Every year scores of new college graduates hit the streets eager to start meaningful work and find their career niche. They are often unprepared once they land their first job and don’t have the tools to navigate the new world of work. Further, making the transition from lifelong student to a contributing member of the workforce is difficult without a blue print to follow. Here’s what transitioning students need to know that employers won’t tell them in their first job:
Deadlines Aren’t a Suggestion
In a university setting missing a deadline or not doing an assignment sometimes doesn’t come with consequences. This bears no resemblance to the world of work. Deadlines and assigned tasks are in place for a reason because companies have stakeholders, customers, and numerous obligations to meet. When you miss a deadline or don’t complete an assigned task, you don’t just impact one facet of the work. It ripples through the system causing others to miss their deadlines, and ultimately it has a negative impact on the organization. Taking initiative and approaching work proactively will set you apart from other workers. Your work ethic and forward thinking shows leadership and gets you noticed. Embrace hard work and tenacity – it’s a non-negotiable!
Follow the Prescribed Plan
In academia navigating outside of the lines and doing work your own creative way is often rewarded. In the workplace there are systems, tools, and processes to follow that were put in place because they yield results and enable the organization to thrive and deliver on commitments. New workers should follow these processes in their early days to master their role. The maverick approach of doing it your own way won’t be appreciated by your employer and teammates. After you’ve proven you know your job, you can start to interject some creativity and resourcefulness into tasks with the boss’s guidance.
Don’t Expect the Platinum Package
We all want the corner office, unlimited vacation, and a great salary! When you enter the workforce, you don’t have much to offer an employer other than a completed degree so you receive compensation and time off commensurate with your experience level. It’s unwise to ask an employer for more time off and a raise within the first year. At this point, you haven’t proven your value or obtained significant results. After you have made an impact and added value to the organization, then compile your accomplishments and talk to the boss about that vacation. Deliver results before asking for more.
What are 3 tips to successfully navigate that first job?
Commit to Lifelong Learning
As we become entrenched in the daily activities of our job, we can slide into auto pilot. Unfortunately, often times our skills don’t keep up with the needs of our industry or profession. There is a massive amount of free material to make us better at our jobs and enhance our skill set. Consider getting a professional certification or taking work related classes to set yourself apart from your peers. There are a multitude of ways to show your employer you have value to add that will drive business and results. Your initiative will ultimately make you more marketable to the organization. Learning is a journey, and we all need to improve our skills and embrace change!
Understand and Enhance Your Performance
Some companies are diligent about reviews, and others are inconsistent at feedback. Do you think you are the top ranked performer, but wonder what your supervisor thinks? Request a formal review with your management if you haven’t had one in the first year. Ask for candid feedback, know your strengths/weaknesses, and understand how you can excel. Address problems now and implement actions to improve. Set a future follow up with your boss to track your progress and be open to constructive feedback. The most successful people in business are open to coaching and making changes in their approach.
Improve Your Mindset
A positive attitude is critical in all roles, but it’s especially important when you start your first job. If you are uninterested, defensive, or unadaptable the chances are high you won’t survive long term. Take stock of what you like about your job and focus on the positive. Remember that perfection is hard to capture and sustain, so think about how you can address a less-than-ideal situation instead of lament it. Set forth ideas and recommendations to target areas that need improvement, and introduce these ideas to your boss in the spirit of problem solving. Workers with the correct mindset excel and are more successful at teamwork and building alliances.
Kim Henderson, Cobalt Compass Solutions
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-henderson-mba-pmp/
