Career Advice

How to Make Friends at Work

posted on April 11, 2019 | by Becky Bush

One of the hardest parts of starting a new job is making friends at work! There’s nothing more awkward than sitting alone at lunch on your first day pretending that your phone is more interesting than talking to other people.

I mean in general, making friends as an adult is not easy! Work can be an amazing way to find new friends (a super common interest!), but can also be tough. You don’t want to sh*t where you sleep and if you run the risk of going out with your co-workers and such, you could do just that.

If you discover that a social work environment is really important to you on the job, put that on your lists of must-haves when finding a new career. You can follow these tips for looking at traits you need in your next job. Everyone deserves to feel happy and comforted at work, and for many people having friends is a massive part of that.

If you are struggling with making friends at work, try these tips. Before you know, you’ll be a social butterfly on the job!

How To Make Friends at Work

Find Common Interests

One of the best ways to make friends is to look for common interests. Do people at your job like to work out? Get happy hour? The sooner you can figure out what this is, the easier it will be to ask others to get together.

When you ask someone to do an activity (try a new workout class, go to a comedy show, etc) it gives you common ground for discussion. This makes the first meeting less pressure, especially if you are a shy person.

Make The First Move

Remember that at work, your colleagues have likely been working together for a long time! Don’t be offended if you are not included right away. It’s up to you to make the first move. Personally, I thrive in smaller situations – I like one on one interactions when I’m first meeting someone.

I like to ask people to get drinks, or workout classes – because these are both things I like to do! But once you find out some common interests, go to town and ask someone to hang out! Once you get that one on one interaction, it will be easier to get in with a group.

Give It Time

If you don’t have friends right away at work, don’t stress at all! This is normal, everything takes time. It’s better to gradually ease into a group than to force yourself in a conversation and friend group right away, potentially ruffling feathers.

Just remember, having friends at work is not an end all be all. You will find your place and people you enjoy being around with time. Follow these three steps and you are on your way!