What I Wish I Would Have Known
Posted on September 13, 2006 10 Comments
Reader Kali is starting a new job, and asked me what I wish I would have known on my first day. Although it’s been a while (5+ years ago since I graduated!), I still feel like I’m learning a lot! Here are some of the most important lessons I’ve learned:
- Day 1 is truly day 1. No matter who you were in college – from student body president to star athlete to straight-A student – you’re the officially the office newbie at work. (And if you start as an intern, like I did, you’re one below the office newbie.) Therefore, you better hustle to make an impression. Work your tail off like never before. You’ve ALWAYS got something to prove. Every single interaction, project, meeting and e-mail is an opportunity to make an impression.
- Spell check. Always.
- Read up. Intelligence will get you farther than beauty, glamour, your wardrobe, your social connections, your family, your smile. So if you’re now working in marketing on toilet paper, read every single article you can on toilet paper and their manufacturers, as well as marketing news columns and trade books. That type of intelligence will allow you to hold conversations with everyone in your office from the boss to the mail lady. You’ll stand head and shoulders above the rest.
- Get it in writing. If you’ve just had a meeting with your supervisor, summarize it via e-mail immediately after, paying close attention to next steps and key deadlines. After you speak with someone on the phone, do the same thing. This will come in handy the next time your supervisor swears she told you the research was due by noon on Thursday instead of Friday.
- Be a professional. Don’t talk about your wild night out at the office, no matter how cool your colleagues are. You want them to respect you and think of you as a business associate, not as the partying intern.
- Always say thank you.
- Ask your supervisor or boss if he/she needs anything before you leave. Don’t do this with your coat on.
- If you have a retirement savings option (401k), use it. This is a must, not an “it would be nice.”
- Use direct deposit. Open a savings account and put money there each month before you ever see it.
- Do not gossip. Even if it seems like everyone’s doing it, stay above the fray. You’ll never regret treating people with respect.
- Think before speaking. Don’t blurt out an automatic reaction to everything, no matter how hurt or upset you are. Take a minute, or a day, to cool off. Take deep breaths. Present your opinion in a non-emotional, rational, solutions-focused manner. It makes conflict resolution so much easier.
- Avoid “like” and “um.” It’s so hard, but so unprofessional. Write it on a post-it and stick it to your phone if you have to.
That’s probably an incomplete list… I’m sure I’ll think of more. Until then, what are your thoughts? Do you agree? Disagree? What do you wish you would have known?
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10 Responses to “What I Wish I Would Have Known”
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September 14th, 2006 @ 12:31 am
Hello,
they are great career pointers! But a bit full on for a first day…
So to Kali, I would add; no one expects you to be an expert on your first day, it will take a while for you to become familiar with the office systems and lingo etc, so for the first few days relax and be friendly and get a feel for the place. Good luck!
September 14th, 2006 @ 3:07 am
If you stay at work late by yourself, send an email to your boss about what you accomplished by staying late. You could stay late until 11pm, but if no one knows you did, it’s pretty much useless. Also if you get a reputation that you work late, you’ll get promoted sooner, even if later on you stop working late, people will still have that impression of you.
Another thing is always email your boss at the end of the week about your accomplishments for the whole week. Bosses are busy with they own sutff, and you could be doing some great stuff that they don’t realize. Also when it comes time for review, you can just print out those 52 emails and show how you helped the company out over the past year.
September 14th, 2006 @ 4:43 pm
You have a really great list. I know it sounds trivial, but I would add to be on time, all the time. The people you work for know who comes in on time and who is late, even if they don’t say anything about tardiness.
September 14th, 2006 @ 6:21 pm
I agree with the last commenter. Always be on time. Even try to come in 5-10 minutes early. I live 30 miles away and start work at 7am. In my past two reviews (I’ve been working here for one year), both of my managers commented on how much they appreciated my coming in early. Being on time shows your bosses that you are responsible and hard working and they can trust you.
September 14th, 2006 @ 6:57 pm
This is such a great post, I just had an old professor ask a bunch of graduates to share their words of wisdom for new gradutes and i sent this link!
Also, I would add to be positive, I know it sounds like a no brainer, but you can easily get a bad wrap if you constantly talk negatively about clients, the company and employees.
September 14th, 2006 @ 11:14 pm
Great pointers. Can definitely relate, three and a half years into my career. I catch myself saying “like” all the time and it drives me mad.
September 15th, 2006 @ 1:16 am
Don’t complain about the “perks” that are recieved by people that have been there a long time, like better parking spaces, freedom from menial tasks (like emptying the trash cans at the end of the shift), their own desk/computer/office/whatever.
Just don’t do it. Rank has it’s priviledges, and one day, YOU will be the “old guy” at the shop, and you will want those perks too…but if you complained when you were younger to get the policy changed…guess what? Now when you achieve the success that your hard work should bring you…you’re still stuck doing the stupid chores you were doing as a new employee, because you COMPLAINED!
Suck it up, pay your dues, and earn your rewards. Just because you were a hotshot at your old job, or in school, that doesn’t mean squat at your new job.
September 16th, 2006 @ 6:01 am
I just started a new job at a company after being laid off from the previous employer. You can bet I’ve been working my tail off and making sure I’m meeting everyone’s needs and requests.
The comment about being on time is a no brainer and your colleagues will recognize who does come in late even if no one brings up the tardiness factor.
Everyone should heed this post, it’s great information for all newbies and any professional who’s trying to prove themselves once again in a new work environment!
September 17th, 2006 @ 3:56 am
Nicole-
A big huge thanks!! I really appreciate all your pointers and will be using them as much as I can!
Commenters-
Thanks also!
September 19th, 2006 @ 11:53 pm
If your job is administrative in any way, or if it involves a variety of tasks, be sure to write things down. I thought I had a good memory, but you have instructions coming at you all day long, and you’ll end up forgetting details if you don’t jot them down.