Virginia 2.0

One of the good things about starting a new job is that you can reinvent yourself, especially since your new colleagues don’t really know anything about you beyond your resume.

That's exactly what I did since starting my new job. A project I like to call "Virginia 2.0." 

Since starting three months ago, I’ve made a few changes to the work me. For instance,

• I wear make-up on a daily basis in hope to create a more polish look.
• I dress up in business casual clothes versus the agency jeans look to help validate my years of experience.
• I updated my wardrobe with more trendy pieces to fit in with the East Side.
• I dialed down my sarcastic sense of humor in case I offend.
• I speak in my professional (aka stern) voice so I sound more confident.
• I walk with purpose through the office, even if I’m just stretching my legs, so I appear like I’m working diligently.
• I keep the small talk to a minimum so I come across more business-like.

Creating "Virginia 2.0" was amusing, but maintaining it has made me feel fake. For those who know me, I'm a jeans girl, sarcastic, loud, social and like to walk around aimlessly. These changes make feel like I’m not genuine, a personality trait I detest in others.

Furthermore, constantly assessing what I look like, what I wear, how I act, what I say is tiring and stifling. There are days where I want come into the office make-up free in my jeans and scrappy t-shirt or skip down the hallways or hang out in someone’s cube and have a conversation of no work relevance.

But I think I’m putting too much pressure on myself to become this improved work me at the new job. I need to remind myself that proving my worth and becoming buddies with my new colleagues will take time. I’m sure over time this “Virginia 2.0” and the fun-loving me outside of work will blend and will feel more genuine.  In the meantime, I think it’s best to wait another three months before I reveal my unnatural admiration for Clay. 

Clay Aiken, that is.