A relationship that lasts longer than a romantic one is the "workplace childhood friend" | Confession Room of the Rising Generation
Childhood friends in the workplace, also known as first - generation colleagues, refer to colleagues who start working at the same company, join at the same time or work together when young people first enter the workplace after graduation. Perhaps because they are of similar ages and have similar experiences, they build deep friendships during the process of accompanying and growing together in the workplace.
In many people's hearts, childhood friends in the workplace are as precious as friendships in the student era and are the eternal white moonlight in the workplace.
They accompanied each other through the most bewildered stages and witnessed each other grow from "workplace novices" to capable "adults". They also went through countless overtime hours, numerous plan revisions, and even difficult moments of self - doubt together. Moreover, in the complex workplace, they can trust each other whole - heartedly and grow by supporting each other.
This time, the "Post - 90s Research Institute" launched a collection about "childhood friends in the workplace". Their stories with their workplace childhood friends slowly unfold from the dusty memories, bringing us the warmest memories in this crisp autumn season.
01
We met in the waiting room for the autumn recruitment interview in the winter of 2023. There were more than a hundred people in four waiting rooms in total. She was the second - last to go for the interview, and I was the last. I even cheered her on when she went for the interview. Unexpectedly, when we reported for work in July of the next year, we met again and joined the company together.
She moved to the building next to mine this year. Now we go to and from work together, have meals together, exchange views on life and values, and discuss work and career plans together. On Chinese Valentine's Day, the two of us girls went to a snail powder restaurant near our home. We both had edema the next day. She is my irreplaceable workplace childhood friend!
@Little Sun in the Ice City
Worked for 1 year | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 1 year
02
Thirteen years ago, right after graduation, I joined a 4A advertising company and was in the same group as a strange boss. This strange boss liked to steal sanitary pads and never returned the 5 - yuan or 10 - yuan loans. She also liked to pursue the eligible bachelors in the company. Instead of going after them herself, she asked me and my little sister to invite the bachelors out for dinner, claiming that she would treat, but actually making us pay the bill.
Because of such a boss, our relationship became as strong as gold. We have been talking about this boss's deeds for more than a decade and still can't stop laughing.
@Coal Boss
Worked for 13 years | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 3 years
03
We were management trainees who joined the company on the same day and were assigned to different brand departments. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the company was going through a period of turmoil, and there were almost no one to hand over the work to us. The two of us groped our way through the company's internal processes while being scolded. It was painful but we grew very fast. We have a life - long friendship.
Fortunately, we were not in the same department, so there was no so - called internal competition or intrigue. We spent the growing and confused periods together. Although we are no longer in the same company, we still meet occasionally.
@Kiyomi
Worked for 4 years | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 2.5 years
04
Right after graduation, I joined a group and didn't know anyone well. I even brought my own computer. My deskmate, also my first - generation colleague (let's call her 77), saw the K - pop group stickers on my computer and started our first conversation: "Do you like them?" Do you understand that feeling? In a strange and embarrassing environment, someone talks to you about a common topic. It's like a divine light shining on me when I first entered the workplace.
Slowly, she showed me around the company's business and environment, and we became close friends. We had quarrels and reconciliations. Although we are no longer in the same company, we still often meet in each other's cities to have meals and chat.
@Vera
Worked for 4 years | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 2.5 years
05
Both he and I were fresh graduates who joined a Fortune 500 company as management trainees and became a team partner. We have different personalities and work ideas, but we could always reach an agreement because of our common goal. At first, we disliked each other. I didn't like his inflexibility and stubbornness at work, and he disliked my being late and assertive at work. In the end, we were attracted to each other's serious attitude towards work, kindness, sincerity, intelligence, and other wonderful qualities.
Then we changed from partners to friends, and then from friends to lovers. Now he is the father of my baby! Thanks again for our magical fate!
@OP Jam!
Worked for 8 years | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 2 years
06
In February 2022, I started my first job and met my workplace childhood friend, Xiao Pei, who joined the company at the same time as me. He was in pre - sales, and I was the general assistant. When we first joined the company, there were not many people, and the workload was heavy. We often visited clients during the day. At night, he wrote proposals, and I made quotations. We went through the first time of writing proposals, making bids, introducing PPTs to clients, and explaining products together.
After one year, I can independently visit and negotiate with clients, and he can independently support me as an experienced pre - sales person. We who knew nothing before have become capable people and witnessed each other's growth in two years. Although we have been separated for more than a year, we still often travel together and have a great time.
@Yeah Yeah
Worked for 3 years | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 2 years
01
We were introduced to the unit as doctors in the same department in the same year. She graduated from a 985 university, and I'm from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. But neither of us is arrogant. We are humble and low - key and make progress together. We are in the same office with adjacent workstations and have a good relationship. Sometimes we go for meals together when working overtime. Three years have passed in a blink of an eye. We are good partners at work and have long become good friends in life.
Privately, she tells me interesting family stories. On weekends, we make an appointment to take our kids to climb mountains or go shopping. When I'm having dance classes, she picks up my son and takes him to her home. When she gets tired while climbing mountains, I help her carry the baby. Who says there are no friends in the workplace?
@Disappearing Moonlight
Worked for 3 years | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 3 years
02
I met Xiao Y in my first job after graduation. He is 7 years older than me. In the first year of working together, we were in the same group. We got along well because of our similar interests. In the second year, Xiao Y was promoted to the team leader. He covered for me when I was late, and we were even more daring to slack off at work together.
Later, the company went bankrupt before the pandemic, and we even went through arbitration together. It's been 8 years since I met Xiao Y. We've gone through many ups and downs in life together: being deceived in investments, being sued, being unemployed for a long time, selling cars to pay off debts, getting seriously ill, losing weight together... Now we have meals together at least once a week, and our families are also familiar with each other.
@Little R
Worked for 10 years | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 2.5 years
03
We've known each other for a month since I joined the company on August 3rd. My "childhood friend" has saved my work and me. I'm an ambivert, but I need a day to recover after being extroverted. If someone else is extroverted, I don't have to be. I feel embarrassed when the air gets quiet. My partner can communicate with the older colleagues in the unit very naturally without letting the conversation drop. I'm not afraid of the sudden silence when I'm with her.
There is someone to have meals, sleep, and go to the toilet with me every day. She even accompanies me during lunch breaks and overtime. We also take walks and gossip on weekends. It's really a magical encounter. Especially when I met someone who is well - educated and has exactly the same food preferences as me (who would have thought that neither of us wants peanuts, raisins, or hawthorns in our ice jelly).
I can't imagine what I'll do if she leaves. She said she'll only work in this unit for five years. It's over 💔
@Coconut
Worked for 1 month | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 1 month
04
My workplace childhood friends and I came to the same department one after another. Although we came from different companies or majors before, we have compatible personalities, cooperate well at work, and have regular dinners or watch them play football after work. When we were young, we had good health and high alcohol tolerance, and there were countless funny stories about getting drunk and even drinking fake alcohol, haha. As we get older, I've noticed that everyone's hair is thinning and their alcohol tolerance is decreasing.
Now all five of my workplace childhood friends have been promoted. They have been dispersed to different departments in 20 years and become the backbone of each business line. So I always proudly say that I'm lucky for my friends, but in fact, it's because they are all capable and have good character. Birds of a feather flock together.
@Faner
Worked for 25 years | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 20 years
01
I work in the public sector. I went through the confused period with my colleagues who joined at the same time. We were all in a mess, worked overtime together, and complained about the leaders. We supported and helped each other. In this work environment and atmosphere that emphasizes rank, age, and seniority, only we can be honest and sincere friends.
Now, my workplace childhood friends have been transferred to different units because of work. We don't see each other often on weekdays, but we've become weekend adventure buddies. We've visited Universal Studios and Disneyland together and watched many concerts and music festivals. Our plan is to travel all over the country on weekends. I'll always love them!!!
@Lingqiu Yeoung
Worked for 6 years | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 5 years
02
After graduation, I started working as an auditor and found my "workplace childhood friends". The days when we were scolded together, complained together, and worked overtime all night helped us build a deep revolutionary friendship. I still remember that a colleague wanted to create a complaining group named "Secret Chatting". If the manager saw that, it would be a blatant public execution. So we smartly changed it to "Study Group", claiming that we were learning and making progress together.
Although we all left the auditing position and scattered in different places after three years, the "Study Group" is still active with a learning attitude. We hope to keep learning until we are old.
@MOMOCL
Worked for 10 years | Worked with my workplace childhood friend for 3 years
03
We all worked for the same newspaper, which was also the first job for most of us. We gradually became full - time reporters. We struggled to come up with topics, were scolded, and went out to collect news together. The most anticipated thing was the dinners after the Friday meetings. Sometimes we would even secretly drive to a nearby city overnight without telling the editor and spend the weekend by the sea or on the grassland.
