Starting a new job can be a confusing experience. You’re getting used to the surroundings and learning all the faces and names of your co-workers, as well as experiencing the general nervousness that goes along with working someplace new and wanting to make the best possible first impression. Which is why what happened to Twitter user John Qui Qui on his first day at a new job is totally understandable.
In October of 2018, John started a new job (his Twitter bio says he works in digital advertising). He posted a tweet displaying the gorgeous flowers he’d found on his desk and assumed were from his colleagues to welcome him on his first day. Along with the picture, John wrote: “first day feels.” Awww.
https://twitter.com/JonQuiQui/status/1054947254551879680
John tweeted that he’d asked his new manager, who is also a photographer, to take the pictures that he ended up tweeting.
It wasn’t until five months later that John learned that the flowers were never actually meant for him at all. In all caps, he tweeted, “I found out these flowers were misplaced on my desk and supposed to be for someone going on maternity leave because they don’t give flowers to new hires but they saw me taking pics with them and felt too bad to take them away. I’m caaaackling.”
I FOUND OUT THESE FLOWERS WERE MISPLACED ON MY DESK AND SUPPOSED TO BE FOR SOMEONE GOING ON MATERNITY LEAVE BECAUSE THEY DONT GIVE FLOWERS TO NEW HIRES BUT THEY SAW ME TAKING PICS WITH THEM AND FELT TOO BAD TO TAKE THEM AWAY IM CAAAACKLING https://t.co/oItQv3MOvS
— jon qui qui (@JonQuiQui) February 9, 2019
John later tweeted again, pointing out that nope, the flowers were also NOT for the person going on maternity leave; they were for someone else altogether.
https://twitter.com/JonQuiQui/status/1094484533825568769
Part of the confusion seemed to stem from the fact that John did receive a first day welcome box from the job.
It was my first day + i also received a box of welcoming gifts, I thought the flowers were part of the experience……………….. https://t.co/W80Fk2GxIB
— jon qui qui (@JonQuiQui) February 9, 2019
People on Twitter found the whole thing absolutely hilarious, and of course entirely relatable. Some people shared similar things that had happened to them.
I started a new job years ago and when I walked in on the first day there was a big bowl of chocolate candy on my desk. I was really happy about it until I found out it was for the whole office and was only on my desk because they didn’t know where else to put it.
— Dawn (@WonderGoddess51) February 9, 2019
The fact you posed with the flowers in different positions is just cracking me up too.
— K (@k_r_1987) February 9, 2019
Haha, awww no wonder they didn’t have the heart to tell you… you look so pleased with the flowers proudly posing with them
— ♔♔ (@MissReeRee112) February 9, 2019
I’m laughing hard because I’ve done the same thing following a delivery from @fredds_flowers My daughter’s boyfriend had to break the news . I♥️ #Flowers even if they’re not mine pic.twitter.com/ySyHvvMTtV
— Laurie Boeshart (@old_cottage) February 9, 2019
New joiners at our company get a water bottle! Judging from your smile & the joy these flowers gave you, HR should make giving flowers their policy.
— Veena Jagger (@VeeSparkle15) February 9, 2019
Best thing I’ve seen today. You are adorable/no one had the nerve to ruin your shine
— myfriendscallmet (@tlovesorchids) February 9, 2019
Other people mentioned John’s very high level of confidence, asking for the photos in the first place.
What must life be like having so much confidence you staged a photo shoot on your first day at a new job?
— Anna ❄️ (@TheAnnatations) February 9, 2019
I literally thought the exact same thing. When I start new jobs I’m literally focusing on speaking in proper English & not anxiety-shriek-laughing at people’s jokes. This guy already owns the place. Good for him. ♀️
— beth dublin (@BethDublin) February 10, 2019
Well, when you look like a model, maybe things are easier in general.
https://twitter.com/JonQuiQui/status/1094375015506571264
h/t: Metro