Career Building
Employee
15 Things No One Tells You About Your First Job
6:19 PM
WHEN YOU'RE WALKING INTO THAT FIRST JOB,
YOU BARELY KNOW WHERE YOU WANT YOUR CAREER TO GO, LET ALONE the nuances
of PROPER OFFICE ETIQUETTE.
We all have to start our career path somewhere, yet
we find that some of the pretty basic things that transfer across most
jobs (first and otherwise) just don’t get talked about. If we'd known
some of these things up front, we probably would have been more prepared
for our first jobs—so we’re passing them on to you. Whether you’re just
starting out or you’ve got years under your belt, here 15 great pieces
of knowledge to speed up the learning process.
1. They don't tell you how hard you need to work
No matter what you’re doing. It’s hard! Everything is new and
mystifying. Coworkers might not start out so sure about you. Everyone
knows each other already. You don't know how to balance your workload at
first. But if you try hard, and don’t shy away from hard work, it will
show.
2. it's about learning and absorbing as much information as you can
It’s not just about learning your own role. To really succeed in your company or career path, you should understand other
people’s roles in the company, too. If you understand how the sales
department functions and the kinds of things they need to know, it will
make you a better receptionist. If you know what accounting is facing,
you can give them a better product and make their jobs easier. They'll
remember that.
3. It’s more about experience than a paycheck
If you have a chance to work closely with owners or visionaries at
minimum wage, do it! The experience is worth far more than any paycheck.
If you take jobs based entirely on the money you’re promised, you may
end up working for a cubicle factory that eats souls for breakfast. Take
the opportunity to work with people who want to teach you.
Get used to saying “I made a mistake, and this is how I fixed it” or “I goofed, and I need help fixing it.”
4. it's usually grunt work
Find passion in it anyway. Find the little things you like and do them very, very well.
5. Listen first, then ask questions
There’s nothing wrong with asking questions. It means you’re paying
attention, you’re thinking about what you’re learning, and you’re
willing to dig deeper. But also pay attention to when and how you ask
them. Try: “I have some questions about this topic. Is there a
convenient time when you’d be willing to answer them?”
6. It’s going to suck now and then (no matter what you’re doing)
You’re going to have hard days. It’s okay. It’s normal. It’s about
what you do with the day after a hard day that will define you.
7. First impressions count—but they aren’t death sentences
If you start out on the wrong foot, especially with a coworker or superior, it doesn’t mean you won’t ever get along.
Remember, we’re all human beings, and there’s always something under
the surface that we don’t know about. Bring kindness, an alert attitude,
and that hard work ethic with you, and you may find that you get along
after all.
8. The language you use matters
Yes, actually. If you’re not great at spelling, at least use spell
check. The worst part about typos and errors in spelling and grammar
isn’t that there was a mistake. It’s that these kinds of errors make the
offender look both lazy and like they lack attention to detail. Take
some time to make sure that your work is error-free.
9. Attitude is important
Be alert, be polite, and don’t act as if anyone owes you something. If it's a stretch, at least act interested.
10. Learn how to say "no"
It can take some time to find your own graceful way of saying no,
but it’s well worth the effort. If you have the kind of boss that
throws anything and everything your way because either they a) think you
don’t have enough to do or b) like the work you do so they trust you
with more, you will find yourself overworked, off-topic, and unable to
finish everything. If this happens, politely say “I have these three
things on my plate with the same deadline, and I won’t be able to
complete all three. Which one is the most important to have done by the
deadline?”
11. Take ownership of your failures (even if your failures are small)
Get used to saying “I made a mistake,
and this is how I fixed it” or “I goofed, and I need help fixing it.”
It builds priceless trust, shows your confidence, and leads to a better
work environment overall.
12. There is way more transferrable experience from one type of job to another than we give credit for
What you learn working in a fast food restaurant may
not seem like it has much in common with working in an office, but
actually? Much of business in any industry is interpersonal
communication. Those skills definitely transfer.
13. Build your value
If you want to keep your job and move up in a company, you’ve got
to demonstrate value. Anyone can push papers around. What’s especially
valuable about how you do it? How can you make what you do more valuable?
14. Don’t slack, THIS IS YOUR CAREER PATH
And “not slacking” isn’t just “doing your job” as the job
description is written. It’s part of your job to understand the
company’s mission, values, goals, and operations.
15. Sometimes it’s hard to keep showing up
Do it anyway. The reward is worth the sacrifice.
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