I feel like I’ve learnt a lot since graduating and beginning my career in the professional world in 2017. Here is a list of the main things that I had to learn from experience in the recruitment industry...
- Enjoying what you do is the most important thing about your role
Your manager is important. Your team, salary and commute are important. But none of this matters if you don’t like what you’re doing, because day in day out, that’s what you actually do.
- It is OK to ask for help.
The last thing your manager wants is for you to sit there scrambling away at a task you don’t understand for three hours. Ask for help when you need it, it is what your manager is for!
3. Be proud of yourself when you do something well!
Always acknowledge when you have achieved something, gone beyond your managers expectations, and done better than you thought you could. This makes it easier to acknowledge your areas for improvement.
- Be you.
Don’t pretend to be a robot – being you will help you be more productive and happier at work.
- Don’t say ‘yes’ to everything.
Building up false hope for candidates, your manager, or colleagues by saying ‘yes’ to everything you are asked to do is a no go. Saying that you will do something and then not doing it is far worse than just saying you don’t have time in the first place.
- Pick up the phone and speak to someone.
Sending an email is the easy way out. Calling someone separates you from the crowd and allows you to get tasks done much quicker.
- Exercise is more important that you think.
Exercise helps you focus, improves your mood and is proven to make you far more productive at work, so make time for a jog before or after work!
- Sit with good posture.
Back and shoulder problems are not your friend. Make sure you’re sitting up straight if you are sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day.
- Don’t be friends with your boss on Facebook.
Do you really want your manager to see what you get up to on a Friday or Saturday night?
- You might not love every single part of your job.
Not every aspect of your job is going to be exciting. You sometimes have to just knuckle down and crack on, as long as the good aspects of your role outway the not-so-interesting parts, then it is worth it!
So that’s my list! What things have you learnt from working in the professional world?