I hope you are lucky enough to be like that.
In the early years of my career, right after a two-year traveling the world that I proudly displayed on my resume, I found myself in a familiar situation — job hunting, just like any other fresh college graduates. Evaluating various job opportunities, I took into consideration factors like company culture, the people I’d be working with, the nature of the work, the impact it had on humanity and the world, and what it would offer me in return. To put it briefly, I examined a number of factors. This crucial stage was the start of my journey toward embracing true self in the workplace.
But back then, you didn’t really have much of a choice. As a super junior, the prevailing sentiment was, “Let’s start somewhere, no matter what.” Of course, I’m talking about a decade ago, a time when social media wasn’t the powerful personal communication and broadcasting channel it is today. A time when terms like “digital nomad” were foreign, and choosing to travel rather than work was still considered an unconventional choice. I’m not honoring not working, but I’ve noticed that people in general, especially in Western Europe, give themselves space to explore the world and, consequently, themselves after university graduation or even after high school, which I believe is necessary. If getting to know yourself leads immediately to a career experience you enjoy, that’s fine too.
Returning to the topic at hand, I came across a cartoon around that time that made a lasting impact on my mind. It showed a puzzle piece removing one of its extensions so that it could fit exactly into the whole puzzle. It fit in with the rest of the puzzle, wounded and dressed in a suit and tie. But that was the only fitting..
That image (above) resonated with me. It perfectly expressed how I was feeling. In the context of working settings and “company culture” common in my home country at the time, it appeared like I could only be a part of a team if I gave up being myself. Today, we see an increasing number of businesses creating an image of a calm, fun-loving workplace where everyone is great companions and close-knit. But, basically, they haven’t abandoned the cultural norms into that they were born — long-standing patterns of carry out and work habits embedded in the social structures from which they originated.
So, it’s really important to be open to exploring different workplaces and cultures that feel like the right fit for you. Don’t just settle for something you’re not happy with. Look for companies that appreciate you for being yourself. These are the ones that see your unique qualities, both good and not-so-good, and want you just the way you are.
If I could go back to my beginnings, to the time of “me” 10–11 years ago, I would still choose to change and adapt while remaining true to myself, cutting off a piece of me every day to turn others’ dreams into a complete picture, and suffering for it. I would still choose to walk my own path, not necessarily by starting my own business, but by being part of something where I could find genuine facets of myself, where I could be incredibly valuable with my unique abilities and way of thinking.
However, companies also need to understand what they want. The era of people acting like machines, doing specific tasks, is long gone. We now live in a time where uniqueness, difference, imperfection, but most importantly, being “true self” is highly valued.
Authenticity is the new currency, and many employer brands are still unaware of this shift.
In short, from my point of view, embracing who you are and what makes you unique is not just a personal journey but also a necessary change that organizations need to recognize. It’s a time for both individuals and companies to acknowledge the importance of being one’s true self in the workplace, where each piece of the puzzle is valuable precisely because of its differences, and where, together, they create a more complete and vibrant picture of success.
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