What to do when you are new on the job!

If the ultimate goal is to prepare our young people to eventually end up in the workplace, then why is it that more efforts are not made to get them there? I know this problem first hand, as I did not get the training I needed to be successful in the workplace, either.{{more}} Instead, I had to learn the hard way by making costly career mistakes. This problem is not a St. Vincent problem; it’s a global issue. But, no matter where you are, here are some concepts to keep in mind that will help you be successful in the workplace.

Your Degree

The marks you make in your subjects won’t mean anything after you are hired. No one on the job really cares what kind of scores you had in school. However, you do need a degree to even be considered for a job. In other words, your degree will open the door of opportunity for you.

Your Attitude

The first few weeks on any job can vary tremendously, from utterly boring to extremely hectic. Don’t become a whiner and complain about the job. Stay calm, observe, and do your best regardless of the circumstance you are in. Sometimes those first weeks are just a test to see how you react and perform—that means someone is always listening and watching, so be careful what you do, what you say, and how you say it. Your actions after you’re hired indicate where you’ve been and suggest where you’re going—this is where many recent graduates make career-altering decisions, for good or for bad.

Your Bridges

Don’t just stay in your workspace. Reach out and build bridges with different people within the company. You are not looking for friends, so don’t disqualify people based on whether you personally like them or not. Don’t be fake, either; just understand that you are looking for coworkers you can get to know and learn from. Build a support system with those colleagues that you decide can help you get your job done and advance your career. And, don’t look solely at qualifications and experience. Sometimes the janitor can teach you more about a company than the vice president—so be wise about your selections!

Your Promotion

Take the time to learn the job you are given and do it well before you go looking for a promotion. That can be difficult since today’s workers do not stay in jobs as long as they used to, but pace yourself and take your time. Six months may seem an eternity, but in many positions, that time still won’t make you an expert. Remember, too, that having tons of degrees simply means you are “book smart.” Degrees do not translate into experience.

Your Money

Be wise with that pay cheque. You may be young and carefree, but bad financial management now can ruin your aspirations of owning a home, getting a second degree, or raising a family. And in some international positions, you may actually be denied a job if your personal finances are in a shambles.

Karen Hinds is “The Workplace Success Expert.” For a FREE SPECIAL REPORT on Avoiding Career Killers in the Workplace, send an email to info@workplacesuccess.com

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