How to succeed in your first job after campus recruitment

Finishing your academics and stepping into the world and taking up a career can be an exciting time for fresh graduates. It is a period of transition from being a student to becoming an employee and learning to make meaningful contributions at the workplace. It signifies the ending of one phase of life and the exciting beginning as a working professional. 

Normally, new recruits are often given a lot of training and since they have no experience, companies teach them about their duties and the company’s expectations. You will have to understand the communication styles, policies and working dynamics in your new workplace. It is important to understand how to navigate your first job and build the foundation of a good career professional. In this article we discuss some tips as to how you can make this possible.

Working in a new environment is exciting and fresh. There are a lot of new people and responsibilities. Some tips that you need to keep in mind to be successful in your first job are described below.

Keep an open mind

When you join a new job, you go with a lot of expectations and may find that things are very different from what you imagined them to be. The important thing is to learn and grow into your new role. Accepting and working on new tasks can bring you in contact with new people and new opportunities. Various assignments that are given to you could help you explore your passions and guide the path of your future and career going forward. Therefore, it is very important to be accepting and keep a learning attitude so that you benefit from every task and interaction.

Learning continuously

While your academic qualifications and training can help you make meaningful contributions, it is also important to keep learning from your co-workers and your manager. Even though you are no longer in school, learning never stops. Train yourself to ask questions and understand to fit into your role and your team. You can show initiative by doing your own research and follow trends in the field so that your co-workers and manager know that you are a keen learner. Ask for advice and feedback from your manager frequently.

Have a positive mindset

Your seniors will keep assigning you tasks from time to time. Take up each task with a keen and positive mindset. Show that you are passionate about your job and learn how to prioritise different tasks at your job. Be eager and complete your daily tasks on time. And always pay attention to detail and be consistent in your work and behaviour. 

Ask for feedback

Ask for feedback from your manager on how you can improve and listen keenly to what is being discussed with you. Understand that constructive criticism is very important for your growth and development in your career. Respond positively irrespective of the type of feedback and ask questions when you don’t understand a comment. Take notes and ask your manager to demonstrate a task if required so that you understand their expectations better. If you need help, it is important to reach out and ask for help. Take notes and understand how things are done so that you can do it well the next time on your own.

Importance of teamwork

You job may involve working collaboratively and so the choices that you make may affect everybody in the team. So, when you work on projects and assignments, it is important to keep your co-workers and peers in mind. Show an eagerness to work with others and learn from them. Some of your senior colleagues maybe able to counsel you with things that you can learn from them. Respecting the team culture, communicating frequently with your peers, and updating them often is important. You will also need to adapt to changes within your team and complete your share of the work. Feel free to contribute thoughts and ideas and help resolve any conflicts that may arise in the team.

Use resources

Every organization is equipped with resources to help you succeed. These could include manuals, websites, guides and even books in your field. Many of them contain valuable information that can help you in your daily work. Ask for material to read about your work and make the best use of these resources to enhance your work. Colleagues and bosses will be happy to recommend material for you to read and even help you gain access to information provided you ask.

Recognizing accomplishments

Celebrating milestones in your career can be a big morale booster for you. When you join an organization, talk to your manager, and find out what are the valuable accomplishments for a position like yours and work towards achieving them. Believe in yourself and keep a list of your accomplishments as reference for your career later to showcase your abilities when it comes to appraisals and when asking for a raise or promotion.

Summary

It is important to be flexible and patient in your first job. Things can go wrong and it is important to use these opportunities to learn and grow in your career. Other important qualities to develop and focus on are to be patient, resilient and proactive in your first job. No one ascends alone in their job, it is only with the help of others and teamwork that you can succeed. So, ensure that you are humble and curious and keep learning every day. When you find success, celebrate those that helped you get there. That is a hallmark of a great team player and will develop leadership qualities in you.