So, I was having a very random discussion the other day with two of my girlfriends about different working environments. One of them works in a very well-known multinational company and the other one at a very hip marketing agency. Quite happy with her job, my friend who works for the marketing agency confessed that she still feels absent from the ‘real world.’
The flexible funky work environment she works at, with everyone almost the same age as her, made her feel like she’s still stuck in university. At the same time, the other friend thought that the professionalism and seriousness she had at her workplace was reflected on her way of life to a very big extent.
via Giphy
After having that conversation, I’ve decided to ask different people whether they thought working in a corporate environment would make them feel more like grow-ups; here’s what they said.
Omar Amin, 24: “I don’t think it makes that much of a difference. Wanting a stricter corporate life just for the sake of it, doesn’t make sense to me. I think that the grim black and white corporate atmosphere is just a superficial image that is mostly used to keep things traditional.”
Bassem El Dahawy, 25: “I don’t feel that it’s relevant whatsoever. My work environment does not in any way affect how mature or grown-up I am. You can find someone goofing around in a very serious atmosphere, whilst another working very hard in a flexible ambiance.”
Mariam El Nakkadi, 26: “You should always be professional, regardless of the type of environment you work in. I, however, do prefer a more lenient and laid-back work atmosphere, it helps me focus better.”
Maha Sabry, 38: “I’m pretty sure that if I worked in a lively environment that has less formality, it would definitely affect my attitude and would bring out my young spirit. But when it comes to maturity, I don’t think it has anything to do with the surrounding environment, one can be very mature whilst maintaining their young spirit.”
Ahmed Soliman, 35: “I don’t think the corporate environment is by any means related to how grown-up a person is. I believe it depends on the complexity of the tasks assigned to the person and the amount of responsibilities they have.”
Farah Assem, 23: “I think your work environment definitely affects who you are in terms of your actions and attitude at the workplace. I believe that if the atmosphere is too flexible or funky it can make a grown-up act childishly and vice versa. But then again, you can always release your inner child at work whilst still knowing your roles and responsibilities and striving to stay you, no matter the weather.”
Rana Awadalla, 23: “I think work environment does affect your attitude at work. Speaking from experience, there were a couple of jobs in the past that required me to come on as more ‘mature’ and ‘professional’ such as teaching or working in real estate. Then there were other jobs that allow you to be a bit more creative and yourself. I wouldn’t say it affects the level of maturity but it does affect your demeanor towards life in general as in “I feel more comfortable being myself doing this job rather than another.”
Doaa Nuaya, 33: “Culture differs from one corporate to another, there is no one-size fits all. Working in a corporate environment doesn’t necessarily make me feel like a grown-up but I think it kind of makes me more grim.”
Kurt Galalah, 26: “Work environment is important but not in terms of being corporate-like or funky, but rather it being toxic or not. If a toxic work environment is present amongst a corporate or an agency, then people will surely not be professional whatever the case is. However, if I have to say something about feeling like a grown-up and/or professional at a serious corporate or a funky agency, I say you can definitely be one in any of the above scenarios.
