First jobber’s toolkit

Whether it’s your first job in a global business, or just your first job out of university, coming into a corporate workplace can be a little overwhelming.

To help you settle in, Kevin, a Project Officer from HR Change, has put together a list of useful tips on what will be expected of you as a new recruit.

Although it can remind us of being back at school, companies expect employees to exhibit certain behaviors for a good reason. Behaviors, such as acting with integrity and respecting other cultures, provide a great working environment and protect the security and reputation of the organization.

Be on time
If you are going to be late, let your colleagues know as soon as possible.

Take responsibility
Not only for results, but also for flagging issues and inefficiencies. No-one likes nasty surprises. Mistakes are normal, but own up to them. Apologize, say you’re fixing it and how you’ll prevent it happening in the future.

Act with maturity
Sometimes you won’t get the promotion, raise or move you were hoping for. Remember, there are a lot of factors at play when deciding these things. The way you deal with disappointment can make the difference between being on the top of the list or not the next time around.

Communication
Remember it goes both ways. Keep your team and stakeholders up to date. If you have delays in your project – let people know in advance.

Be responsible for your own career
You will be given opportunities, but it is up to you to take them. Take part in career fairs, business Town Halls, Lunch and Learns, etc. Not only are they informative, they’re also a great way to network and learn about new opportunities.

How can you create value in your team?
Make the most of your fresh perspective. Do you see time and resources being wasted in your new team? Are the processes ancient? Did your last employer do something better? Raise the issue with your manager. If you can make their lives easier, they’ll appreciate it!

Numbers are your friend
Team not buying your idea? Prove it with numbers. If you can show your workings using data, you’ll be far more convincing.

Bring solutions, not problems
If you have to take a problem to your boss, bring at least two solutions with you as well. This not only helps them to make a decision, but shows you to be independent and pro-active.

Take ownership of your training and development
Use the company training opportunities to your advantage, but don’t become reliant. Now more than ever it’s easier (and free-er) to take this into your own hands when training isn’t immediately available.

If you google ‘excel tutorial’, how many results do you get? Yep - it’s more than twenty million.

Embrace change
Change in big organizations is constant and many people try to avoid it. Usually you can’t stop it, so look at how you can make it work. If processes are moving into or out of your team, for example, how can you make that transition as smooth as it can be?

Think differently
Don’t be scared to be a contrarian thinker, it gets you noticed when you think outside the box. (Just don’t get too wacky with it!)

Get a mentor
Having a mentor is a fantastic way to develop your skills and behaviors. Make the most of it by having a clear goal of what you want from the relationship when pairing up. Listen, ask questions and benefit from the experience of someone who’s been there and done that.