On Upswing After College
1 year, 5 months agoInvestor's Business Daily
June 18, 2007
BYLINE: CORD COOPER
SECTION: LEADERS & SUCCESS; IBD'S 10 SECRETS TO SUCCESS; Pg. A04
2 How college grads perform on first jobs can mean the difference between moving through the ranks and being called a rank amateur.
To achieve the former, own up. Realize what you don't know -- and make it your business to learn it, says career coach Michael Ball, author of "You're Too Smart for This: Beating the 100 Big Lies About Your First Job."
If your firm doesn't have a mentoring program, seek out an adviser. Ball suggests finding more than one. You'll get a wider range of opinions and will occupy less of each adviser's time.
Then keep practicing, says performance trainer Nicholas Aretakis, author of No More Ramen: The 20-Something's Real World Survival Guide.
Widen your skill set by working on your weakest areas.
To achieve long-term success, zero in on larger career issues while mastering minor details.
For example:
** Keep calm. "If someone gives you attitude," don't give it back, Aretakis said. "Let that person be the one who makes the career-threatening move. Respond with genuine -- not sarcastic -- grace, and you win."
** Act quickly. When you have a problem with a co-worker, "recognize that the conflict isn't likely to go away," he said. "If you can talk about it" early on, you'll avoid confrontations down the road.
** Obey the cube-farm rules. "Etiquette in a cubicle environment isn't always addressed in the employee handbook. Often the rules are unspoken," Aretakis said. "(That's unfortunate) because in close quarters, the smallest disruptions can ruin productivity" and rub co-workers the wrong way.
His advice?
Move social conversations to the water cooler and "control the volume of your voice" when in your cubicle. "Keep personal phone calls brief" and your cell phone ring tone on vibrate.
No one wants Ludacris rapping to the rafters every time you get a call.
** Speak like a leader. As you grow on the job, assume a leadership role while being a team player. Instead of saying, "I don't see how this plan will work -- there's not enough time," say something like: "Time is going to be tight. Maybe we can divide the tasks (and make the deadline)," Aretakis said.
Instead of blurting, "My boss is clueless if she thinks this will make any difference," try "Let's give it a shot and see what happens."
** Lead your life -- don't let it lead you. Buck the Generation Y trend and set goals early in your career. It'll ensure that your hard work pays off. "You can work tirelessly for years, logging 12-hour days and working through holidays.
(But) without clear goals in place," you're simply earning a paycheck, Aretakis said.
Result? You wake up one day and wonder where your life went.
** Realize that character defines you. "Everyone has integrity until it's tested," Aretakis said. "It's easy to be of great character when things" are going well, "but how are you when times are tough?"
It's how you deal with setbacks and challenges -- and how you handle ethical dilemmas -- that defines you both as a person and a leader.
