I’ve been at Vertia for six months now. During that time, I’ve learned a lot of new things and picked up some old ones. Last fall, I found an open job posting online for a surveyor at Vertia. I was so interested that I submitted my application that very same day. After the interview, a site visit, and a group interview, I got the job, and here we are. I’m looking for general information about Vertia. I hadn’t previously considered a self-directed, leaderless organization as a workplace. The internet offers a wide range of views and experiences regarding self-direction, and there’s probably a grain of truth in all of them. I thought a lot about how this operating model might suit me and my own life. I also started my studies at a university of applied sciences at the turn of the year, and I’m wondering how I can balance work and study.
Self-direction
Over time, I’ve also developed my own perspective on this operating model. Work is work, even in a self-directed organization; for me, it brings a sense of purpose to my work through the freedom and responsibility it entails. A different type of operating model doesn’t offer that in the same way. The freedom to decide the rhythm of my own daily life is a great help in balancing work with my personal life; for me, at least, it makes my daily life more meaningful. The responsibility of fulfilling work obligations in the way I see fit develops organizational and prioritization skills, which I also find useful in life in general. I see self-direction as a fairly broad concept; perhaps in the future I’ll reflect more on the challenges and my learning experiences regarding this topic.
This model works perfectly for me when it comes to balancing my studies. My classes are usually after work, so I have to put in a bit of effort on both ends to make sure both work and school go well. Vertia also encouraged me to accept the spot, which I felt was important. However, I didn’t have much time before I had to start work.
Daily Life During the Pandemic
Starting a new job during the pandemic has certainly been different compared to before. Of course, the biggest factor slowing down the onboarding process is the limited in-person interaction; the vast majority of communication takes place online, just like everywhere else right now. Even without in-person meetings, it’s been easy to settle in at Vertia; people have welcomed me warmly both online and in person. Fortunately, the current pandemic situation has had relatively little impact on my work. Right now, this time is perhaps affecting my free time the most. All the so-called “fun stuff” has been on hold for quite a while, which gets a bit frustrating now and then. There are also new things on the horizon as we move toward a new “new normal” with the arrival of vaccines.
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