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Shortly after graduation, it is time for you to start the next phase of your life. You will begin your first "professional job." Generally speaking, most of what you learned in school will not prepare you for this next step. If you did an internship you will be a step ahead of your peers. However, there is a big difference between being a student at work and being an employee. Certainly, more will be expected of you. Listed below are a few simple rules that will help you get adjusted to the work world.
Listen and Observe
While innovation is a good thing, it is important to be mindful of the dynamics of the workplace. If you are entering an environment where routines are already in place, a newcomer walking in and talking about "better ways" to do things, will often be met with negative reactions. Why? First, you know nothing about why they do things the way they do. Second, you haven't gained the trust of your co-workers. Finally, people, by nature, are threatened by change. By listening and observing, you will learn more about the people and environment of which you are now a part of. You are the new kid on the block while your co-workers have been around longer. Learn from their collective experience.
Beware of the Office Troublemaker
The office troublemaker is the one who comes up to you on your first day and says something like this: "The boss is always nice to new employees. Wait till you've been here a while." The office troublemaker is the one who tends to stir up trouble and then pretend to have nothing to do with it. Listen to what this person tells you, but do not comment. There may be truth to what he or she says, but it may be greatly exaggerated. Keep in mind, the person who talks about others will soon get around to talking about you.
Mind Your Manners
In an interview and the workplace, it is important to remember proper etiquette. People may not remember your politeness, but they certainly will remember rude behavior. Do not use company email to forward jokes to your friends -- they can easily end up in the wrong hands. Do not get too comfortable too quickly and start taking extended smoke breaks, lunch breaks, and/or engage in personal calls on your cell phone. You may find this is the norm within your department. Don’t fall into the trap. Continue to follow policies/procedures and use your moral compass. It will pay off for you in the end.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jamelah Henry specializes in producing "All-Star" employees for the workplace. She is a product of a job training program from early in her career. She used the skillsets that she learned and was immediately recognized by top employers. After a few short years in the workforce, she was promoted to a management position. She spent the last 17 years of her career working as a manager, trainer, recruiter, and entrepreneur specializing in hiring, training, coaching and developing both existing and new hire employees to bring their best to the workplace. She is a SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Certified Professional, earned a B.S. in Human Resource Management from Wilmington University and a member of the Delta Epsilon Rho Honor Society. She is also a current member of the National Resume Writers Association (NRWA) and working towards a certification as a National Resume Writer. In her spare time, she likes giving back to her community!
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