.

Also anything too personal like perfume or sanitary products are just that too personal.

If you have a photo which you know she likes you could have this printed on a mouse mat for her (there are various people on Amazon who do this). That works well if she hot desks as it’s an easy way to personalise a desk.

you said she was fussy about what she drinks so maybe a small plunger coffee pot which makes 2 mugs full of coffee? You can also get plunger mugs (I got one for work about 10 years ago also from Amazon).

I wouldn't get too much. I would feel very awkward turning up at work with a load of goodies, without knowing what the set up is!

I would appreciate:
A mug (but you said she had one)
A nice notebook, so that I could make notes on what is expected re: breaks, booking annual leave, where the canteen is, my phone number etc.
Some nice pens - I hate cheap biros
travel pack of tissues
Very small packet of sweets or similar - tic tacs?

if you have plenty of money and she will be working near a Starbucks or similar - a pre-paid coffee card so she can get herself a nice drink before/after work or at lunch.

Aww you're such a good friend OP xx

She's in the office for five days a week, 9-5 or 11-7.

It's in a bit of an odd sport so no cafes or coffee shops near unfortunately. She's planning on taking packed lunches so will have a bag with her for that.

Thinking notepad/pens because I remember how overwhelming it can be starting a new job with all the info flying about! Tea/coffee and such will go in her lunch bag. She'll also have her car there so it's not like she's using public transport.

No, I asked for ideas.

What about a lunch bag then.

Post it notes of different sizes, some for notes, some to mark pages etc. You can get them in Poundland. Invaluable.

You are a lovely friend. May I borrow you??

She's a mum to two girls but has had an absolutely shocking few years - divorce, redundancy, a health scare and has really struggled. Her confidence has really been rattled and she's said she's nervous about starting a new job so I just want to put a little bag together for her.

And of course I'm not going to pitch up at the office with it. 🙄 I'm going to drop it off at her house!

Already got one! 😁

Hand wipes

A set of travel cutlery that comes in a little case. There is never enough cutlery in our staff kitchen.

Good idea , i used to stockpile the plastic stuff from Pret in my desk tidy, but then they switched to wood which makes my teeth itch.

I think she's planning on using her own from home in her lunch bag. 😊

You've had some lovely suggestions for stuff for a gift bag.

I'd probably add a text message in the morning wishing her luck, letting her know you're thinking of her and know she'll do great, and one after work checking in.

Not demanding any kind of response of information just a reminder that you're there if she needs you

Yep, was planning on that anyway! Tbh I'm picking her kiddos up from school and making tea so will be able to chat with her about it! 😁

When I started a new job a few years ago a friend did a similar thing but she wrapped everything up and gave me 5 little presents labelled with the days of the week to get me through the first week.
It was such a lovely thought and I am waiting for someone I care about to start a new job so I can do the same!

You (and she) are very lovely people!

I’m surprised no one has suggested a wrap for the autumn and winter.

Communal offices are set to “man temperature” so most of the women are sitting in scarves, wraps or chunky cardigans.

Does she drink coffee ?

I got a lovely bodum travel cup as a present once,it's likely cafetiere that you drink out of.

I think jts called a bodum travel French dress.

That and nice ground coffee could be good.

Also maybe something to carry lunch in?

What a lovely thought OOP. Even if she doesn’t bring it all into the office, just the thought that you’ve taken the time to do this is bound to give her such a boost.

The things suggested so far sound lovely - as people have mentioned, some office environments can be very different from each other, so generic office stuff is best unless it’s personal to her (like the tea bags!). Maybe the aircon will work, maybe it won’t (or maybe it’ll work too well!) maybe she’ll get stationery provided, maybe she won’t (or it’ll be crappy).