Should You Be Friends With Your Co-Workers?

12 January 2023

An average person spends about 90,000 hours at work. These hours are equivalent to one-third of a person’s life. During this time, there are higher chances that an individual will meet new people at work. There are also chances that an individual would want to make friends with their colleagues.

Making or not making friends with co-workers can be an individual preference as both decisions come with an array of advantages and disadvantages.

Being friends with your co-workers has been proven to help increase job success. At the same time, many strongly believe that people who work in a toxic environment should avoid making friends with colleagues.

The question arises: should you be friends with your co-workers or not? If you want to know, read on.

Job Satisfaction

Undoubtedly, many people spend most of their time at work, which is tiring. That is why many people try to diversify the working process with friendly relations.

Findings have shown that when people make friends with their co-workers, it helps increase job satisfaction. Moreover, it helps perform better at different designated tasks and can motivate people to want to take part in other projects.

Making friends with co-workers can bring higher morale, so you are always motivated to perform at your best. You will want to show more commitment to your work and the organization as a whole.

Your colleagues will always motivate you whenever you feel down or tired about a specific task. Even when you are off from work, they can always cover for you, especially when you have an unfinished project that is due.

Mutual Trust, Care, And Respect

Beyond discussing workplace-related matters, there is more to getting along with your co-workers. Think about a nice time after work hours.

Spending some time at the cinema or doing outdoor activities at the weekend can positively impact your friendship. You can enjoy a better work relationship by asking each other questions freely, discussing ideas, and solving issues.

Indeed, the friendship you build at your place of work can sometimes last for a lifetime whether you remain in the organization or not. A workplace friendship built this way will create more respect, trust, and care. You would always want to check and look after each other.

According to the Australian Institute of Management’s poll, good relationship with co-workers is an integral part of finding friends for a long time.

Read Also: 7 Fun and Simple Outdoor Activities for Your Child Under Ten

Employee Engagement

Friendship with co-workers can be a great way to increase employee engagement. Seeing a close friend who is busy with tasks assigned to them can motivate you to engage more.

This is backed up by a workplace study by Gallup in 2012 where employees who worked in the same place with their close friends admitted that seeing their best friends at their workplace helps them engage better in the working process. When workers became more professional at work, they ignored friendships.

Psychological And Social Support

Findings have shown that women are more enthusiastic about making friends at their workplaces to get emotional and social support whenever they are stressed.

Men, on the other hand, want to make friends with co-workers that will benefit their careers. They also want to make friends to help them finish pending tasks or job duties whenever they arise.

If you have friends at work, you feel happier and more supported which results in the improvement of your psychological state. You can always ask for help or advice, or just tell something that is bothering you.

If you want to make friends at work but do not know how, find phone numbers or emails of people you work with. You can do it on Nuwber, BeenVerified, or AnyWho. Try to find their social media accounts and send them a nice message.

Why Should You Not Make Friends With Your Co-Workers?

Too many benefits lie in making friends at the workplace. However, you may also be doing more harm than good if you do not know how to handle being friends with people you work with. Here are some reasons why workplace friendship may not be good for you.

1. Fallout Can Be Unpleasant

To be honest, if you prioritize socializing with your friends at the workplace over your office duties, your work process will suffer and may lead to unproductivity.

You will make a smart move if you do not mix personal interests with office duties because when the friendship hits a rock, the outcome will be negative.

What if you divulge career-related information to the wrong person? The outcome may be more terrible. It may take a toll on your emotional being and overall wellness.

If you do not make friends with your co-workers, you will not have an emotional attachment to gossip at the workplace. You will not be concerned with unnecessary discussions or workplace politics.

You can then focus better on assigned tasks. Do not forget that you can always enjoy your job even when you are not closely related to those you sit with within the cubicle.

2. Co-Workers Can Question Your Motives

This is another reason why being friends with your colleagues is not worth it. In some cases, if you have a good rapport with your boss, co-workers may accuse you of being a favorite worker, especially if it is related to being promoted. This is why it is often better to remain neutral and not build strong friendships.

Every step you take becomes suspicious and co-workers may use anything against you that may cost you your promotion, especially if you have gossiped about your boss in the past.

3. Jealousy May Set In

There are chances that you will have one jealous person among your fellow employees. Take, for instance, if you are someone that loves nice wear.

Others who have no taste in fashion may think you are trying to stand out. Even if this does not relate to the way you dress, jealous colleagues will not hesitate to hate you for anything when you are doing well.

Conclusion

Making friends with your colleagues can be good and at the same time something that should not be worth considering. In most cases, it is best to stay neutral. However, both decisions come with pros and cons.

When you decide to think about whether to make friends at work or not, compare all the benefits with the drawbacks and make your choice.

Additionals:

Why Should You Enroll In A Part-Time Degree?

Abdul Aziz Mondol

Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

View all posts

Remote Working In 2022: 5 Must-Have Tools—You Need To Know

In recent days, remote working is a common thing all over the world. Thanks to the technology and the pandemic for that. Although sometimes it is pretty hard to manage all the work with the co-workers while staying at home. And without using some remote working tools, it is next to impossible. We need some best technology for working remotely. We require tools that will help us in communicating, video conferencing, or online chatting. So, let's check out the top 5 useful apps that you must use to get the benefit of working remotely. Remote Work In 2022: 5 Must-Have Tools: From online chatting to project management or record streaming video—in recent days, some tools are necessary to work from home. 1. Tools for communication Online chatting tools are now an integral part of many companies and the people working remotely. These apps help communicate with the entire team by sending a simple message. They are a good replacement for in-house emails. »Slack—is one of the most-used apps that has started to gain popularity among remote workers. The simple setup and useful features make it a must-have app in the corporate sector. Features include direct messaging, document sharing, screen sharing, and voice calls. »Workplace—is another collaborative software tool by Facebook. And one of the most expensive and competitive apps in the chatting industry. Features include instant messaging, instant translation, online group work, and video conferencing. It can also integrate with the apps like Zoom and Google drive. »Google Hangouts—Yes, this one is also on the list. The best thing about this app is its superb network connectivity—you don't need to worry about if you are in a cafe or at home. It is the best tool for making videos or sending voice calls via desktop or mobile with other google users. 2. Remote working tools for video conferencing A face-to-face conversation is a must when you have to work from home. And undoubtedly, some video conferencing apps should be on your device—if you work with a team or with the customers for some business purpose. »Zoom—I guess you know about this app already and must have used it for your work. This user-friendly app comes with excellent audio and video quality. The screen sharing feature, large meeting capacity, and the recording option make it a beneficial tool during the pandemic. Moreover, it consumes low data in comparison to other video conferencing tools. »Skype—talking about video conferencing apps and not mentioning Skype is impossible, right? Skype is the first and most famous video calling app in the market. Use it for group calls and sending messages, and all come with using fewer data. And the best part? Good quality virtual meetings are free of cost. »Cisco Webex—is a popular video conferencing tool and reliable one that is used by governments and big companies across the world. It is user-friendly and free of cost. Moreover, one can host and join any meeting via laptop, mobile, or tablet for having cross-device compatibility. 3. File storage apps You will find plenty of file storage apps available on the market. These tools are essential for your personal use, working with any company, or for business purposes as well. »Google Drive—is the perfect choice for people using Google Workspace regularly. It will automatically save your content on Google docs or sheets. What's more? Google Drive is one of the most used apps in androids and tablets—super easy for storing your documents in the cloud. »Dropbox—is not just an app for cloud storage, but it contains some other features also. It can integrate with other tools also, such as Slack and Zoom. It also comes with monitoring or tracking features that will be helpful for the admin to keep an eye on the documents. »Microsoft Onedrive—all Microsoft users—is a must-include storage app for you. With the subscription to Microsoft 365—you will get a huge storage space of about 1 TB, with no extra charge. 4. Remote working apps for project management Working from home is difficult when it's all about organizing your work properly. But don't worry. Some management tools are there for you to track your work. All you have to do this keep an eye on the online dashboards. It will manage all your work, like the projects assigned to you, the status of your work, and tasks related to your project. »Trello—is a lightweight, user-friendly, and simple project monitoring app for all remote workers. In Trello, there are lists, cards, and boards. Cards are nothing but the tasks you need to do divided into lists. And the projects are performed on the Kanban board. »Proofhub—is a famous tool that can help organize, plan and keep an eye on the tasks. Features contain workflows, discussions, calendars, Gantt charts, and task lists. It is a great app for freelancers as well as companies to work with clients. 5. Employee recognition software If you are an employer, you might know about these tools. These tools help the companies to operate recognition-based activities. These apps are useful for creating a good environment where people appreciate others' quality and efforts. »Vantage Circle—is a beneficial app that enhances employee engagement. It features peer recognition, including awards and appreciation for the employees. In a word, this app is for recognizing the strength and efforts of the worker who works remotely. »Blueboard—is a unique platform that will help you give rewards and recognition to workers. And these rewards are unique, surprising, and full of fun experiences. It can be trekking, scuba diving, kitesurfing, or in-home activities. Related Resource: How to Keep Remote Employees Productive in 2022 Bottom line Remote working is a new normal for most of us. After the pandemic, corporate sectors, IT companies, and many big companies have started growing interest in these apps. And they have initiated employing people to work remotely. Using the tools for your work is essential to manage the task properly. Most apps come with the free trial version, and some are free of cost. So, try them out and select the ones ideal for your work. Read Also: 5 Of the Highest Paid Remote Jobs What No One Tells You About Working Remotely 8 Tried and Tested Secrets of a Productive Home Office 5 Ways to Get a Better Work-Life Balance for Remote Employees

What They Don’t Tell You About Freelance Careers

In 2016, 34% of Americans were working freelance careers. That percentage is expected to climb to 43% by 2020. An improved work-life balance is the first benefit that comes to mind when considering a freelancing. But we also know what no one else is telling you. Read on to find out more. There's a Union on Your Side : Who hasn't wasted precious working hours searching the web for reputable information before becoming more stressed and confused? What makes Freelancers Union so great is it's a one-stop-shop for free resources for beginning and experienced freelancers. When going freelance, most people are overwhelmed with tax concerns. Don't know how to read a 1099 form? Need help determining sales and use tax? All this information is written clearly on the site by experts. You'll also find guides for choosing dental, vision, life, and health insurance plans. And even insightful blog posts ranging from productivity hacks to methods for handling tragedy. Furthermore, a subscription at ThePayStubs gives you access to an innovative pay stub maker. You can have a pay stub downloaded and printed within two minutes after selecting your preferred template. Relationship Building isn't Just About Finding Clients : Nobody misses unfair office politics or boring meetings once they've gone freelance. However, after working alone for a while, it's normal to feel lonely. While most of your friends are likely to work less flexible schedules, it doesn't mean you have to spend day after day without socializing. While your old friends are great, wouldn't it be amazing to have freelancer friends who get you the way your colleagues in your old office did? Freelancers can enjoy real human interaction (and 68% better focus) by joining coworking spaces. 58% of Those with Freelance Careers Have Gone Without Pay : Unfortunately, when reading up on how to go freelance, most newcomers won't come across these insights. It usually takes getting burned first. Never begin a project without a signed contract that clearly states payment amounts and due dates. Ween out nonpaying clients by having a mandatory deposit amount prior to starting each job. Don't lowball yourself. New freelancers tend to charge less than the value of their work. Think about the time, supplies, and whether you'll hire employees. If you aren't strategic about the costs to stay in business, it won't last. Most people are Googlable. With a simple search, you can learn about a potential client's character, including how they treat employees and whether they've been fair to freelancers. Don't make it difficult for clients to pay you. Send professional-looking invoices from user-friendly programs like PayPal, Due, or Authorize. Accounting Tasks Can be Done with Minimal Effort : Even if you're running a small business with a few employees, the idea of correctly issuing pay stubs can be a pain. On the same site, you can generate employee W-2 forms without stumbling over difficult math or spending buckets of money on an accountant. Need more freelance career tips? Let us teach you how to promote your startup on social media. And join our mailing list to be more in the know! Read Also : The Significance Of Face-To-Face Networking For Freelancers Five Reasons Why Freelancers Should Use A Coworking Space 7 Ways To Get Better At Writing: Personal Growth

How To Tailor Your Resume To Get That Dream Job?

Looking for resume tips is far from a waste of time. Even if you are a seasoned professional at job hunting! Your resume is your first impression in the professional world, and let’s face it, it could make or break your candidacy. Before you even sit for that interview, the resume will catch their eyes first! Whether you’re just starting in your career or looking to make a shift, an impressive résumé opens doors. So, here is how you can turn your resume from good to the absolute best! Resume Tips 101 So, without further ado, let’s edit that piece of paper together. 1. Nail Your Header Name, professional title, and contact information. Link to LinkedIn profile or personal website. These are the two must-haves of your CV heading. No, you do not have to make it fancy but straightforward. So that everyone knows what you do professionally. This will automatically help your recruiters link it to their current job position. Not only does this allow employees to find and connect with you, but it also adds a modern edge to your resume. 2. Write A Powerful Career Summary This is a short introduction paragraph like a modified objective statement describing your skills and qualifications. Therefore, make it short but impactful! Your summary should be about 3-5 sentences, packed with keywords from the job description. But do not make it too long so that it bores your audience. 3. Keep It formatted Stick to one that will make your resume easy to read: chronological, functional, or hybrid. Unless you have a unique situation, such as a career change, most recruiters would prefer the chronological format. It makes it easier to understand! 4. Make It ATS Friendly This is new, but this is the new corporate, and our resume tips must cater to the same. Many companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to scan your resume. If the ATS can’t read your resume, it won’t make it to human eyes. Could you Keep it clean and straightforward? 5. Tailor Your Resume For Each Job Tailor your resume to each job you apply for by highlighting the responsibilities and qualifications listed in the job posting. Try to incorporate the exact words and phrases in the job posting to ensure it’s a close match. Yes, it could be tedious, but it is important at the end of the day! Remember, a general resume won’t impress anyone. A tailored resume shows effort, which will make you stand out. 6. Highlight Your Achievements, Not Just Duties Employers want to know your winning game! Not just what you were responsible for. Therefore, use bullet points with quantifiable results like, “Increased sales by 20% in six months.” This is where you show the impact of your work, not just what you did. 7. Use Action Verbs Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb such as “managed,” “designed,” “created,” or “led.” One of the best resume tips we would provide is, to stop being like the others. Even when you are using certain verbs. Therefore, beware of using overused words like: “Responsible for” or “Assisted with.” Use strong action verbs on your resume to set them apart and add a more professional, put-together look. 8. Include Your Soft Skills As Well During your employment with another company, you acquire other hard skills. This is outside that specific role that could be pertinent to the work. Yes, you should include them as well! Don’t forget about your soft skills, such as communication, conceptual skills, teamwork, etc. However, try to avoid bringing them in as achievements. Show the employer that you have the skills to do the job you are applying for. Plus, it will achieve your new goals with knowledge, but knowing itself is no achievement. 9. Keep It Short One page is standard for most resumes, especially for students. If you have ten or more years of work experience– you can consider a two-page resume. Please Do not overdo it when you do not have much experience to show. Especially when recruiters are looking for reasons to eliminate candidates, and they will scan them. 10. Add A Professional Title It works essentially the same as a headline on a newspaper or article – it draws the reader in and makes her want to read more. Your headline is your tagline. It’s your one shot to make an impression and entice the recruiter to spend more time reading your resume. This simple step helps clarify your resume's intent. 11. Present A Robust Work Experience Section Start with your most recent job. Use 3-5 bullet points to list your achievements for each role. But don’t just list your responsibilities. Show how you made a difference as well. 12. Use Numbers Whenever You Can Numbers can make your resume much more credible than ever. They grab attention and prove your results. For example, instead of saying, “Improved customer service,” you can say, “Reduced customer complaints by 15%.” Instead of “Grew revenues,” say “Increased revenue by 30%.” Quantify your work whenever possible. It leaves no room for doubt about the value you bring to the table. 13. Education Matters, But Don’t Overdo It If you’ve worked for over five years, place your education at the bottom of your resume. Include your degree, school, and graduation year if you’re still in college or have recently graduated. Your education section can stay at the top of your resume for new grads. However, if you have some experience, move them to the end. 14. Relevant Certifications If there are any certifications related to your industry, add them to your resume. Getting certified helps, but do not add the irrelevant ones from the years gone by. Plus, try to get these certifications from credible sources to add weight to your resume. List them after your education. Or, if you are out of school for a few years, you can list them in a separate section. If you took a more relevant course to the job, you're applying for include it as well! 15. Don’t Get Too Fancy You do have to make it a graphic design project! However, keeping a strong format that is visually calming and easy to read is also important. Use font styles that are easy to read, such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri. Make sure each section has bold headings so a recruiter can easily navigate your document. Good design isn’t about flashiness. It’s about making your information easy to read and look professional. 16. No Clichés Don’t use phrases like “Hard Worker” or “Team Player”! They are boring and cliche, and almost everyone writes the same. So, provide examples that demonstrate those things instead. Demonstrate these skills with specific real-life examples rather than using stock phrases that lack the power to convey your true worth. Just like a cliché doesn't make an impression, the same applies to your resume. It’s all about demonstrating how you are different than others. 17. Tailor Your Resume For The Industry Let's be honest: if you're applying for a design position in a creative company like Wieden Kennedy, your resume shows that better! Stick to more traditional formats for industries like finance or law. However, in modern-day digital marketing jobs, ensure that your resume holds that promise. Know who you are presenting to and design your presentation accordingly. 18. Be Honest About Your Experience Don’t lie or over-embellish your skills and experience. Recruiters will quickly pick up on it when they meet you in person for an interview or check your references. Suppose you have been less than honest; that deletes your credibility. Yes, integrity is everything, and employers need to trust you. 19. Don’t Be Shy About Going Into Detail With Your Career Gaps One of the common questions we often hear is “How to write s resume when I have a gap year?” If you have gaps in your employment history, you can say, “I was caring for a sick family member,” or “I took three years off to raise my children.” However, it was always better to be honest than to embellish your gap years to make yourself sound fancy. For example, "I was backpacking through Western Europe." Unless you were actually. You never know when your recruiter might ask you a question. It’s also productive to include freelance work or volunteer activities during gaps rather than using the gap as a reason for being unproductive. Employers appreciate honesty. It is not a good idea to over-explain gaps. 20. Link To An Online Portfolio If you have a portfolio of your work, consider linking to it in your resume. Especially for creative people, writers, or designers. The portfolio is an example of the skills you can show. 21. Use White Space Effectively Don’t overdo it with dense blocks of text. Recruiters looking to skim through your resume for the basics will appreciate white space and easy-to-read headings. Keep margins and line spacing consistent! White space helps, too! Literally, it looks 'cleaner' and is easier for recruiters to read and process information (according to the eye-tracking model of how people read resumes). 22. Leave Out Irrelevant Job Experience Any part-time work or job that doesn’t relate to your career should be left out. You don’t have to include all the jobs you have ever worked at! Focus on roles that highlight transferable skills or experiences. 23. Work Experience Only (Unless You’re A Recent Grad) On a resume, you should do so much more than just internships and volunteer work. Internships and volunteer experience are the best things to have on your resume if you haven’t had real job experience. However, if you’ve been in the workforce for at least one month, stick to work experience. Highlight what you achieved and your responsibilities in the position, just as you would for a job. 24. Proofread To Perfection Because even the most qualified candidate can lose out if they make a spelling or grammatical error in their CV. Henceforth, one of our best resume review tips would be to proofread until you are 90% satisfied (because you will never be at 100%, and that is okay). Use Grammarly or ask someone to read your resume. No matter what you do, you must have learned that the devil is in the details. Well, it starts with a resume. 25. Skip The Photos, Graphics, Or Fancy Fonts. These elements can distract or confuse ATS systems. Making it difficult for it to scan for digital recording. A clean, professional layout is the first step to being considered for the job. One simple photo is enough. You can look into these interview attire for men and women to help you take a professional CV photo. 26. If You Can Send A Resume, You Can Write A Cover Letter There is no reason not to send a cover letter with your resume. In fact, a cover letter can help you make a better impression. Especially if the cover letter is curated to match the job description you are applying for. It’s your chance to demonstrate enthusiasm and explain why you’re a good fit for the role. 27. Be Careful With The Grammar Use present tense for current roles and past tense for previous ones Make sure that the format of your resume remains consistent. A professional resume should look diligent. Here is how you can do so: Promote focus while you are learning. Did you get promoted? Lead bigger teams? Manage larger budgets? Your resume should be read as a progression of development. Omit pronouns such as I, me, or my in your resume. Keep it formal and professional. This keeps everything sounding clean and polished. 28. Don’t Overdo The Personal Statements If you put a photo on your CV, it’s likely to be the first thing an employer sees. So, it's worth spending time perfecting it. As much as you want to look professional, there’s no point in looking stiff. In fact, you should amend the tone of your photo slightly to match how you present yourself throughout the CV. Now, coming to your hobbies. Do not add random hobbies like "taking my dog for a walk." Yes, even your hobbies should give a subtle hint of your job profile. Try to add stuff that shows your potential employer how interesting of a person you are outside of this one little job. 29. Don’t Wait Till You’re job Hunting To Update Your Resume This is one of the biggest mistakes we all make. Only updating the CV before we are about to get Among all the resume tips, this one is for everyone who is now quite secure in their job. Go home and update your resume immediately! This should include your new accomplishments, jobs, or talents. A current resume means you're always ready for new opportunities! 30. Have References Ready You don’t need to put references on your resume, but it’s a good idea to have them ready if a potential employer asks. Ensure you know your references, and they are willing to put in a good word for you. References are the one thing that can make or break your chances of getting the job. So, choose wisely. Do Not Get Overwhelmed! It can be not very safe to face the task of writing your resume, but it’s an essential part of applying for a job. Your resume is your opportunity to make a great first impression on potential employers. Regardless of how strong the candidate pool might be, this is your chance to let your skills and experience shine through. To win that interview opportunity, you must integrate your skills effectively. Your resume will evolve over time, but when you’re writing one for each application you submit, use our resume tips to represent yourself best! Read Also: Is Hotels/Resorts A Good Career Path In 2021 8 Tips for Tech CV Writing to Highlight Skills & Experience 8 Easy Ways for Students to Improve Their Writing Skills

Should You Be Friends With Your Co-Workers?

Job Satisfaction

Mutual Trust, Care, And Respect

Employee Engagement

Psychological And Social Support