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“This post is part of a blog series on Brazen Careerist, which is being sponsored by JobSTART101. The series is about the ”one thing I wish I knew before I started working”
This is a great question. To tell you the absolute truth, I went into the working world a bit naive. Because for the first 21 and half years of my life, I always had someone else, whether that was my parents, teachers, or professors, guiding me and offering up advice on how to accomplish my goals and be successful. That’s not the case in the 9-5 working world.
When you enter the working world, I’ve realized the only person that can ultimately guide you is YOU. In the working world, your boss and coworkers aren’t going to be willing to hold your hand and walk you through everything step-by-step and tell you everything is going to be okay when you make a mistake. For one, they don’t have the time. Two, it’s a waste of their resources and energy.
As a grown up working professional, employers expect you to learn how to figure things out by yourself.
I know this sounds a bit harsh, but there are some ways to make an easier transition into the workplace. Quite frankly, I wished I started with these techniques while I was still in college.
1. Network, Network, Network
We are always told to go out and network with people face-to-face to find jobs, but many of us stop networking all together after they land a gig. That’s a big mistake. You never know who you may meet, and how they may be able to help you in your current position or in a future job down the road.
In addition, one of my biggest regrets was not networking enough when I was in college. I could have made my life so much easier had I just spent some more time networking and meeting professionals when in hindsight, I had the most free time.
2. Seek Out Industry Pros and Leaders On Twitter and Linkedin
With social media sites, such as Twitter and Linkedin, it’s now easier than ever to talk to other professionals in your industry. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of well-established professionals on Twitter, who have been willing to lend me a helping hand.
3. Find a Mentor
I know the term, mentor, can sometimes sound so pretentious and conceited. But by mentor, all I am referring to is finding someone who you can trust to give you guidance and direction in your career. This is usually someone who is older than you, but it can be someone of any age.
With social media, it’s now easier than ever to connect and find a mentor to talk and guide you in your career. For instance, I am so glad that I started chatting with Jenn Pedde (@jpedde) through the awesome #u30pro community on Twitter. I can’t even begin to describe all the great advice that she has so graciously given to me. (*Sidenote, if you aren’t following her on Twitter or reading her blog, The Social Chameleons, it’s a must! Do it now! I promise you won’t regret it.).
I’ve shared what I learned in the working world. Now, what’s the one thing that you wish you would have learned before starting your first grown-up job?
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Comments
11.18.10
Jessica - yes, yes, and yes. That's you hitting the nail on the head three times.
Boy do I wish I realized how much more important it was to network than to get my GPA as close to 4.0. It's incredible that the people I knew from clubs, organizations, and jobs I held on campus were my reason for landing my first 2 jobs. Continuing to network has proven amazing helpful, not just on the professional front, but the personal as well.
As for my "Thing I wish I learned" it would be this: Learn how to publicly speak. Aside from the presentations in some of my classes and my one acting class freshman year, I did little to none of this DURING college. Verbal communication is so clutch in pretty much any work situation. I wish I had joined or formed an improv group to learn how to be more responsive and verbally flexible and confident. Now, I've been a part of two Toastmasters and am seeking out some improv meetups in NYC.
11.26.10
Very informative post. Really a lot of good points. Glad I found your site. Will note it and return for more info.
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11.29.10
I may be stating the obvious - but it's interesting, Jessica, that your 3 points I would consider to be "people skills". And people skills transcend industry, job and position. There was a post on BC a few weeks ago asking "What do you wish you had learned in college before you entered the work force?", and I think your points are right on the money. You could be a valedictorian systems analyst, or the most technically proficient nurse, but without business-oriented people skills you will have stiff competition from a B student who knows how to network. I'm certainly not saying that everyone has to be a type-A, gregarious, hard-core networking person to be an effective communicator!
On a more esoteric level, learning how to truly communicate with other people is probably a skill we will continue grow for the rest of our lives. Whether family, relationships or in our careers, how we interact with other people is pivotal.
Penelope's blog has definitely given me cause to think about this in the context of people with Aspergers and other social challenges, and how they find their way in the business world. Networking would be so much more of a challenge.
Sorry, I got a little derailed. You've sparked a good conversation here!
11.30.10
Hi This one is great and is really a good post . I think it will help me a lot in the related stuff and is very much useful
for me.Very well written I appreciate & must say good job..I loved going through your article.
Thanks for sharing!
12.07.10
This is a really great post. It's so important to network in your current job. Stay close with people. When they leave to go to another company, they could end up recruiting you later.
That's how I got my second job - my Director left for another company, established herself, and asked me to come over there.
Your coworkers are your network.
12.10.10
You are saying right, there is different stage of mind when you enter in working field. And after that few experience everything become easy. It's truth. Ferret urns
12.29.10
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