Graduating soon? Then you’re about to step into another stage of your life. The first job you’ll land may not entirely decide your future, but the experiences you’ll learn could make a difference in your future career path. Here are four things nobody shares about first jobs:
1. What Many People Think: You’ll meet different kinds of people.
What They Don’t Tell You: There’s a chance you won’t be friends with everyone.
Unlike in school, you can’t choose the people you’re going to work with. You’ll meet different kinds of people—a demanding boss, a super lazy colleague, or a clumsy intern—and adjusting to each one of them can be challenging. Let your colleagues accept you for who you are. If someone doesn’t like you, don’t let it bother you. Remember, you can’t please everybody.
2. What Many People Think: You get the tasks you want right off the bat.
What They Don’t Tell You: You may or may not be ready for them yet.
Got your dream job? Congratulations! You’re now working in the field that you like, but chances are, you may or may not be performing the tasks you want yet. As you still lack the “real world” experience, your superiors are likely to assign you to minor errands until you get used to the workload and the environment. Don’t slack off on these minor errands, though. If you do them well, your superiors will see that you’re ready to take bigger tasks and help the business grow.
3. What Many People Think: You have to impress your boss… 24/7.
What They Don’t Tell You: You don’t have to say “yes” to everything.
Replying “yes” to everything your boss says can sometimes put you in trouble. There’s nothing wrong about being a hardworking and obedient newbie, but you should know your limits. Learn how to say “no” if you think you can’t get your tasks done. There are other ways to impress your boss, like doing a good job and getting tasks done right the first time. Remember that quantity isn’t all that matters.
4. What Many People Think: Your employer will teach you everything you need.
What They Don’t Tell You: There is little teaching and more on self-learning.
Many companies expect you to hit the ground running the moment you become part of their workforce. They’ll provide some training and supervise you during your first week, but you’re on your own after that.
Not all people get their dream jobs from the start, but this doesn’t mean you can’t maximize what you have. If your first job is relevant to what you want to do in the future, it’s worth doing. It’s a good opportunity to build networks, improve your skills, and further advance your knowledge on your field.
Your first job is a major stepping stone in your life. Know what to expect, so you can prepare yourself for what has to come.