10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me For My First Job

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You have just signed your new contract! Congratulations on your first full-time office job. Well done for jumping it through all the loops for a new hire! 

Here are a few lessons I learned in my first job. I wish someone had told me those before I got to experience them first-hand.

 

1. Being a good fit is important 


Cultural fit is not just HR jargon. It matters - if nothing else it makes your life easier. Liking the atmosphere and the work style could literally be the "make it or break it" criterion at the end of your probation period. 


2. Your colleagues are not your buddies 

 
You have great colleagues. You hang around in the office and outside work. It is awesome. Bear in mind those people are not your friends - avoid situations and vocabulary that could put you in hot water with the HR team.


3. Leave your personal life at the door 


We all have family drama, weird relatives, personal emergencies. The whole office doesn't have to know about it. Kiss and tell is also not a good idea. Whatever you do, be discreet.


4. Tone your voice 


Giving feedback and bringing new ideas is great. However, keep in mind managers like to have solutions, not problems. Before going to your boss with a list of broken stuff, be prepared with steps to fix them. 


5. Find a mentor 


This one is crucial. Having someone you trust to introduce you to the industry, senior stakeholders, interesting projects...The list can go on and on. Bouncing ideas with someone more knowledgeable can be such an eye-opening experience! 


6. Choose your battles 


Nobody likes conflict. Yapping non-stop at people is counterproductive. Choose what really matters to you and let the rest go. Also, be prepared to lose, it’s part of life. 


7. Figure out what makes you tick 


Take your time to figure what is important to you - team Alfa that produces a magic number of sales? the policies in the boardroom? the chat by the watercooler? the new project only 2 people know about that is supposed to be a secret? - we all have our tastes and preferences. 


8. Allies are your lifeline 


Build a support network of allies. People you like, with similar interests, strong ethics, that you'd be happy to work with and rely on. When you need visibility for your ideas across teams and maybe even the whole company, those people will be your voice and guard your back. 


9. Keep learning 


Find at least a few hours per week for your personal development. Make use of the resources your company offers. There are plenty of online platforms with free access. Once you stop learning and get bored, that's the time to start looking for another challenge. 


10. Don't get attached 


Personally found this the hardest one. Your work, especially projects that you've started from scratch can feel like babies. You tend to them, love them, protect them... and then one day, due to "business needs" or “office politics” or something else, they can be taken away from you and given to someone else. And it hurts like hell! <Yes, I cried when mine was given to someone who was less qualified and didn't want it, and yes, I left afterwards> 



Good luck navigating office life! Most of the time it's good fun.

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