I have been working for some time now. It has been terrific. There are ups and downs. There are always something new to discover and ponder on. Here are some of my most important takeaways.
1) Eat breakfast.
I know this sounds so boring and repetitive but if you are going to work, you will need energy. Also, ageing starts to set in. Stress, late night activities and busy schedules take a toll on our health. You can no longer rely on your youth and abuse your body. Yeap, yeap! The old college days are over when it is okay to go to class starving.
2) Sleep well.
This is related to #1. Without enough rest, you couldn't really function well. The quality of your work also decreases. You'll also be more irritable too.
3) Get to know your co-workers.
It is very important to build rapport with your co-workers. You'll have to adapt to their personalities and they will have to adapt to yours as well.
Moreover, a big chunk of your interpersonal interaction will be from work. It's no nonsense. If you're working full-time, you will spend 1/3 of your day working. Even if you're not, your work relationships will have a lasting impact in your career.
So, it is really in the best interest of your well-being (social, psychological, mental, professional, among others) to nurture those relationships.
4) Observe work mode strictly.
When you work, just focus on work. Stash away everything that could distract you AKA personal stuff. They will divert your attention. You're also not being fair with your employer as you're paid to work during your work hours.
This brings up the question: So what if you've done all your work and still have free time?
5) Be prepared to learn.
When you find yourself doing nothing, then be open to be cross-skilled. Don't think of it as additional work but an opportunity. It is a great way to broaden and sharpen your skill set. You'll be able to develop yourself and contribute more to your team.
Moreover, once you've mastered different skills and gain new expertise, you can negotiate for perks (such as flexi-time), better benefits and higher pay.
6) Arrive at least 10 minutes before your schedule.
This is just so you can start on time. Once you arrive at your workplace, if you're like most people, you'll not start immediately working. You'll first have to go to locker or pee in the restroom or drink water. So give your brain enough time to transition from commute mode to work mode! It is a shaky way to start work while gasping for air while you're frantically turning on your PC or getting your files.
For me, I usually get 20-30 minutes early because of my morning caffeine dose in the pantry.
7) Take your breaks.
This goes with number 1 and 2. Our bodies need to relax for a while so that we can work more efficiently. We also need to take our lunch. It is difficult to work when you're starving.
This is recommended especially when you are overwhelmed with work. By the time you'll resume, you'll have a recharged and clear mind. Who knows? You might just need a short break to solve a complicated problem which you've been thinking for over an hour.
***Be careful though not to overbreak.***
8) Ask as many questions as you can.
This is especially true if you're new to the workplace or to the position. Though observation is a good way to get info, not all of your questions will be answered by it. Many of which can only be confirmed by asking. So don't be afraid to reach out! Trust me, it is not dumb or irritating.
9) Be proactive.
Before you complain to your team lead or supervisor, be prepared to offer a solution to your concern. You'll be less of a complainer and more of a contributor or solver.
***I've learned this insight from one of my previous Operations Manager from whom I've learned a lot.***
10) Make digital communication professional.
To set healthy boundaries, it is not recommended to communicate through personal social media accounts.
There are other ways to communicate but I want to focus on these 3 which I think are more common and are used in all workplaces whether it is a big tech company or a local dentist clinic.
Note: This is only a general insight. Different workplaces need different approaches and I know in some work arrangements, such as work from home, it is inevitable to make calls. So this is a case to case basis. But I just want to highlight the core value of respect for other's time and personal space.
1) If possible, email first using your official work email. When writing, keep it short, direct and simple. Double check before sending if you missed anything. You don't want to clog their mail and confuse them with multiple emails.
Side Note: If you're company officially uses a work messenger platform or application (Skype, Hangouts, etc), then you can also send a message through it. [The latter is used casually but if it is sensitive and critical, email is the best way to go.]
2) If there still is no response, then you can text.
3) If there is no response and you really need to talk asap, then that's the time to call.
I prefer email as the main tool of communication because you will have documentation. It is easier to monitor, audit and turn over because there is a paper trail.
Whenever you need something from someone, you immediately act on it. You send an email asap so that you'll be giving ample time for him/her to respond. Don't act when it is already the deadline. Also, if you're in the receiving end, be prompt to acknowledge or respond.
When you call someone, it means that you really need something important asap. It couldn't wait. Avoid calling if it could be avoided.
First, you'll never be sure if your call(s) will be answered. Some people are so busy. They won't have time to regularly check their phones. If you haven't emailed, messaged or texted them beforehand and just called them when it's already the deadline, then you're setting yourself up for a big disaster.
Second, when a person sees he/she had missed call(s), it usually creates a sense of urgency. His/her alert mode is on unless you tell why you called or that everything is fine & you don't need to talk anymore.
So before you call, weigh in its importance. Make sure it is worthy of dropping everything the person is doing. Also, it should be worthy of his/her alert mode, which can cause stress.
11) Use constructive criticism to improve yourself.
You might have gotten high grades in school but it still wouldn't translate to a perfect work performance. There are still things you need to improve. Learning is a life-long endeavor. You never never stop learning. So whenever someone say, "you need to work on this" or "you need to keep up", view it as discipline. Continually challenge yourself.
12) Think long-term.
You and I live in difficult times.You have to get by. You need to have a job to pay bills, feed yourself, put a roof over your head etc. Yet, you should be careful not to shape your long term plans just solely on your short term needs. Consider your commitment. Have a realistic assessment if you could see yourself in that industry for a long time. Pace your expectations.
13) Pray.
Pray for guidance and wisdom. Also, don't forget to thank God for provision and opportunity to develop yourself and create impact. It fosters a grateful heart and keep your mindset grounded. It increases your empathy and endurance.
With a grateful heart, you'll not get tired or bored in your work easily because even if you get exhausted, you'll know you can always get strength from an overflowing, faithful source (Jesus).
#vinasjournal #vinasjournal #vinasjournalph #work #career #job #thingsIwishIknew #thingsIwishIknowbeforestartingcareer #thingsIwishIknowbeforeworking #worktips #employment #Jesus #JesusChrist #BornAgainDavao #bornagainchristian #BornAgain #Reflection #lifelesson #careergoals #dreamjob #careerbuilder #careerbuilder #careeradvice #careeradvice