Like I said before, I started my new job. One of the biggest differences between where I was and where I am now is that instead of having an office with a door and two windows, I have a cubicle with no doors and no windows. I think it is probably 8 ft. x 8 ft. My cubicle is on the second floor of the building in this fairly small room that used to be a lunch room or break room. There are 7 cubicles in here. There is only one way in or out and I have to go by everyone else to get to mine. I chose to have the one in the very back corner because it offers at least a small amount of privacy. People have to know where to look to find me otherwise I am just forgotten. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
It’s been 3 years since I have had to work in a cubicle and there is a lot about cube life that I have to get used to. The biggest thing is that everyone can here what you say or what you listen to. I had gotten spoiled being able to listen to music through my iPhone using speakers so I wouldn’t have to wear headphones. That’s not the case now. I can’t exactly rock out or anything because of the other people around me. I hate having to wear headphones because I don’t like being tethered to my desk. The other thing about people being able to hear what you say is the gossip and phone calls. Before, I could use the phone for a personal call without having to worry about someone overhearing what I was saying. Not the case now. And God forbid you say something about someone else that you work with. The walls definately have ears and they are always listening.
Cubes are just so boring and drab. Who wants gray walls and a gray desk and black filing cabinets? Who wants two tiny, little shelves to put things on? They are just so impersonal, small and boring. There is even some kind of rule about plants. I don’t get that. Why can’t you have a little ivy on your desk or something. Anything would help to liven the place up.
Don’t get me wrong, I am happy to have a job. I just have to get used to living 10 hours of the day, Monday thru Thursday, in a little gray cube.