#TuesdayTopThree: First Three Months

When we start new jobs, there are a mix of emotions and challenges that come our way in the first three months. There will be blood, sweat, and tears shed during this time of your first big kid job out of college. But be excited! You are employed and gaining experience to step into a new thrilling chapter of your life. Here are some exciting things to look forward too.

Being praised by your boss. Now when your boss is talking to his colleagues or clients and they say ‘My Comms guy, he has been working tirelessly on project x, doesn’t it look fantastic?’ you know that your efforts and late hours are being noticed, talked about and appreciated. Also. if your boss gives you a hard time and then they come around saying that you are doing great at the end of it. It makes the tough times in the office worth it.

Getting your first paycheck. This is not working at Target for $8 an hour anymore straightening hangers or processing rude customer returns. You probably have signed a contract, have been given some type of allowance for something, and have your own business cards. I do not think Target did that for me when I was working there.

Camaraderie in the office.  You are the new kid on the block. Within your first three months, get some numbers into your phone of your co-workers. Build a bond with the people around you, if you can. Go to drinks with your team to celebrate an office win. Liking and building a professional relationship with your coworkers goes a long way in job satisfaction. 

#ThursdayTopThree: First Three Months

The first three months on a new job is tough. James and I have recently gone through the first three months in new positions and have a few thoughts about the process.  Over the next couple of days we will be highlighting our top and bottom three moments of the past three months.

Let’s start out with the bad.

Your first, second, and third mistakes. Unfortunately, you will make mistakes. It is a fact of life, but what you do with the experience is what makes or break you.  Will you make that exact mistake again? Probably not. Now bring it a step further, will you make a similar mistake? Maybe. Try to be a sponge when you make a mistake by absorbing every correction that you get from your superiors and team members so you will not make multiple mistakes.

Depending on what type of boss you may have, your correction may come as passive aggressive or all out yelling. Or it could come to you in an email or a face-to-face calm conversation going over your mistake. But however it comes, take it in stride. You will make many more mistakes over your career and what you learn from them will help shape your professionalism.

8-5 work life is hard. Sleeping in till 10:00am, going to a few classes, taking a nap, going to see a movie, catching a quick bit to eat and bed by 1:00am is now far in the rear view mirror. The first couple of weeks on the job you might be falling asleep at your desk. But by three months in you will be going in to the office energized and ready for the day just by consistently going to bed for 7-8 hours.

Being overwhelmed. On the job training is the norm, but most times jobs will consist of things that you have not done, studied for, or even been trained on in your internships. This is okay because your team will know that you are new and give you grace and time to learn. But learn quick, because you want to show them the star performer that you are!

#FridayFive: How I got a job 24 hours BEFORE I graduated

Yes, you read correctly. I received a job offer from a great company literally a day before I was to walk across the stage. But hold on to your hats, because this story gets even more twisted. The job I was offered was a job I never even applied for!

So I know you’re wondering … How did this happen!!!??? Well in this post I will reveal that information and much more.  There are five essentials that I feel helped me to accomplish what most would call unthinkable in 2012. Take this advice to heart because it’s all from my experience and seemed to work pretty well.

Networking – Tell everyone you know (and people you don’t know) about your passion for whatever it is you’re passionate about. You never know whom someone else knows and could connect you with. Post it on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin everywhere! Reach out to people who do what you want to do and talk to them about it! Trust me! They want to know you and share their knowledge.  

Resilience – This is a characteristic that is essential in any career and is helpful to anyone looking for a job. Looking for a first job is going to be difficult and stressful. I can remember nights in my last semester of school where I would apply for 5-10 jobs (not even having a degree) and beat myself up about not hearing back. Although, my case is extreme this shows my dedication to wanting a job. If there’s something you want in life don’t let internal or external forces stop you. Be resilient and you’ll be success. Read this post about resilience: http://www.reasonedpr.com/blog/promance-thoughts-from-guest-blogger-graduating-senior-james-burge/

Confidence – You know what you know, so show it in your interview. Make an extra effort to bring up skills and knowledge you have, even if the interviewer doesn’t bring those up. My number one piece of advice is BE YOURSELF during the interview! The person you are during the interview is the person they want to work with if they hire you. Start the way you want to finish.   

Innovation/Creativity - Do something no one else is doing. Think outside the box. In an effort to not be cliché, I’m basically saying create your own persona and don’t copy others. For me, this meant branding myself. By branding myself, I communicated two different skills. I showed my future employer that I am aware of the importance of consistency in branding and that I can do the same for his/her company. See my online portfolio: www.jamesburgepr.com

A Team – The old saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” is very true. When you’re trying to reach your dreams, or even when trying to figure out what those dreams are, a team of supporters is the most valuable asset you can have. These people will edit your resume, call/email you about new job openings they know of, and even provide an ear for you to vent about how you haven’t heard anything back or when you receive bad news. Your team is your core group that will offer you all the things you can’t do for yourself.