Fitting into your first job

The result of the competition in my earlier blogpost is declared! Please go to the comments page of that post, and check it out.

Congratulations! You have the much-coveted start to your career. You have earned your first job in the great sounding branded corporation. It's time for you to make your mark in the world now.

But be cautious! It's a landscape littered with landmines. Yes! LANDMINES that can blow you up anytime. Unless you really pay attention to things that matter. Things that truly matter.

When a young professional joins the world of work for the fisrt time, she hardly knows the dynamics of the system. She does not know how the elements link up with each other, and how one thing in one part of the world can adversely affect someone somewhere else. As Shakespeare said "My salad days when I was green in judgement".

Three things to consider about the organisation and external environment when you start (and these apply to most I know of) :

1. You have been
   
   given the job by the employer, and the primary thing he is interested in is productive output that benefits his company. Full stop.
2. The other members in the organisation have no particular interest in furthering your interests. They are there to take care of themselves, and yes, the customers!
3. Your organisation is interfacing with the external world, which requires it to be agile, and flexible. It doesn't exist in isolation.

It is important to understand these things, when you get started. It can substantially streamline your expectations about the kind of rewards and returns you can expect on a daily basis from the workplace.

Now, dear first-time Worker, here's a useful checklist of To-Dos :

• Things can change fast. The job role assigned to you when you started can get redefined, when the company needs a different kind of output. So be flexible. Don't make faces when your supervisor (boss) suddenly asks you to do something new.
• Always try to see the bigger picture. Your personal output adds up to someone else's, and someone else's, and it all adds up to something really big that benefits some customer somewhere. So realise the value of giving quality output.
• Don't expect too much from others. You may be a very gentle and soft-hearted person, but there is no guarantee that your co-workers too will be. Take it as it comes. Learn to stay cheerful and smiling.
• If it starts getting too tough, go to the washroom and cry. Then wash your face and start working.
• Be ready to do ANY KIND of work, on a daily basis. That includes standing at the photocopy machine and doing the copying and stapling yourself.
• Be enthusiastic and cheerful as much as possible. People expect that of you. A too serious young person is difficult to believe. However, don't overdo the enthusiasm part of it. Restrain yourself just that bit!
• Co-workers can get nasty at times. They may not respond to your emotions, may over-respond to your emotions, or may make fun of you when not around. Don't be too bothered.
• Don't criticise anyone. Stay quiet.
• Don't overpraise anyone. Stay in control.
• If you are already looking for a new job, don't use the office computer. Every movement may be tracked.
• Don't make favourite groups. Don't be seen around with just one or two specific co-workers. It's a really bad idea. It makes others wonder what's cooking.
• Don't take non-sense at all. Observe carefully, and then react if there is any major non-sense that comes your way.

What carries value, and what does not, during your first job :

1. Genuine output carries a lot of value. What's the actual work you do, the REAL OUTPUT means a lot.
2. Empty talk can impress people for a while, but only for a while, and then you will be the butt of ridicule.
3. Kowtowing, bootlicking and pampering has limited value, for a limited time.
4. Genuine loyalty to the brand and customers means a lot to your employer. Display that in abundance.
5. Honest conduct carries tremendous value.

I wish you all the best, first-timer. With some experience, you will be able to check each point I mentioned here. It will be nice to hear from all readers how much they agree or disagree with this post!
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