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Hello lovely people, first time on this subreddit but thought this might fit pretty well.
2 weeks ago a new intern started at my workplace (an institute) and she seems like a nice person. I myself am still a student (27M) and have a student assistant job there and work there already since 2,5 years. However, I am a bit of an overthinker and not really great in social situation. I rather listen to people than try to actively put myself into a spot. You might see where this is going.
As probably a lot of people are aware of for introduction rounds from school or work there is sometimes always the weird situation where you have to think of a fun fact or something about you...
So at the usual team meeting where she was the first time introduced to us, everyone should introduce themselves as well. Our head of the department said to just briefly say what we do and include EITHER a fun activity we like to do in the workplace (lunch, talk, coffee breaks, events etc.) or a trait that people from the office associate us with. Easy I thought, I will simply say "doing the community puzzle" we have in our office for everyone to participate in.
The first people go ahead and name not just one of the things but BOTH: Activity AND a trait. I got nervous when it was my turn to add a trait to my list as well, cause peer preasure set in to fit with the other responses...
When it was my round I said the puzzle thing... and somewhat got stuck on the trait thing stuttering and still thinking of a trait. The only thing that came to my mind was a negative trait... besides of overthinker I am a "know-it-all", though I am not even sure if the people in the institute would assign this trait. So I was stuttering and saying "Yeah and I am somewhat of a know it all". Everyone started to stare intensily as if I just admitted to murdering someone. So I tried to add quickly "yeah but not in a bad way, more like in a way that I like things being set straight and correct..." I sounded like a maniac trying to make this sound in a way positive, but I just dug my own grave. "Yeah, it's more of a "quirk" of mine, as I like to have everything correct with a puzzle" to spin the topic back around to the activity... I awkwardly ended saying anything and then there was a brief pause.
Then our supervisor was just like... "Well we seem to add not only positive traits to the list" and a quick laugh from the people in the call and on-site while we moved on to the other people who of course only added positive things.
Fast forward after the meeting back at our workplaces, another intern from another department was talking about something with me and I had corrected him infront of another colleague that was in the meeting before. Once the intern was gone she just jokingly said: Yeah your trait is showing. I just laughed with her briefly and I think for the remaining 4 months I am still working there I will be branded as 2 things: The puzzle guy (I really enjoy the puzzles we do) and "Mr. Know-it-all" (at least within our own team)... Great first impression for our intern.
Of course after the meeting I think of sooooo many traits again, like I am great in navigation through almost anywhere. But that's just classic after thoughts
Probably should think always in advance on what you might want to be known for from your colleagues or friends... or try to brush it off as quickly as possible to make it something positive.
ALWAYS think of a potential interaction when having to introduce yourself in a group with "fun facts"
P.S.: In our department is currently an apprentice that I find super attractive as well who was in the meeting as well and haven't interacted with much but I guess his view of me is now similar to the others :| No worries though he has a girlfriend anyway.
TL;DR: I fucked up by introducing myself as a "know it all" and dug a grave to a new intern in a group of all my coworkers and am branded now with this "bad trait". It's the typical "say something interesting about yourself" story going upside down.
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