Should You Mix Friendship and Ambition at Work?

This summer, I’m about to dive into a rotational program at a big company in Chicago. Until now, my work life has been all business—my teams were older, remote, and not exactly Friday-night-happy-hour types. But now, I’ll be surrounded by a sea of fresh grads my age, and honestly, I’m torn about how close to get with everyone. Is it smart to keep friendships at work strictly professional, or should I let my guard down and risk the drama? I mean, sure, everyone says networking is key, but what if a friendship goes sour and suddenly my shot at a promotion is on the line? And don’t even get me started on dating at work—are office romances career suicide, or just another part of the game? Maybe I’m overthinking it, but when your paycheck’s involved, can you ever really be too careful? Or is this just how the corporate world works now? Let’s be real—navigating office politics is a full-time job in itself. 😅🤔 #WorkplaceBoundaries #CorporateLife #CareerAdvice #JobCareer