As of yesterday, I have been at my current place of employment for 10 years. I am not sure why this is significant to me, but it kind of is. This is the first (and only) "real" job I have ever had. To me it's almost as though I've grown up at this company. It's a small company, and I believe I was something like employee number 52 when I was hired. The company had only been around for 4 years at the time I was hired. Many of the people I work with I consider close friends. We frequently hang out outside of work -- going out to dinner or meeting for a movie, etc. I've attended several co-worker's weddings and was even a part of the wedding party for one co-worker friend.
I believe I got incredibly lucky in many ways. At the end of January of my last semester at college I had my second interview and within hours had a job offer. I believe I actually had an email with an offer waiting for me by the time I was done with the 40 minute trip back home from the interview. I completed my last semester already knowing where I was going to go after I graduated, which was a huge relief. I feel luckly that the people interviewing me saw through my poor interviewing skills to my engineering skills and good work ethic. I am fortunate that the culture/work environment was such a good fit for me. The company I work for now is the only place I interviewed. I received an acceptable offer for a position in my chosen field that was exactly what I wanted to do, and that was that.
I graduated college on May 20th, 2000 and started work a little over two weeks later on June 5th. I was barely legal to drink when I first walked through the doors for my first day of work. I had been 21 for about 8 months. Still a child, really. When I look back, both personally and professionally, I feel like I've come such a long way. Back in that first summer I was naive, a little scared, and very ready to work. I was very timid and was insecure in my work. I have since been promoted to "Senior Engineer". I conduct interviews, train new employees, and am included on many crucial company initiatives. I have a great deal more confidence, both in myself as a person as well as in my workplace abilities. I respectfully speak my opinion rather than just assume that the ideas/thoughts of others are better or more important.
Reflecting like this kind of makes me think... where will my career take me in the next 10 years? Will I still be working at the same company? Will I even be working at all or will I be staying at home with kids?
What has your job/work experience been like? Are you doing what you expected when you finished school? Have you changed careers or gone back to school for something else?
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