5 Key Takeaways from My First Job

First full-time professional jobs,?something that can be so exciting yet intimidating at the same time for someone who have only known lecture halls for the past 3 years.??

I can say that because?that’s?exactly what I felt?almost 2?years ago?– when I first stepped foot into Michael Page’s office,?I was a young girl who was both?very nervous?yet?excited, scared yet thrilled;?and after talking to?a number of?my colleagues,?we?found out that this is quite a common experience among us young professionals when it comes to?our first jobs. With that being said,?this is why?a number of?our consultants have decided to come together and build a team that will try to give back to the community and (hopefully) be able to help other young professionals' entry, transition or settling in in the career and professional world a bit better.??

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Starting things off with monthly articles that hopefully can encourage or be a friend for your journey. For the first one in this series, I’m going to be tackling the 5 key takeaways of my own personal first job experience, things that I wish I had known a bit sooner and would love to share with you:??

• ONE: DO ask questions

We all know how intimidating it can be to be in a position where we don't know anything. But if there’s one thing that I learn so far, is that if you are curious or unsure about anything – ASK. Again, always try to think critically first before asking, but if you are still unsure, do ask, I'm sure everyone will be more than happy to help you get comfortable.

• TWO: It's OK to make mistakes, you'll learn from it – no one is expecting you to be perfect?

Disclaimer: this is not an excuse for not working hard or excellently. Of course, try your best in everything, what I'm trying to say is that it's really okay to accidentally make mistakes. No one is expecting you to hit the ground running on your first few months on the job.

On my first day, and yes, I still remember it to this day, my President Director told me that it’s okay to be a fresh grad, to not force myself to be like someone else and that everyone starts somewhere. Those words really stuck with me, knowing that I have to always give my best but at the same time, knowing that there will always be a huge room for growth and that's okay. ?

• THREE: Small things can go a long way

As simple as this sounds, this is important. The smallest things like treating other people with respect, remembering to take notes during meetings or trainings (trust me, you should!), carrying yourself with confidence, paying attention and going the extra mile will help you go a long way (pun intended :p). ??

• FOUR: Balance needs to be practiced and learnt

Boundaries are something that is very personal to each individual – you're going to have to learn how to manage your time in the way that is most suitable for you. You'll need to learn how to prioritize, know your own limits and understand that your job is a marathon, NOT a sprint, you are here for the long run, not for the bursts of energy. Can?honestly?say that this?takes a lot of learning so don't be too hard on yourself. Just fyi, I’m still in this journey?too, almost 2 years in to my job. We need to continuously learn to find our own balance that works for us.?

• FIVE: Last but definitely not least, know that you are not alone

I know that it’s so easy to feel that way, to feel like you are going through this alone – but know this, everyone has been there at one point in their life! Bringing me to another crucial point –?whenever you are able, make?sure to ask about the culture of your future company before you join, because having a great team and work culture are very crucial points when it comes to?your enjoyment at?work?(shoutout to my current team, you the bomb!)??

So yeah, those are my two cents,?hope that they?will be a good encouragement for some of you who are currently going through your first few months in your new job?or?others who might be entering this phase soon.??

Lastly,?stay tuned for our next article!?It’s going to be beautifully written by another amazing colleague of mine, hope that this #PageFreshTips Series will be beneficial to you and stay safe everyone!???