Entering the Work Force for the First Time

                  Entering the work force for the first time, especially an office environment, can seem on the surface to be either overwhelming or a piece of cake. In either case, you’re probably in need of some advice. I, myself, entered into the field seven months ago. I started off shaky and then found my bearings, but am not afraid to admit I still have much to learn and more to improve upon. The happy medium as a beginner is to not stay nervous, but also not to get too cocky. It’s easy in any situation to lax off as you get comfortable, and it’s especially easy to annoy your coworkers (or worse your boss).

                  No two office environments are created equally, and it’s important, no matter where you end up, to adapt to that environment. When getting to know your fellow co-workers, don’t just get to know them on a one-to-one basis, pay attention to the culture as a whole. It’s not good to make friends with just a few employees and give the rest of your co-workers the cold shoulder, especially in a small or close-knit office environment. This isn’t college any more; you won’t get to start over in a semester with a room full of fresh faces. Instead, you’ll need to adapt some of your behaviors and your habits to fit those of the people around you. For instance, go up to your manager in the first few weeks and ask him/her what their work style is and how you can change yours to fit theirs. Ask: How do you prefer to communicate? Can I come by your office any time or only during set hours? Would you like me to check in with you or you check in with me?

                  An important thing to keep in mind is to remember you’re still here to learn. Whether you’ve landed your dream Google job on the first go or plan on moving to another company in a couple of years, you’ve likely got room for improvement. Your manager and coworkers know this as well, and likely an occasional mistake in the beginning will be forgiven. Of course this won’t last forever, but don’t let your first failures scare you,use them as motivation. First take immediate responsibility for anything you’ve done wrong and show you know how serious the mistake was; then figure out how to fix what you did and prevent it from happening again. If you’ve made a mistake and your boss hasn’t said anything yet, don’t approach them first by asking if he/she is mad; instead try to be the first to admit you made a mistake.

                  Don’t focus on only your mistakes however. Pay more attention to the strengths you have than your weaknesses. Learning isn’t just about eliminating or hiding your weaknesses (you’ll always have at least one) it’s also aboutcultivating your strengths. However, you don’t have to learn all of this on your own, get to know your coworkers andutilize their knowledge and expertiseto help you improve. They’ll likely be flattered if you ask for their advice - and even if you do find yourself in the type of environment that doesn’t welcome new comers with a warm hug, you can still observe your fellow co-workers. Find out which of their characteristics make them successful and which ones you can relate to and foster in yourself.

                  You’re not in college any more, but you’re not done learning. You can make the transition from the classroom to the cubicle easy or hard for yourself. As long as you stay positive, open-minded, and adaptable you’ll soon find yourself easily transitioned into your new life. You may not be able to sleep in, hide in the back of the class, or blame your lack of preparedness on your dog’s appetite, but at least your days of Ramen noodles, asking your parents for money, and communal bathrooms are soon to be, if not already,  behind you. Welcome to work!