Taking the First Step into the Workplace

Internships sit right in the gap between student life and the professional world. Calling yourself a “new hire” feels a bit too naive, while “intern” lacks flair. So let’s go with “micro-rookie”!

Coincidentally, Sudo recently welcomed a bunch of micro-rookies. As a micro-rookie yourself, how should you step into the workplace? How can you quickly break the ice with colleagues? Today, KK will pull back the veil on Sudo and use real cases to show you how to get up close and personal with your colleagues.

This Issue: Unveiling Sudo’s Unwritten Rules

Reader Advisory: This article exposes Sudo’s most unvarnished unwritten rules!

The First Step into Sudo – Buying Douhua?

You read that right: tofu pudding (douhua).

When you first walk into the office, you’ll notice everyone eyeing you strangely. There’s a gleam in their eyes, an… uh, sly twinkle? Is that the look of eager anticipation for a new teammate? No, a more fitting description would be cunning.

“The new kid is in charge of ordering douhua!”

It turns out that joining Sudo involves more than just passing interviews—there’s a hidden bonus level: ordering tofu pudding!

Paying Your Dues with Tofu Pudding?

This ritual has clearly been around for years; there’s even a Slack bot tracking the douhua menu. The team at Sudo shares a near-fanatical love for douhua (and food in general).

Work hard, and of course, eat a lot.

Micro-rookies at Sudo must face the crucible of ordering tofu pudding.

Don’t underestimate the task. Anyone who’s ever run an office order knows that while it looks simple on the surface, it’s packed with tricky details:

• Flavor selections
• Loose change
• Keeping track of exact quantities
• Sweetness and ice levels
• Making the phone call
• Sorting orders
• Bizarre quirks and special requests (e.g., “tofu pudding, but hold the tofu pudding”)

Every now and then, someone will cut in, drop a last-minute “+1”, or abruptly cancel midway through. There are so many edge cases to handle! It’s definitely a challenge for a newcomer, but it’s also a golden opportunity to make a great impression.

Ordering Douhua: More Than Just Dessert

Notice anything? What initially seemed like colleagues just satisfying their sweet tooth (which, let’s be honest, it partly was) turns out to be an ingenious icebreaker.

While taking down everyone’s preferences, you also give your coworkers a natural chance to get to know you. I think that’s the hidden meaning behind the ritual! With a legitimate excuse (running the order), interactions between newcomers and the team stop feeling awkward and pave the way for a memorable first impression.

Epilogue

The first step at Sudo is ordering tofu pudding. This might just work anywhere in the workplace—next time, try speaking up: “How about I help put in the order for…?”

When you see the grateful look in your coworkers’ eyes, it will all feel worth it, right?

“Have you ordered douhua today?”

In the next post, your editor will reveal the secret, unseen side behind Sudo’s glamorous senior ladies.