Top Ten Tips for Starting Your Career

As you start a new position or career you should, as Francis of Assi once said, “start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible,” because then you will “suddenly [be] doing the impossible.” Once you walk into the doors on your first day on your new job, you will be inundated with various to-do’s, trainings, tasks, and introductions, so it is important that you first consider what is necessary for you to do to succeed in those first few days/months. These ten tips will help you as you begin to understand your role, what being a professional entails, and how to move from completing just what is necessary to doing the impossible -- succeeding far beyond what you could have expected!

These ten tips listed below have been gathered and reformatted from Life-long Learner, Forbes, and The Confused Millennial articles.

1. Start Before Your First Day. Reach out to your manager before your first day and ask if there is anything you can do to start preparing - are there documents to review, or orientation tasks to complete. By doing this you will show your manager that your dedicated to the position, while also helping to reduce your personal fears of the unknown on your first day.
2. Talk to Your Manager. Set aside time to meet with your manager and get to know their preferences for communication. It is in these first few meetings that you can learn their behaviors, traits, preferences, and hopes for you in the position. Your manager will be your greatest resources as you get your feet in the door - take advantage of your time with them.
3. Set Aside Time to Learn About the Organization. Take the time to set up many informational interviews with your colleagues during your first few weeks. These individual meetings will help you dive into how the organization functions and how various departments collaborate with one another. You can even as your manager for introductions. Bonus: this will also help you build your network and connect with staff across the organization.
4. Ask for Help. You are not expected to know everything, and it is important to lean in to not knowing. Take the time to ask questions, and clarification when presented with a topic, event, or individual you are unfamiliar with. If you are uncomfortable asking questions in the moment, write it down and follow up with the individual afterwards either one-on-one or via email.
5. Carry A Notebook & Pen (At All Times). This is a simple one, but the underlying lesson here - is to always be prepared. Carrying a notebook and pen, shows that you are prepared and are focused on what your doing (as long as you are not doodling). If you are a digital-native and prefer electronic note taking, that is not a problem! But, do make sure to only use your tablet or computer for the meeting at hand.
6. Wake Up Early and Make Your Mornings Count. The foundation of making your morning count relies on creating a schedule (whether strict or malleable). Developing a schedule for your week with tasks outlined will help to streamline your days and help you to feel more accomplished. Hence, make your mornings count! Start your day a bit earlier, use this time to read or prepare for the day, but do not spend it hitting the snooze button every five minutes. Follow the idea that making your bed every morning starts your day our right and use that as encouragement to get started.
7. Always Follow Up. When opportunities are presented -- even some small ones like a colleague inviting you lunch -- take it and always follow up with them afterwards. It is these moments that help to set the foundation for community development and relationship building. This tip also applies to individuals you have individual meetings with or chats etc. to learn more about the company and their roles, always make a point to follow-up or keep in touch with them to remind them of your appreciation.
8. Find Balance. Make sure to find balance in your day, week, month, and year. It is important to work hard and complete your tasks, but it is also important to find time to reflect and rest. Find ways to incorporate small breaks into your day to relax - this can be time to grab coffee with a colleague or read an article. It is also vital to schedule your lunch break and block it off on your calendar, by setting this habit early you will automatically have a time set in your day to eat and to step away from your desk.
9. Lead with Value. It is important to lead with both value and integrity. Being your authentic self means providing value to others and being selfless in the work you are doing. This will show others that you are focused on the good for the organization and not only your professional career growth.
10. Always Think Long Term. Start thinking about the future early and consider how the organization can help you to excel and grow in your role and beyond. This will help you as you join professional organization, create networks and connect with other individuals in the organizations. Having an idea of where you would like to end up will help to streamline where you are now and where you are going.