Tips for Surviving Your First Job

Early Lessons That Make a Difference Occasionally, I have the privilege of speaking with new graduates or employees who have just started their first job. The question they most often ask me is, "If you could go back and give your younger self advice, what would it be?" I never have enough time to answer this question fully, and I always leave thinking of things I forgot to mention. With that in mind, I wrote down a few pieces of advice that would have made a difference in my career. - Speak up! Don't let being new stop you. The fact that you are new gives you a unique and valuable perspective. Even if something seems obvious, don't hesitate to call it out and voice your opinion. Having a voice at work will strengthen your influence and get you noticed. - Don't prioritize work over your health. You might feel pressured to skip exercise and sleep to complete more work. This is a lousy tradeoff that will ultimately negatively impact your productivity, work quality, and well-being. Well-rested, healthy people perform better. - If you find yourself stuck, step away and return to it later. Taking a break can help refresh your perspective and give your brain a chance to work on the issue subconsciously. It may seem counterintuitive, but doing something else might be the quickest way to solve your problem. - Talk to everyone you can. Now is the time to invest in building your network. The people at the desks next to you are tomorrow's CEOs and industry leaders. It's easy to do. Most people like it when you are curious about their work and are more than happy to converse. - Your teammates are invaluable resources. Get to know the folks around you. Wisdom abounds, so learn from them. Understanding what has worked and not worked for others can be a big career shortcut. - Start making decisions, and try not to introduce new ones. Only ask if you know you have to. "Can I do x?" introduces a new decision, and you risk getting blocked. Instead, do it. Take ownership. It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission, but always weigh the risks. - The best way to learn (from someone) is to offer help. Find someone you want to learn from and be useful to them. People are more inclined to invest in you if you offer them something in return. - Talk to the executives. As a junior engineer, I felt nervous speaking to senior leaders. As a senior, I notice people are nervous to engage with me. Those who do stand out, and we often have the best conversations where we both learn new things. So, be bold and make high-level connections. - Set clear goals. Having a waypoint on which to focus your career will help clarify what you need to do. The more specific your goals are, the better your chances of achieving them. - Success is a team sport. It's hard to be successful without the support of others. That means it's essential for you to be a good teammate. Listen to what others say, try to make others successful, and most importantly–don't be a jerk.

A client starts her new job on Monday, but this isn't a success story, it's a 90-day survival guide (success story coming soon) Imagine, it's the weekend before your first day. You were supposed to get a work laptop. It's on its way but running late. All you have is an overview of your project. And the name of your supervisor. You haven't gotten anything else. Nothing to read before you get started. Nothing about expectations for day one. Nothing about the project. You're excited and nervous at the same time. You want to make a good first impression. You want to get a promotion year one. You just survived this market. You ain't going back. Don't worry. How do you take charge of your success? Make your boss's job easy. Over-communicate. Here are 6 suggestions for doing just that. 0. Save your job description This is your starting point. It's why you applied. It's what they expect you to do. Show them you're doing that. 1. Build your awesome log Categorize your log by project (or program). Log accomplishments and accolades. Use this for perf evals and profile updates. 2. Build your 30-60-90 day plan Meet with your boss and build one together. Show your boss how you're crushing it. Take the initiative here and own it. 3. Schedule check-ins with your boss Your boss shouldn't wonder what you're doing. Don't assume great work will speak for itself. Once a week/two-weeks for 15 minutes. 4. Set your working hours on your apps Make your work schedule painfully obvious. Set boundaries for after-hours work. Prioritize rest. 5. Send weekly updates to your boss Sometimes, your boss make your check-ins. Send 'em a quick update Friday afternoons: - What did you do this week - What will you do next week - What's slowing you down Pro-tip: Keep things like your log and updates in a cloud. If you lose access to your laptop, you're safe. Your awesome log is for your posterity. -- 👋 Hi, I'm Jonathan. I help people in tech show they're awesome. #techjobs #jobseekers #dayone #newbeginnings #careergrowthh

Often, new graduates join a company with excitement, only to face a decline in interest and, regrettably, end up switching jobs within a mere 3 to 6 months. This phenomenon is evident in resumes marked by a series of short-term stopovers, reflecting an inconsistency in career paths. To counter this common challenge, here are some valuable tips for those embarking on a new job journey. Let's explore practical advice that can help new joiners navigate the initial phases of their careers successfully: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳: Focus on learning and contributing rather than proving your worth. Embrace the learning curve, and your strengths will naturally shine through. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗲: Plan and test your commute in advance to ensure a smooth start. Being punctual on your first days sets a positive tone and reduces stress. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀: A physical notebook can be a tangible and reliable tool for jotting down key information. It shows attentiveness and serves as a handy reference. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: Building relationships with colleagues is essential. Take the initiative to introduce yourself, learn about their roles, and foster a collaborative atmosphere. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿: Understanding your leader's expectations and communication style is crucial. Schedule a meeting to discuss goals and clarify any uncertainties early on. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: Immerse yourself in the company's values, rituals, and working norms. Understanding the culture helps you align with the organization's mission. 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸: Actively listening to colleagues provides valuable insights. It demonstrates respect, helps you understand team dynamics, and enables better collaboration. 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗽: Avoid engaging in workplace gossip. Focus on positive conversations that contribute to a healthy and productive work environment. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: Proactively seek opportunities to contribute. Taking initiative showcases your enthusiasm and commitment to your role and the team. 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: Regularly seek constructive feedback to understand your strengths and areas for improvement. It shows a commitment to personal and professional growth. These insights aim to not only enhance the onboarding experience but also contribute to long-term professional satisfaction and growth. Good luck in your new job 🙂 -BR #NewJobSuccess #CareerTips #ProfessionalGrowth