Transitioning to the Real World—Being Professional

Starting your first job can cause a lot of anxiety. It can be difficult to know what’s right and wrong and what you’re supposed to do. Learning professional skills will come as you start to get used to the workplace, however we have some tips to help make it a smoother transition.

Before you start

Well before your first day, ask what the dress code is. Make sure you’re dressed nice and look put together. Also ask where and to whom you’re reporting and how parking works. The night before your first day, put your outfit together and make sure everything is ironed. Bring a notebook and pen, lunch, and any requested documents and identification with you. Arrive a few minutes early and be sure to ask questions when needed.

Learn the culture

It may take a while, but it’s important to try to understand the structure of the organization. Learning about if people have different expectations of each other and communicate differently based on the organizational hierarchy is something that can influence how to go about work on a daily basis.

Share ideas
Something that can be nerve wracking for new professionals is figuring out when their ideas are worth sharing and when to share them. This again depends on the organization and how comfortable you are, but it’s important to show your worth by introducing new ideas. This doesn’t mean that you should rock the boat or attempt to make a stir in the organization, but that you should gradually share more ideas and be innovative in a respectful way.

Know supervisor expectations

It’s also important to ask your supervisor how they would like to be contacted and how often they would like you to update them on your progress. It can be an adjustment not having someone checking the status of your work regularly, so figuring out your supervisor’s expectations for checking in can ease that transition.

Find a mentor

 It’s a good idea to seek out mentors when you first start a job. Mentors don’t have to be people who are higher up in the organization than you or your boss. A mentor is someone who you believe can help guide you and relate to your experiences. For instance, another fellow new employee may be a mentor to you.

Transitioning from being a student to a new young professional can be challenging, but with some confidence, awareness, and a little bit of research, the transition can be a smooth one.