Advice for Newly Hired Graduates

You have just graduated from college and are fortunate enough to have landed a job to start your career. It’s an exciting time that you may find a little daunting. Your friends, family, and new co-workers will have plenty of advice to share. I have some of my own. Although I recently retired from the corporate career I enjoyed for almost 30 years, I clearly remember my start in 1980. My advice is offered from the perspective of experience and having learned some lessons the hard way. You will have to do the same – but that doesn’t prevent me from wanting to share anyway. When you first start your job, be humble. You are not much more than potential to your employer at this point. You need to prove yourself, and it will take a while. Everything you do and say right now is a building block toward a reputation that you want to serve you well. The basics still matter. Be on time for work in the morning – even if others aren’t. Don’t be the first to scurry out the door at the end of the day. Dress professionally and neatly (within dress code standards), and always be well groomed. Take time to develop relationships you can trust. No one is your friend on your first day. I know, it sounds paranoid. I’m just saying be discreet with personal information you share, until you get the lay of the land. Minimize how much your personal life encroaches on your work life in your first weeks/months of employment. You don’t want to be perceived as constantly having to deal with car problems, doctor appointments, etc. Be reliable. Focus your efforts, work hard and smart, volunteer when people need help, and ask for advice when you need direction. Good work is always eventually recognized by competent management. Take responsibility for your work – the good, the bad and the ugly. Trust me, you will make mistakes. People will respect you for how you recover from them. When you succeed, accept accolades gracefully and share the credit vociferously with people who helped and supported you. Have realistic expectations about advancement. Over the years, I never asked when I would be promoted. However, there were many times I asked for more responsibility and more work. Later in my career, on several occasions, I pitched a position that would fulfill a need and proposed myself as the person to fill the role. Promotions came naturally, every 2 to 4 years. You can take the initiative to move your career along – but remember that the needs of the organization will always outweigh your personal desires. Finally – keep growing. Constantly strive for new learning to expand your skills, even if you have to do it on your own time. Business is always growing and changing. You need to be doing the same to stay competitive. The moment you think you have arrived and start relaxing, you start losing ground. Readers: What advice would you give to graduates just entering the work force? Please submit your thoughts as a comment to this blog.